'BUY A CHEAP WIG AND PAD YOUR BOOBS I'M SO EASY TO DO!'

AS COUNTRY MUSIC STAR DOLLY PARTON RECORDS A ROCK ALBUM SHE TALKS ABOUT HER ICONIC LOOK AND DREAM DUETS

- LESLEY JONES

When Dolly Parton struts into the room to meet OK! in bubblegum pink studs and six-inch high silver thigh boots, it’s fair to say that all jaws drop.

At 77 years old, the country music icon looks more incredible than ever. Telling us the secret of her youthful looks is “good doctors, good make-up and good lighting” she laughs, “I try to stay young in spirit and I think sometimes that kind of spills over a little bit. I’ll never be as old as I am.”

Funny and energetic, Dolly’s in town to talk about putting her heart and soul into her forthcoming album, Rockstar, which she says is “one of the most fun things I’ve ever done”. It’s also taken the legend in a new and unexpected direction.

“I feel like a rock star!” she tells us, as she reveals how she’s teamed up with a host of famous friends to embrace her rock’n’roll side for the first time, and has recorded new hard-hitting numbers as well as classics like Free Bird, Purple Rain and We Are The Champions.

“I wanted to see what I could do, and I had to work hard to keep up,” she says, admitting that her loyal country fans may have worried she would leave them behind for good. Instead, she tells us she was proud to debut her storming rock anthem World On Fire at the Academy of Country Music Awards in May so they “could feel like they were part of the journey”.

The star is also bringing a favourite collaborator along for the ride – goddaughter Miley Cyrus, who she’s known “since before she even got here”, has joined her for a very special duet.