Dolly Parton continues to dream her dream

'Dream More' by Dolly Parton was inspired by a commencement speech she gave at the University of Tennessee.

Dolly Parton's advice is to dream more Commencement speech becomes basis for new bookA Broadway show is in Dolly Parton's future

5:06PM EST November 26. 2012 - Country superstar Dolly Parton, 66, is out with Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You (Putnam). It's an inspirational book that grew out of a 2009 commencement speech she gave at the University of Tennessee where she told the graduates to follow their dreams, no matter what. USA TODAY caught up with the famous blonde by phone from ?Nashville.

Q. You got a standing ovation for your speech! What did you say?
A. I was scared to death! I can get out and talk all day, but I don't think I'm smart enough to qualify for that kind of talk. But I worked hard at it and I think people can always relate to the rags-to-riches stuff. Plus I was in my home area and I sang a little bit, so that didn't hurt any.

Q. You say you were laughed at during your high school graduation when you announced you were going to become a star. Why didn't that stop you?
A. I didn't understand it then. Why are they laughing at that, I wondered? I think it was parents getting a kick out of a kid dreaming that big a dream. I didn't stop, though. That was what I was going to do.

Q. Are there dreams you have you can't tell us about?
A. No, I don't think so. I'd pretty much tell anything.

Q. You say that what's always worked for you is the fact you look so totally artificial, but you're totally real. You have to overcome yourself. And prove how good you are. Seems an odd way to go about it.
A. I don't do it on purpose. I'm a very simple person. I wasn't born a natural beauty and I have my idea about how I look best, according to how I feel inside. So I have to fake it. It's a bit over-exaggerated, but it works because I can handle it.

Q. You have a pet peeve that you have to be punctual. Being on time is keeping a small commitment. You must have a lot of trouble these days.
A. You know, I have really lost so much respect for certain people because of that. If they don't respect you for that, it makes you wonder about them as a person. It drives me crazy when people are late. I'm always on time, sometimes early..

Q. One of your dreams is to write your life history as a Broadway musical. How goes it?
A. I've got the biggest part of the songs done. I'm writing the dialogue now, with some help, of course. But I only lack three or four songs. I have everyone knocking on my door and I'm going to finish it. I'm just not sure I'll go the Broadway route, but I'm going to do it on the stage. Maybe even a movie.

Q. And you dream of your own cosmetics line? We love your quote that it takes a lot of money to look this cheap. Would your line be expensive, high-end, then?
A. That's something you'd think I would have done years ago. I've tried it before with a major company, but I wouldn't let it come out because I didn't think it was right. I pray about it. When it's time, it's time. I think it'll be three different kinds of products. It'll be somewhere between high-end and affordable. Maybe I'll charge rich ladies more.

Q. You're big on children's books. You have that program where you give books away, 40 million so far. Is that because kids need to dream early on?
A . I definitely think it is. They're most impressionable those years between 1 and 5. I do think it's so important.

Q. You've been asked to judge everything from songwriting competitions to drag queen shows. You turn them all down. Why?
A. Well, I'm just so sensitive. I know how everybody feels. I remember every hurt I've ever had. It's hard for me to tell someone they're not good enough. It would be hard for me. I've been offered big money to do it on those big shows. I couldn't do it every week.

Q. You say you'd make a pretty good preacher. Ever thought of the pulpit down the road?
A. You know, when I say preacher, I don't mean that. I'd be a good motivational speaker. Incorporate my music and my stories and help uplift people. You can come from humble beginnings and make it. I'd like to do a movie where I played that part, one of those charismatic woman preacher things. I kind of do that anyway. But I'm not that religious. I've done everything and been everywhere.

Craig Wilson is an award-winning columnist in the LIFE section of USA Today. Some readers even find him amusing.

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