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Dolly Parton.
Dolly Parton has been working “9 to 5” in New York City since she was here last, but she’ll be going into overtime when she returns here this weekend.
She arrived in town on Thursday to tend to some business. Among the things on her “to-do” list: She had a meeting with the Duggar Family of the TLC series “18 Kids and Counting.” The brood is in Pigeon Forge this week to shoot an episode of their series.
On Friday, the buxom star is having a particularly hectic schedule. She’s being honored with a degree from the University of Tennessee, only the second honorary degree ever granted by the campus. The formal degree is a doctorate of humane and musical letters. This isn’t her first degree. Carson-Newman College gave her an honorary degree more than a decade ago.
Then she’s off to Pigeon Forge to headline her annual homecoming parade at 6 p.m. The City of Pigeon Forge estimates that 50,000 folks attend the parade, which marches down the Parkway.
Moving on to Saturday, Dolly will attend the benefit opening of her new musical “Sha-Kon-O-Hey!” — a production for which she wrote the music. The play is a tribute to the history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Parton, ambassador for the 75th Anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will oversee the ceremonies at the exclusive performance, set for 7 p.m. at Dollywood. Tickets are available online at www.FriendsoftheSmokies.org for $75 each, which includes Dollywood admission and parking on Saturday. Proceeds benefit Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
n Get out of jail card. Cult icon and self-proclaimed “Dancing Outlaw” Jesco White of West Virginia is out on bond after an arrest this past week on drug charges. MTV star and East Tennessee native Johnny Knoxville — aka PJ Clapp — helped post the $1,000 needed on White’s $10,000 bond.
Jesco and his sister, Sue Ann, face felony charges of conspiracy and delivery of a controlled substance. The two were allegedly busted with more than 2 grams of cocaine, according to TV station WSAZ.
Knoxville is producing a film called “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia,” made by Maryville-based filmmaker Storm Taylor. “I told him, ‘Jesco, if I hear there is any whiskey or cocaine in your apartment, I am pulling bail,’” Taylor said.
n Appearance. CBS talk show host David Letterman has booked Kenny Chesney for an appearance on Tuesday, May 19, the same day his second greatest hits CD comes out. He’ll be performing his new single “Out Last Night.”
n Words to live by. “I don’t want to dwell on speculation. It’d be nice, but I don’t want to think that far ahead.” — Dolly Parton on rumors “9 to 5” might be a major nominee at this year’s Tony Awards.
Terry Morrow may be reached at morrowt@knoxville.com or 865-342-6445. His blog can be found at www.knoxville.com. He contributes to “Live At Five At Four” on WBIR, Channel 10, and “The Marc & Kim & Frank Show” on WWST-FM, 102.1.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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