'Dr. Dolly' Wows, Advises Tenn. Graduates

There's 'a heart beneath these,' Parton tells capacity crowd

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted May 8, 2009 4:36 PM CDT

(Newser) – Dolly Parton roused the crowd at the University of Tennessee’s graduation ceremonies today, during which the singer/tycoon received an honorary doctorate, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. “I am Dr. Dolly!” she said. “When people say something about ‘double-d,’ they will be thinking of something entirely different.” Parton also had some sage advice: Your parents “are as proud of you as they will probably ever be,” she told the grads. “Seems to me like a good time for you to ask them for a loan.”

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (1)]

Dolly Parton. (AP Photo)

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (AP Photo)

Dolly Parton with actress Megan Hilty and actress Allison Janney during a news conference for the musical "9 To 5" in New York. (AP Photo)

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If I have but one hope for you, it is that you be more. Now, people are always asking me what do you want people to say about you 100 years from now? I always say, 'I want them to say, dang, don't she look good for her age?' - Dolly Parton

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Snarfeh

May 8, 2009 10:36 AM CDT

Yeah, but I doubt you got a heart like Dolly's. I've never cared for her music, but I adore her and not for what covers her heart. She does have a BIG heart and she's funny as hell. Years ago, a Rolling Stone interviewer took her on a picnic for her interview with the magazine. He included a jar of cherries in the picnic basket and Dolly exclaimed it had been a long time since she had cherries. She went on to say that as a matter of fact, she couldn't remember when she last HAD a cherry and then added slyly that if she had ever had one, it got pushed so far back, she used it as a taillight. I luff her.

jaguarj

May 8, 2009 10:08 AM CDT

Oh Please....I have a heart beneath mine too!

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Knoxville News Sentinel (Source Grid »)

Entertainment • Celebrity • US

music • University of Tennessee • country music • graduation • Dolly Parton • commencement speech • Knoxville • honorary degree

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'Dr. Dolly' Wows, Advises Tenn. Graduates