The country music star Dolly Parton brought a touch of Tennessee glamour to the South Yorkshire town of Rotherham today, but aroused rather the wrong passions in some of her council hosts. Miss Parton delighted the audience at the rather incongruous setting of the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham with a typically belting rendition of her hit “9 to 5,” following the UK launch of her children’s literacy scheme Imagination Library. But Miss Parton’s visit caused a stir of an unfamiliar kind among some Rotherham councillors, who complained that democracy – in the form of a one-hour town hall meeting - had been delayed for the whims of Council Leader Roger Stone, a dedicated Dolly fan. Mr Stone was introduced to Imagination Library during a visit to Nashville last year on official council and chamber of commerce business. He later persuaded her to choose Rotherham for the UK launch of the project, which, funded by her Dollywood Foundation, posts books to children every month up until the age of five - and joined her on stage today.
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