Dolly Parton hams it up for Australian tour

Kathy McCabe, Music Editor of The Daily Telegraph, reports

DOLLY Parton is planning a special T-shirt for her Australian fans featuring a hilarious line from her latest record Better Day.

The song, Country Is As Country Does, features the forthright entertainer singing, "I'm quite content with who I am, and if you ain't, well kiss my ham".

"I thought it was a clever, funny way of saying 'kiss my butt'," the 65-year-old show business legend said.

"We have to make a T-shirt saying Kiss My Ham for Australia 'cuz I know my fans there would love that."

Parton's November tour will also showcase new songs drawn from her upcoming film A Joyful Noise, which co-stars her new best friend Queen Latifah.

The star of 9 To 5 and Steel Magnolias said she had been waiting for a long time for a decent script so she could return to the big screen.

"I have been offered a lot of junk stuff over the years and done a few things that weren't anything," she said.

"But when this came along, I knew it would be great.

"I had a great time with Queen Latifah and I think we will wind up doing more stuff in the movies."

For her first tour of Australia since she played here with Kenny Rogers in 1987, Parton is bringing her beloved buses, which are home to her well-established pre-show ritual.

She said she always picks three outfits depending on her mood and spends the afternoon doing her make-up and praying for God to bless the show and her audience.

"And I'll figure out what kind of hair I want on my head - I'm a typical girl," she said.

Parton shows no signs of slowing down despite reaching retirement age.

"A hundred years from now, I want people to be saying 'she looks good for her age'. And I've still got family to feed, too many poor relatives who need my help."

Tickets are still available to her shows at Hope Estate on November 19 and 20 and a final show at Allphones Arena on November 29.