IT'S the custom-made hotel de wheels that has travelled the world and almost didn't make it Down Under - and the Dolly Trolley will roll into town to kick off the Sydney leg of her first Australian tour in nearly 30 years.
At more than 14m long, the uber-bus is what Dolly Parton calls her "gypsy wagon" and it comes complete with her own private suite, queen-sized bed, mounted flatscreen TV, wardrobe for her show costumes, a "teeny tiny tub" in the shower and, of course, a cupboard designed specifically for her famous wigs.
The Backwoods Barbie, who has a fear of flying, says the five-star coach may take longer to travel but she swears it is more convenient than a plane. There are plenty of windows for fresh air, no to-ing and fro-ing with airports and she can sleep straight through night road trips to wake up outside her concert venue.
There is an altar where she prays each morning, a decent-sized kitchenette and three bunks for the drivers and her family who occasionally come along for the ride.
"That's my favourite home," the 65-year-old says. "I have homes all over the United States but my favourite place is the bus 'cos I feel those wheels are rollin' and (that) I'm a true gypsy at heart.
"I'm just afraid to fly - I don't like being cooped up."
While the bus will pull into Allphones Arena today, it almost didn't get to Australia after a row with customs officers. They declared it 2m too long, 5cm too wide and generally overweight for Australian regulations.
They also took issue with the bus's doors opening on the wrong side of the road.
But federal Infrastructure and Transport minister Anthony Albanese proved an unlikely hero, stepping in to save the country music queen and her month-long tour.
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