Rotherham goes Country

I have always adored Dolly Parton, ever since watching her hold her own against the comic genius of Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dabney Coleman in 9 to 5. So I was delighted to see that the Queen of Country was visiting our fair shores this week at the request of Rotherham Council. Rotherham? As in South Yorkshire? Indeedy. Dolly had been invited to launch a very special literacy project, based on the remarkable Imagination Library scheme she originally introduced in her native Tennessee back in 1995. The scheme has now extended to over 500 counties spread across 36 states, and sends every pre-school age child a free book every month. Isn't that amazing? Rotherham are going to adopt the scheme from 2008 and Dolly was their guest of honour at the launch.

But almost better than all of that was the gorgeous Goddess's sense of humour when asked by a blonde lady in the audience at the launch, if she minded dumb-blonde jokes. Dolly's reply was just perfect: "Of course I'm not offended. I know I'm not dumb, and we know I'm not blonde".