Author leads region's tributes to Dolly Parton

Glam rock legend Noddy Holder's wife, who wrote a novel about a Dolly Parton tribute act, says she has "never met a single person who doesn't adore" the legendary country artist.

The singer, actress and philanthropist, who has died at the age of 80, was known as the Queen of Country.

Suzan Holder, who was born in Halesowen in the West Midlands, said people would call Parton a dumb blonde, but "you underestimate Dolly Parton at your peril".

"Dolly Parton's ethos was 'never dim your light to make somebody else feel better, shine as brightly as you want to', and I just think that's just a beautiful message."

Holder said the singer-songwriter was "such a figure and such an enormous presence in the world that you just think she's gonna be around forever".

She added: "She would get to the punchline of any joke about Dolly Parton faster than you could - and be funnier for it."

The author and wife of the former frontman of Wolverhampton band Slade wrote the novel What Would Dolly Do? featuring a tribute act "who can't really find her own way in the world".

Holder said the real-life Parton "knew exactly who she was and how she [wanted] to present herself to the world".

The writer stated: "When I go round talking... [at] bookshops or to readers about my books... I have never met a single person who doesn't adore Dolly Parton, whether that's through [music], through her comedy kind of timing, through her personality, through her philanthropy and charity work."

Asked whether she and the ex-Slade performer sang Islands In the Stream together, as Parton did with Kenny Rogers, Holder replied "that would be telling, wouldn't it?"

"But he [Noddy] has been known to get his guitar out. It's never been done publicly, but I mean you can't beat a bit of [a] Dolly and Kenny duet, can you?"

Simon Parton runs Rodeos BBQ, a country music bar and restaurant in Wolverhampton and Birmingham, and said the singer-songwriter "sort of brought that kindness to everybody, didn't she?"

Parton, who said he had the same surname as her "by chance", explained a Dolly tribute act was on at the venues every month, including Friday this week.

"I spoke to [her]... last night and she was in tears she was and she was literally just getting ready to go and perform.

"I said 'I'm sure Dolly [would] want you to do it' and she sort of pulled herself together a bit and got out there."

Parton said "everybody's up having pictures" after an image of the actual Dolly was added at the Birmingham site.

Jolene was the most requested song, he stated, but also revealed "we literally just put 9 to 5 on" and "they're like running to the dance floor".

A Wolverhampton resident, Richard Jones, said Parton "left us with such a great legacy", adding she "had such a huge heart, she had so much love to give".

Asked to name his favourite song, Jones replied: "There's so many to choose from... but the one that always comes back to me is 9 to 5.

"It just encapsulates what you need to do to face the day."

A Dolly Parton tribute act from Worcestershire has described the singer as a "true icon".

Loren Howland, from Droitwich, has performed as Lolly Parton for the past 10 years, singing at events across the UK.

"I kind of lived in this little bubble where I thought only people over a certain age really liked her," she said.

"What I've realised over the years is that Dolly is for everyone."

Worcester musician Erica Jean - whose song Run Rose Run is based on the book by Parton and James Patterson - described Parton as "an intergenerational performer".

"Being unapologetically herself is something everyone's taken inspiration from," the 21-year-old said.

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