Dolly Parton - in her own words

Country legend Dolly Parton brings her live show to Birmingham's NIA on July 2. We look back at her career - in her own words.

Dolly on her appearance: "I'm a little bitty person. It's just my boobs and hair that are so big."

Dolly on her female ideals: "My look came from a very serious place: a country girl's idea of glamour. I had nothing growing up, but I always wanted to be 'sexy', even before I knew what the word was. I would see pictures of women in magazines, what they called the town tramp, but seriously I thought they were beautiful."

Dolly on keeping her image: "I don't have great hair so I love piling on the wigs. I'm short so I wear tall shoes. I have no taste and no style and nobody cares. I love it."

Dolly on rumours surrounding her personal life: "If I ain't done it, I'm capable of it or I just ain't got round to doing it yet."

Dolly on faith: "Everybody has their own idea of God and God is just there for all of us. I think so many people live their whole life in fear and doubt and shame. I just feel that God is my friend, my co-producer, my partner."

Dolly on her stage persona: "I always say people don't pay to see me be me, they pay to see me be them. They think, 'I would love to have the nerve to dress like her or behave as outrageously.' I'll probably wind up looking this way in my coffin."

Dolly on her musical legacy: "I know I'm serious about my work, and if it doesn't happen in my lifetime, if the stuff is worth keeping, it'll last long after I'm gone."

Here is a recent ITN report of Dolly's visit to Rotherham to promote her literacy charity, which works with young people.