Dolly Parton Announces Australian Tour

With rumours flying about for months now, Chugg Entertainment confirms that the legendary Dolly Parton will be returning to Australia for an almighty string of concerts this November.

The tour begins in Perth on Tuesday 8th November at Burswood Dome, before heading to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre for a show on Saturday 12th November. The show rolls east to Sydney at Acer Arena on Tuesday 15th November, and then onwards to wine country for two outdoor shows at Hope Estate in the Hunter Valley on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th November. Dolly and her band then head to Melbourne for shows on Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd November at Rod Laver Arena before finishing up at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Friday 25th & Saturday 26th November.

How does one begin to describe an icon like Dolly Parton? Singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress, philanthropist, businesswoman; this mighty talent's list of credentials is worth every ounce of veneration she receives.

Hailed as 'The Queen of Country Music,' her four and a half decade career since her national chart debut has seen her become one of the most successful female artists in the history of the country genre, with twenty-five number one singles, and a record forty-one top 10 country albums. In addition to her illustrious music career, Parton's foray into other ventures include a self-titled theme park, television variety shows and several successful films - including an Oscar nomination for her role in 9 to 5 - all of which have cemented her status as an American superstar.

Australian fans will be delighted when the Smoky Mountain Songbird takes the stage and shows us exactly why she is such a legend. With hits like "9 To 5", "Here You Come Again", "Jolene", and of course the incomparable "I Will Always Love You", audiences are guaranteed to see the show of a lifetime. With all new sets, costumes and even new music from her forthcoming album 'Better Day' to be released later this year, it is sure to make an evening spent with Dolly Parton a night to remember. The two and a half hour show will be a deeply personal affair as Dolly lets the audience inside; telling stories and interacting with fans in a wholly new show featuring a brand new production, lighting and video.

Dolly Parton has written over 4,000 songs, had numerous number 1 hits and won countless Grammy, CMA and ACM awards, not to mention enough gold and platinum albums to make even the folks at "Tiffany's" blush.

Dolly Parton is the most honoured female country performer of all time. Achieving 25 RIAA certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards, she has had 25 songs reach number 1 on the Billboard Country charts, a record for a female artist. She has 41 career top 10 country albums, a record for any artist, and she has 110 career charted singles over the past 40 years. All-inclusive sales of singles, albums, hits collections, paid digital downloads and compilation usage during her Hall of Fame career have reportedly topped a staggering 100 million records world-wide.

She has garnered 7 Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards, 5 Academy of Country Music Awards, 3 American Music Awards and is one of only five female artists to win the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year Award.

Yet with all of the national and international recognition given to her, Dolly Parton calls the bronze statue of her, which stands on the courthouse lawn in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee, her "greatest honour, because it came from the people who know me."

In 1986, Dolly saw a cherished dream become a reality with the opening of her own theme park called Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains. The state's number one tourist attraction, Dollywood was selected by the theme park industry as one of the top three theme parks in the world in 2006 and recently won its 17 Brass ring awards and the coveted 'Applause Award' for Best Theme Park in the World.

In 1988, she began the Dollywood Foundation to inspire children in her home community to dream more, learn more, do more and care more. Currently the foundation partners with local sponsors to provide the Dolly Parton Imagination Library across America, Canada and now across Europe, by giving every preschool child a book each month from the time he or she is born until the child reaches kindergarten. With the help of local sponsors, this program has expanded to over 800 communities in 41 states. Dolly says, "My dad was prouder of me for this program than for my music career. He thought it was grand that all the kids called me the Book Lady."

Always dreaming and always looking forward, Dolly is busier than ever, working on various children's projects, working on a new movie project and writing and recording, these projects are just a few of her many interests at the moment. The phenomenon of Dolly Parton continues to flourish, as she remains one of the World's true superstars.

Parton's arrival on Australian shores in November this year, will be her first in nearly thirty years and is certain to be the milestone event of the 2011 touring calendar.

Dolly Parton fans with Visa Credit, Debit or Prepaid cards can gain access to presale tickets through Visa Entertainment. Advance Dolly Parton tour tickets across all seating categories will be available from 9.00am (local time), Tuesday 14th June 2011 until 5.00pm (local time), Thursday 16th June 2011 or until tickets sell out at www.visaentertainment.com.au. Visa Entertainment members purchasing through the pre-sale will also be granted complimentary membership to Dolly Parton's "Dollyite" fan club, offering access to exclusive content and promotions.

For more information on becoming an Australian Dollyite, visit Dolly's official website www.dollypartonmusic.net.

TICKETS FOR ALL SHOWS GO ON SALE MONDAY 20TH JUNE, 9AM

Dolly Parton : TOUR DETAILS

Tuesday 8th November Burswood Dome, Perth
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

Saturday 12th November Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

Tuesday 15th November Acer Arena, Sydney
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th November Hope Estate, Hunter Valley
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd November Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

Friday 25th & Saturday 26th November Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849