DOLLY PARTON - DOLLY PARTON'S LIBRARY WINS AWARD

Country veteran DOLLY PARTON has been awarded the READING WORKS award in Nashville, Tennessee.

The 58-year-old busty blonde was recognised for her work on her IMAGINATION LIBRARY which aims to provide one book every month to children under the age of five in Nashville.

The award was presented yesterday (01MAR04) by Governor PHIL BREDESEN, who donated $2 million (GBP1.05 million) in his budget for the programme which Parton hopes will sweep America.

During her acceptance speech she told of her family upbringing with her 11 siblings and father who was illiterate, saying, "He was more proud of children calling me 'the book lady' than anything else I've done."