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Concert Review: Parton Covers 40 Years In Song

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Published: October 21, 2008

CLEARWATER - Dolly Parton is one of the few entertainers who gets a standing ovation before she starts performing.

You could feel the love in packed Ruth Eckerd Hall on Monday night when the 62-year-old singer took the stage for a two-hour concert of new and old songs.

Dressed in a tight white sequined outfit that showed off her famous attributes, Parton joked that she was proud people had paid (as much as $150 a seat) to see her. "I need the money because it costs a lot to look this cheap," she said. "And I leave no rhinestone unturned."

Her act is built around her life and career. Between songs she tells a rags-to-riches story of a simple girl from a religious and dirt-poor family in rural Tennessee.

Reaching back more than 40 years, Parton sang her classic compositions such as "Jolene," about a woman who tried to steal her husband, and "Coat of Many Colors," a tribute to her mother, who raised 12 children.

She also performed songs off her latest album, "Backwoods Barbie," including the title number that will be in the "Nine to Five" musical opening on Broadway in April.

Parton penned lyrics like "I might look artificial, but where it counts, I'm real."

In addition to demonstrating her skills on banjo, fiddle, harmonica, harp, guitar and fife, Parton cut loose on a gospel medley, mixed in some bluegrass, some country and a little rock 'n' roll, including a hoedown version of the Fine Young Cannibal's "She Drives Me Crazy."

Age has not changed her clear, strong voice, which remains impressive on traditional country songs such as "Little Sparrow."

She joked about having a gay following, noting that when she performs on Halloween night, she expects to see an audience dressed in drag. "I'll be looking out at people dressed like me and Sarah Palin," she said.

"I don't plan to retire," she told the audience." I just want to be singing in my sequined dress and shiny boots when I keel over on stage. I would die happy having lived my dream."

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654.

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