Dr. Dolly wows them at Rocky Top University

Youngest daughter (Elizabeth) received her bachelor's degree (suma cum laude) two days ago at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. That's the proud graduate with my oldest daughter, Dorothy, in a photo accompanying this blog post.

It was a graduation unlike any I've attended, with country music star, songwriter and actress Dolly Parton as the commencement speaker.

Dolly, the leading female vocalist in the world (with 100 million plus of her records sold) wowed the audience of about 15,000 people and 1,200 graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences with her spirited rendition of UT's national anthem song "Rocky Top."

I don't know all the lines of this tune, even though I've sung it dozens of times at UT football games (think after touchdowns or goal line stands or other pivotal plays by the Big Orange) and imagine the Pride of the Southland Band enlivening the 106,000 fans at Neyland Stadium with "Rocky Top."

I do remember this part:

"Rocky Top, you'll always be, home sweet home to me. Good ole Rocky Top! Rocky Top Tennessee!"

Dolly, born 62 years ago in Locust Ridge, Tenn., in Sevier County (in the Great Smoky Mountains) ran out onto the stage and shouted "Hello UT!" She then "Rocky Topped" 'em like only Dolly can do.

The place rocked and seemed to sizzle with excitement. Never mind that graduations tend to be solemn and deadly serious. Never mind that the stage on which Dolly performed was packed with Ph.D.s in the university powerstructure (deans, vice presidents, and other executive officers at UT) and even Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee.

The little woman with the big you know whats and even bigger heart (she's personally seen to it that children all over the world get a free book in their hands by the time they're 6 years old) elicited plenty of laughter and good old fashioned foot stomping "follow me as I sing this song" rhythmic spirit.

Dolly, the fourth of 12 children, shared her remarkable story of how her dream was always to be a star.

She grew up in a log cabin in the most humble of circumstances. She recalled how she would go out on the porch and scrounge around in the yard for an old tin can. She hosted that can on a pole and that was her microphone. Her audience? Chickens and pigs.

People tried to discourage her from dreaming so big but Dolly never gave up, heading off to Nashville soon as she graduated from high school, with all her belongings in a carboard suitcase.

Now, 40+ yrs. after singing from the front porch of that cabin in the mountains of east Tennessee, Dolly has won eight CMA awards and seven Grammies. She also has 20+ No. 1 songs--among them her astounding "I Will Always Love You" (topping the charts for Dolly in 1973 and 1982 and again for Whitney Houston in 1992.)

Inducted in 1999 into the Country Music Hall of Fame (country music's highest accolade), Dolly is also widely known for her philanthropy (Imagination Library for preschool children and Buddy Program to help stem high school dropouts) and for founding Tennessee's most popular theme park--"Dollywood."

Point being, here's a woman who's come light years from that cabin in rural Tennessee.

But she still has work to do.

At UT, she said he never wants to retire and wants to die (just not right now, thank you) with a smile on her face, while singing or writing or acting.

UT, calling her an authentic Tennessee hero and humanitarian, rightfully awarded her an honorary doctorate.

"Just think, I am Doctor Dolly!" Ms. Parton shouted. "Now when people say something about Double D, they will be thinking of something entirely different...!"

We love you, Doctor Dolly.

By the way, if you've read this far, know that Dolly sang another song, not "Rocky Top," at the commencement ceremony Friday. Definitely no lip synching from Dolly and worth listening to. Didn't catch the song's title, but it's about dreaming and rainbows and mountaintops. Beautiful and touching. Turn up your sound and click on the boldface headline at the start of this blog post to enjoy her singing. Definitely worth a listen!