Bredesen Inducts Parton into Music City Walk of Fame
Monday, November 09, 2009 | 08:12am
NASHVILLE- Governor Phil Bredesen attended the Music City Walk of Fame Induction Ceremony Sunday to present friend and music legend Dolly Parton with her star which will be placed on Nashville’s Music Mile. Dolly Parton shared the honors with Charlie Daniels and Kid Rock, as well as the late Ernest Tubb and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge founder Hattie Louise “Tootsie” Bess.
Governor Bredesen spoke about Parton’s contributions to the world through music and her fame across the globe.
“Dolly is a household name, and there is simply no one else like her in the entire world. She is a singer, actress, and the most recognized female country performer of all time. She has sold 100 million records, and her Broadway show “9 to 5” was nominated for four Tony awards, including best original score. She is a successful businesswoman and the creator of the award-winning theme park, Dollywood.
Bredesen also spoke about his experience working with Dolly to expand her Imagination Library through the Governor’s Book from Birth Foundation, as well as her commitment to the community.
“Dolly Parton is an original and true superstar with a lifetime’s worth of accomplishments, who never puts her feet up at the end of the day to say, “I’ve made it. Dolly is always looking for the next big idea, the next way to share her talents, the next way to give back whether it’s acting, creating a Broadway musical or providing opportunities for the community she came from.
“Years ago she started a program to send free books to children in her hometown of Sevierville, with the goal of getting kids reading early to help them achieve in school and realize their dreams. I approached Dolly about joining efforts to take the program statewide. She thought it was a great idea too, and today, five years later, the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation and the Imagination Library have delivered more than 6 million books to more than 300,000 children in all 95 Tennessee counties.
“That’s how Dolly works. She finds a great idea and takes it as far as she can go. She’s not only contributed to the world of music, but she’s also changed the world we live in.”
Bredesen thanked each of the stars for their contributions to the culture of Tennessee, specifically the community of Nashville. With this seventh class of inductees, there are now more than 40 stars along the Walk of Fame.
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