Nobody pokes more fun at Dolly Parton 鈥� all hair, sequins, nine-inch nails and five-inch stilettos 鈥� than the country superstar herself.
Parton was celebrated for her musical achievements and philanthropic work as MusiCares Person of the Year on Friday night. She鈥檚 the first country artist to be saluted in the tribute鈥檚 29-year history.
Garth Brooks, Brandi Carlile, Miley Cyrus, Shawn Mendes, Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson, Katy Perry, Pink, Chris Stapleton and Don Henley were among those honouring the 73-year-old singer-songwriter two days before the Grammy Awards.
鈥淎ll of my life I have been known for two things. Well, not them,鈥� the well-endowed Parton joked in a bawdy acceptance speech. 鈥淚鈥檝e also been known as a singer and songwriter too. Although I鈥檓 not complaining. Ol鈥� Pancho and Lefty鈥檚 been pretty good to me. Everybody always expects me to do a boob joke and I like to do that right up front.鈥�
Surprising Parton with her award and earning a standing ovation were Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, who teamed with Parton for two successful 鈥淭rio鈥� albums. It was a rare public appearance for Ronstadt, who can鈥檛 sing anymore because of Parkinson鈥檚 disease, which Parton mentioned.
鈥淚t has been a wonderful journey,鈥� Parton said.
As Parton rushed to embrace Harris and Ronstadt, her award crashed to the floor. It appeared to survive intact.
Parton said people ask her about it being a man鈥檚 world when she got into the music business in the 1960s.
鈥淚 never met a man that I didn鈥檛 like and I never met a man whose (rear) I couldn鈥檛 kick if he didn鈥檛 treat me with the right respect,鈥� she said, drawing raucous cheers.
Earlier, Parton watched from the audience while other performers sampled her vast catalogue.
Wearing a black jacket with Parton鈥檚 visage on the back, Pink kicked off the evening with a powerhouse rendition of the man-stealing song 鈥淛olene.鈥�
Gospel singer Yolanda Adams received a standing ovation for 鈥淚 Will Always Love You,鈥� the Parton-penned song famously covered by Whitney Houston.
鈥淵olanda, you killed that,鈥� said Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town.
Cyrus, who is Parton鈥檚 goddaughter, and Mendes dueted on 鈥淚slands in the Stream鈥� with Mark Ronson on guitar. Grammy nominee Carlile and Nelson sang 鈥淓verything鈥檚 Beautiful (In Its Own Way).鈥�
鈥淲e love you, Doll,鈥� Nelson said.
Backed by a horn section, Stapleton tackled 鈥�9 to 5,鈥� getting the audience clapping along to Parton鈥檚 ode to empowered yet challenged working women.
Musgraves and Perry teamed up on 鈥淗ere You Come Again,鈥� with Perry decked out in lilac fringe with matching boots and cowboy hat.
鈥淲e want to be just like her when we grow up,鈥� Perry told the crowd.
Brooks and his wife Trisha Yearwood teamed up on 鈥淥ld Flames Can鈥檛 Hold a Candle To You,鈥� sealing it with a kiss.
Henley and Vince Gill strummed guitars on 鈥淓agle When She Flies.鈥�
Backed by a choir, Leon Bridges and Mavis Staples took the crowd to church on 鈥淣ot Enough.鈥� Bridges got into the spirit of the evening with white cowboy boots and a denim jacket with his name and a white horse on the back and red barn patch on the front.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been such a thrill for me tonight to see all these great artists singing songs I鈥檝e written or been a part of,鈥� Parton said. 鈥淲atching them is sort of like watching porn. You鈥檙e not personally involved but you still get off on it.鈥�
The crowd roared and Parton said, 鈥淗ey, don鈥檛 blame me. At my age you鈥檒l take anything you can get.鈥�
She closed the evening by performing 鈥淐oat of Many Colours.
鈥淚 had my nails too long to pick tonight because I鈥檓 gettin鈥� ready for the Grammys,鈥� Parton explained in having Linda Perry play guitar.
Friday鈥檚 dinner and auction at the Los Angeles Convention Center generated more than $6.7 million, Recording Academy president Neil Portnow said.
MusiCares, run by the Recording Academy, provides financial assistance to individuals in the music industry during times of financial, medical and personal need.
鈥淥f course you know we hillbillies need MusiCares too,鈥� Parton said. 鈥淲e may not have sex, drugs and rock 鈥榥 roll, but two out of three ain鈥檛 bad.鈥�
Beth Harris, The Associated Press
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