Terry Morrow: NBC wants Dolly Parton to do 'The Voice'

Photo by Charles Sykes

Dolly Parton wants to accept an offer from NBC to do "The Voice" next season.

Dolly Parton has declined an offer to perform on the season finale of NBC's "The Voice" because of a scheduling conflict in Pigeon Forge.

"I can't do it because I'm doing our parade (in Pigeon Forge) and doing some other (Dollywood business) when I needed to be there," she said recently. "But I wanted to do it. I love 'The Voice.'"

The parade honoring Parton is May 11. She is the grand marshal of the event every year.

NBC Entertainment President Robert Greenblatt, personally called her and asked if she'd do the show's season finale. Greenblatt is a huge fan of Parton's and was her partner in staging "9 to 5" the Broadway musical.

Parton said Greenblatt is not letting her off the hook so easily. He asked her to do "The Voice" sometime next season if possible.

"I'll definitely be doing something on that show," she said.

Why is she so drawn to "The Voice" when so many other TV options don't get her attention?

"I love that people are judged on the way they sing and not how they look," she said. "I think it is spectacular. "I love that idea."

Parton — admittedly not a big TV viewer — said she also loves "Smash," the NBC drama about the staging of a Broadway production. "I love it because so many people I know are on it," she said.

Among those friends is Megan Hilty, who was cast as Doralee in Parton's Broadway version of "9 to 5."

Prom date

Actress Megan Fox seems to be the "It" girl when it comes to prom season this year.

Photo by Chris Pizzello

Megan Fox, who is from Anderson County originally, is opening up about her personal issues. Her latest movie, "Friends With Kids," arrives today in theaters.

At least three high school boys have asked Fox, a Rockwood native, to be their prom dates. Fox has not announced publicly if she'll do it. After all, she is married (to actor Brian Austin Green).

Football recruits Adam Breneman and John Lopez have voiced their interests, and a Minnesota teenager who asked a porn star to be on his arm, also had Fox in mind as a date for his high school's gathering.

(FYI, Megan: Don't fret. The school won't allow the guy to bring a porn star to the prom. You're still in the running.)

Hey, if Megan is going to accept any of their offers, then I'm asking her to my Memorial Day barbecue.

Winning

The Academy of Country Music Awards aren't until Sunday (when they will air live at 8 p.m. on CBS), but Knoxville-area native Kenny Chesney has already received an honor.

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2011 file photo, country singer Kenny Chesney poses backstage with the award for music video of the year for "You and Tequila" at the 45th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn. Chesney, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert and Toby Keith are among the stars who will perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards on April 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)

It was announced he had gotten the Crystal Milestone Award. The trophy represents Chesney's achievements as a recording artist and a powerhouse in ticket sales on the road.

At the ACMs, Chesney has nine ACM nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, a category he has won four times since 2004. He is also nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, a category he has been nominated for 10 times previously.

Top dawg

Farragut High School grad Ben Garant is getting behind and in front of the camera for his newest project, "Hell Baby."

Ben Garant

The movie also stars Rob Corddry and Leslie Bibb (currently seen in ABC's comedy "GCB").

Garant is collaborating with former "Reno 911!" star Tom Lennon in the project, with Lennon co-directing and also acting in it.

The movie is described as follows: "In 'Hell Baby,' a young expectant couple moves into New Orleans' most haunted fixer-upper and calls upon the Vatican's elite exorcism team to save them from a demonic baby.

"Lennon and Garant will portray that team."

Terry Morrow may be reached at 865-342-6445 or morrowt@knoxville.com.

© 2012, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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