As the world mourns the Queen of Country we look back at Dolly Parton’s Adelaide moments working the stage and wowing crowds in her trademark sequins.
The music icon has died age 80 after being diagnosed with cancer with her nephew confirming the news.
South Australian country music legend Beccy Cole has joined the chorus of tributes to her “hero” saying “she is the reason I am who I am”.
To mark the country star’s death we take a walk down memory lane of her Adelaide performances.
Did you see Parton perform in Adelaide? Share your memories in the comments.
DOLLY PARTON WOWS ADELAIDE IN 2014
Country music superstar Dolly Parton does not get forget her home town – even when she’s playing in front of hundreds of adoring fans thousands of kilometres away.
“I feel I can relate to people here,” the youthful 68-year-old told thrilled fans young and old at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. “You don’t get that homesick when you are around people you can relate to.
“I could live here if I could live anywhere else. I’m not just blowing smoke up your caboose.” Stepping out on stage in a flowing turquoise dress, embedded with diamentes, from behind a purple curtain, the Queen of Country Music got right into it, belting out Baby I’m Burning.
On the seventh stop of her Blue Smoke World Tour, Parton pulled out her old hits – 9 to 5, Jolene and Coat of Many Colours – as well as treating cheering fans to a taste of new songs.
“It’s so great to be back in Adelaide,” Parton hollered. “We were here a few years back and we had so much fun.
“I know it’s rained all day and I didn’t want you to get all wet and your hair all messy.”
As soon as she picked up her guitar in her jewel-covered palms and started singing her 1970s hit song Jolene, she had the audience tapping their toes and singing along.
Parton instantly relates to her fans, letting them in on her tough early years in the Great Smokey Mountains, being one of 12 children in a “dirt poor” family, and her 48-year marriage to Carl Dean.
The multi-instrumentalist is still proud of her home town – and the parents who raised her.
“It’s natural to be proud of where you are from,” she told the audience. “You’re very proud of Adelaide and Australia.”
Re-emerging after intermission in a pearly white suit with matching electric guitar, a flirtatious Parton told of the men she’d worked in with films, from Burt Reynolds to James Woods, and on stage.
“Kenny Rogers, he’s no slouch either.”
DOLLY PARTON HITS ADELAIDE IN 2011
Working 8 to 11, what a way to make a living … that’s exactly what Dolly Parton did last night as she wowed 12,000 fans at the Entertainment Centre.
A sea of sequins and stetsons welcomed the diminutive 65-year-old singer-songwriter as she danced on stage wearing a hot pink jumpsuit with sparkling cowboy tassels.
She greeted the crowd before launching into her own version of Walking on Sunshine, accompanied by a 10-piece band. Dolly played a multitude of musical instruments during the concert – including guitar, piano, banjo and violin.
The good-humoured storyteller shared tales of her childhood in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee between songs, and she dedicated a rendition of Coat of Many Colours to her mother.
Fans were treated to old favourites including Jolene and Here You Come Againas well as songs from her new album Better Day.
Styles varied from bluegrass, to gospel and even to rap in an ode to Queen Latifah. Dolly played to her crowd, saying she had always felt a kinship with Australians since her last tour Down Under.
Parton opened the second half wearing a gold glittering tasselled dress and singing White Limousine.
The anecdotes continued when she confided that she didn’t mind being called a dumb blonde because “I ain’t dumb and I ain’t blonde.”
The pace slowed somewhat with sentimental ballad Little Sparrow, before Youe Come Again got the crowd going with their hands in the air.
To shouts of “I Love you Dolly” from the audience, Islands in the Stream got the people on their feet and they stayed there for 9 to 5.
The finale, a rousing rendition of I Will Always Love You proved that even at the age of sixty five there’s plenty of life in the old girl yet.