With her overripe lips and indefatigable bosom, Dolly Parton looks like a Barbie doll fending off advanced middle age. But her charm is as genuine as her bits are fake, and she’s always got a self-deprecating quip to hand. “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap”; “If I hadn’t been a woman, I’d have been a drag queen”; “The higher your hair, the closer you are to God”—these are just some of the gems you’re bound to hear at her June 27-8 show at The O2.

Dolly certainly has a mouth on her: she can belt out country rompers like 9 to 5 just as easily as she can croon despairingly in Jolene or I Will Always Love You. Get past the garish make-up and the brassy persona and you’ll hear something truly distinctive: Dolly’s sometimes delicate, sometimes steely soprano voice.

What	Dolly Parton, The 02
Where	O2 Arena, Peninsula Square , SE10 0DX \| MAP
Nearest tube	North Greenwich (underground)
When	27 Jun 14 – 28 Jun 14, 6:30 PM – 12:00 AM
Price	£68.00
Website	Click here to book via axs.com

What the critics say

THE GUARDIAN

"Though she’s been a music industry professional for more than 50 years, the relentless entertainment engine that is Dolly Parton Superstar yet inspires wonder for practice of her talent and the focus her craft… the realisation inevitably hits at some point: my god, this woman is 68 years old. I’d recommend you go see Dolly Parton in concert not because she’s getting older - but certainly because you are.

THE 02

Getting invited to play at The O2 means you’ve made it to the big time. This is because The O2 is really, really big. It’s the second largest arena in Europe (after the Manchester Arena), and it is capable of fitting 20,000 people under its strange sci-fi dome. The area it’s located in, North Greenwich, was built up to commemorate the millennium (hence the dome), so not to worry: there are almost too many restaurants and bars surrounding the arena to chose from. If you’re feeling a bit more daring, you can even climb up the dome. You might miss the music, but the views will be stunning.

Dolly Parton, The 02

With her overripe lips and indefatigable bosom, Dolly Parton looks like a Barbie doll fending off advanced middle age...