Dolly Parton Named Lifetime Member of Girls Scouts of Tanasi Council

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – Dolly Parton is a country singer, songwriter, movie star, amusement park owner and philanthropist. Now she's a Girl Scout, too.

Parton, 60, was named a lifetime member of Girls Scouts of Tanasi Council during a presentation before 1,000 Girl Scouts at her Dollywood theme park Friday evening.

"While I was never a Girl Scout myself when I was a kid, I always wanted to be," Parton said in a statement. "This great honor lets me live out a dream and to be part of an organization that stands for many of the same values I do and Dollywood does."

Parton accepted a lifetime membership pin and led the audience in the Girl Scout Promise.

Then she honored 28 girls who received the Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts.

"Dolly realizes the importance of a program that helps girls grow into young women of courage and confidence," said Glenda McCarter-Johnson, board chairwoman of Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council and Parton's childhood friend. "She wants to let these girls know just how much they are appreciated for the work they do for the community."

The Tanasi Council has 10,000 members in 16 counties in eastern Tennessee.