Dolly Parton tour of Oz back on after tour bus debacle
Dolly Parton’s management were reportedly on the brink of calling off the country and western singer’s tour of Australia in November because the country’s transport regulations deemed her tour bus too big for roads in Oz.
The 65-year-old singer never goes anywhere without her tour bus, preferring to travel on her own customised bus as opposed to staying in 5 star hotels and flying to the venues where she’s performing.
However Dolly’s usual mode of tour transport came under serious threat when the Australian customs department found out about the size of the huge vehicles, and ruled they were too large for Australian roads and banned them from entering the country. But Dolly’s management team stood firm saying: no bus, no tour, which forced the officials to reconsider their decision.
After two months of wrangling, the transport minister in Australia, Anthony Albanese, stepped in to help smooth things over to allow Dolly Parton’s 46 foot bus entry into the country to allow the tour to go ahead. The politician said it was “common sense” to grant a temporary reprieve and allow the buses into Australia as Dolly Parton touring the country can only be good for the fans and the economy.
In an official statement from Dolly Parton’s people, the Jolene singer is said to be “very pleased” that the Australian leg of her Better Day World Tour can go ahead and has even promised a “huge cuddle” for minister Albanese who was instrumental in making it happen.