Parton Is Pure Perfection [PHOTOS]

Dolly Parton's first North American Tour in a quarter-century is called "Pure and Simple." Sometimes simple can also be stupendous and Dolly was just that.

There was no opening act Tuesday night at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. Dolly appeared on the stage in all white just after 7:30 and her adoring fans showered her with cheers and applause. She paid them back with an outstanding performance none of them will ever forget.

Dolly Parton is 70 years old. I think about some other performers I've seen on stage at that age and let's just say their age is evident. Dolly? NOT ONE BIT. She's still got all the charisma she ever had, the laugh that could sell an ice bag to Eskimos, and her singing voice is as good as ever. She sounded splendid. She didn't just impress with her voice, though.

Dolly played banjo, piano, saxophone, harmonica, guitar, and a couple other things that I can't even name during her two hours on stage. She took a 20-minute break, which was about the only clue that things aren't quite as easy for her as they used to be.

Dolly's humor was on full display throughout the show as she joked about her breasts deflating and her flying around the arena. As she began to play the piano, she struggled with her dress and talked about how tight her clothes were. When she ended the show with "I Will Always Love You" she joked about how Whitney Houston got all the credit for the song. Dolly said, "She can have the credit. I just want the cash."

Dolly, you get all the credit this time. "Pure and Simple."