Queen Of Country

Singer Dolly Parton, the queen of country music, attends the opening night of the Broadway play "33 Variations" in New York, on Monday, March 9, 2009. Dolly Rebecca Parton was born Jan. 19, 1946, in Sevierville, Tenn. She's a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, author, actress and philanthropist, known for her prolific work in country music.

Dolly Parton leads the audience in singing her new song, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, during a National Press Club luncheon in Washington. Parton remains the most successful female artist in the history of country music, with 25 number-one singles (a record for a female artist), and a record 42 top-10 country albums.

Dolly Parton, left, stands with actress Megan Hilty, during a news conference for the new musical "9 To 5" in New York, Tuesday, July 15, 2008. Actress Allison Janney is at right.

Singer Dolly Parton performs on stage at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Tuesday, June 24, 2008. Parton has the distinction of having performed on a top-5 country hit in each of the last five decades and is the only artist to score a No. 1 country single in each of the past four decades.

Al Cecere, founder and president of the American Eagle Foundation holding the eagle "Challenger," discusses a new eagle coin set and the release of a 14-week-old eagle named "Liberty," along with entertainer Dolly Parton, left, and U.S. Mint marketing executive Gloria Eskridge Thursday, April 10, 2008, in Dandridge, Tenn.

Dolly Parton arrives for the 2007 Songwriters Hall of Fame gala, Thursday, June 7, 2007, in New York. Parton received the Johnny Mercer Award at the gala.

Dolly Parton performs during a concert in Ijsselhallen in Zwolle, Netherlands, Sunday, March 18, 2007, as part of a European tour.

Dolly For Literacy — AP Photo/CP Aaron Harris

Dolly Parton smiles during an interview in Toronto, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006. She was in Canada launching a literacy program but was also working on songs for a new album and writing a Broadway version of the hit movie "Nine To Five."

Kennedy Center Honors recipients Steven Spielberg and Dolly Parton, sing the National Anthem during the evening gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006, in Washington. From Hollywood to Dollywood, Motown to Broadway, a select group of stars from the film, stage and music worlds received recognition for a lifetime of achievement in the performing arts.

Dolly Parton arrives at Country Music Television's CMT Giants honoring Reba McEntire at the Kodak Theatre on Oct. 26, 2006, in Hollywood, Calif.

Dolly Parton does the Hokey Pokey with children from the Blakemore Children's Center at the Nashville Public Library in Nashville, Tenn., March 15, 2005. Parton's Imagination Library program, which provides children a free book each month up to age 5 regardless of family income, began in the singer's native Sevier County, Tenn., and has spread to 572 communities in 41 states.

Dolly Parton rehearses the Oscar nominated best original song "Travelin' Thru," from the film "Transamerica," during a rehearsal for the 78th Academy Awards on Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.

Norah Jones, left, and Dolly Parton perform together during the 37th annual Country Music Association Awards show in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003.

Dolly Parton fields a question during a news conference for the opening of the Dixie Stampede theater in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, June 18, 2003.

Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton are shown after a party in Los Angeles Dec. 12, 1980, to promote the movie "Nine To Five" which they all co-star in.

Parton performs the song "Hello God" with the help of a church choir at the Country Music Association Awards show on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002, in Nashville, Tenn. The country star says prayer is important in her life.

Parton, center, flanked by Interior Deputy Secretary Steve Griles, left, and Al Cecere, president of the American Eagle Foundation of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., holding Challenger, speaks to reporters at the National Zoo in Washington, Wednesday, July 2, 2003, during the opening of zoo's Bald Eagle Refuge Exhibit.

Parton rehearses for the Capitol Fourth 2003 Concert in front of the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, July 2, 2003, in Washington. The celebration featured performances by Parton, James Ingram and the Chieftans along with fireworks over the Wahington Monument.

Porter Wagoner is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame as his former duet partner Dolly Parton listens at the Country Music Association Awards show Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002, in Nashville, Tenn.

Parton performs in New York's Rockefeller Center in July 2002 as she launches a 13-city tour starting in New York and winding through Washington, Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas, Denver and Chicago.