Dolly Parton spoke to the National Press Club yesterday in Washington, D.C. One of the reasons she was there was to speak about the Imagination Library, a literacy program that sends books to pre-school children. Started in 2000 by Ms. Parton and originally focused on her home of Sevier County, Tennessee, the program is now in over one thousand communities in three countries, and by Ms. Parton's estimation has shipped out over twenty million (yes, 20,000,000) books.
I remember Dolly Parton from her "Porter Wagoner Show" days when I, a youngster trying to be "too-cool", thought she was crass. How foolish was I? After all, you've got to love a woman who has as a standard line about herself, "It costs a lot of money to look this cheap" and who could reduce the ultra-suave Johnny Carson to muttering, "I'd give a year's pay for one look under there." She, unlike many other musicians, has also epitomized the positive side of celebrity in this country, "giving back" in tangible ways by the Imagination Library and many other good works.
Ms. Parton was in rare form yesterday at the Press Club. When asked if she had ever thought of running for President, she laughed her inimitable tinkling-crystal laugh and answered, "No, I figure there've been enough boobs in the White House." She went on to comment, however, that if a woman ever were to be President, "those terrorists had better run deeper in the woods every 28 days."
Ya gotta love Dolly Parton.
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