Sexy At 68, Dolly Parton Talks Country Music, Bosoms, And Childhood Literacy [Video]

Dolly Parton doesn’t have time to contemplate the fact that she’ll turn 69 on Jan. 19. The country music legend is still singing strong, while making time to give back through the project that she calls the Imagination Library. Founded in 1995, it provides children with books beginning when they’re infants, reported Taste Of Country.

“We give books to children once a month from the time they’re born to the time they start school. It teaches them to love books.”

And as shown below, Dolly stays active in the early childhood literacy program.

Dolly’s father inspired her to start the program. When she realized that he could neither read nor write, Dolly vowed to help future generations avoid that plight.

Thus far, Parton’s Imagination Library has given children 70 million books, and Dolly takes pride in being recognized as the Book Lady rather than the Singer With the Big Hair.

“The little kids don’t know that I sing or write, but everywhere I go, they say, ‘Thank you for the books,’ which makes me feel great.”

Reflecting on her father, Dolly notes that she also feels good that he heard that new title.

“My dad was so proud of me when I started this little program,” Parton now recalls. “He lived long enough to hear the kids call me the Book Lady!”

But when it comes to her music, Dolly isn’t content to relax and bask in what she’s accomplished. Parton is credited for one of the biggest music moments in 2014, when she drew one of the largest audiences ever at the music festival, according to Digital Spy.

http://youtu.be/HOfANDHM6F0

Parton even played on the saxophone as well as enchanting the crowd so much that they sang hits such as “Jolene” right along with the country crooner.

But it’s challenging to talk about Dolly Parton without referring to the total package – and that means the big hair and even more generous cleavage. Parton recognizes that, reports the Guardian.

However, Dolly hopes that fans and even foes will look at her and go beyond the extravagant gems, cosmetics, and puffy hairstyles.

“I’ve been around a long time. Long enough for people to realize that there’s more to me than the big hair and the phoney stuff. The magic with me is that I look completely false when I’m completely real.”

Parton is also famous for her jokes, poking fun at herself rather than allowing others to do so. Among her most well-known such quotes:

“I was the first woman to burn my bra – it took the fire department four days to put it out.

“People make jokes about my bosoms, why don’t they look underneath the breasts at the heart? It’s obvious I’ve got big ones and if people want to assume they’re not mine, then let them.”

Relatively unknown is Dolly’s relationship to Miley Cyrus. As she discusses below, Miley is Parton’s goddaughter, and she’s mighty proud of the young woman.

As the Inquisitr reported, Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez turned 2014 into the Era Of The Big Booty. And Nicki Minaj also helped with her own entry in the derriere debate.

Oh yeah, I put out a song embracing the bootay and the world stopped and hailed the booty so…. shout out to all the bootys out there!”

But can Dolly Parton’s power turn 2015 into the Year Of The Big Bosom? What do you think? Post your comments below.

[Photo by Angela Weiss/Getty Images for SAG Foundation]