Big hair, big lips and big other things will hit the Panthers stage for ‘The Dolly Show’ at the end of the month.
The Weekender spoke with Australian-born Kelly O’Brien over the phone, who is hailed as one of the best Dolly tribute artists in the world, as she walked her terriers around Hertfordshire in the UK.
“I’m sorry,” she said in response to having her British accent pointed out.
“If I talk to Aussies enough, my accent kind of comes back, but I live in a very posh place just outside London.”
The UK West End Star has been crowned the United Kingdom’s best Dolly tribute artist four times running, and it all started with competitions on home soil.
“When I was in Sydney, I used to do loads of competitions – all the RSL’s used to have big competitions for prize money,” O’Brien explained.
At a competition in Marrickville, she sang a Dolly song.
“When I did Dolly, everyone lost their minds, they said I sounded like her, I was short like her, and I looked like her with the wig on,” O’Brien recounted.
“After that, I was doing all the clubs in Sydney, and I was dressing up as a bad Dolly and people still loved it.”
In 2002, the singer packed up and travelled to Germany to perform in ‘Starlight Express’ before moving to London, where her agent friend mentioned the agency needed a Dolly tribute artist.
“At that time, I was a single mum, and I’d split up with my ex-husband already, so with childcare costs and having no family, I thought this was great because I could work once a week instead of three times a week and spend more time with my son,” O’Brien explained.
“I borrowed 10-grand from the bank and then I sat at home and researched Dolly and watched every video to learn the way she talked, the way she walked, everything she did, and got it down as best as I could.”
Her spot-on impressions have made her a stand-out in her field.
“When I’m her, I’m her. I stay in character the entire time,” O’Brien stated.
“Some tribute artists might say, ‘This is a song by Britney Spears and I’m going to sing it for you now’,” O’Brien said before switching to her Dolly voice.
“Whereas I just pretend I’m Dolly from the start and put on the voice and say I’m from Tennessee!”
The tribute artist is even endorsed by members of the Parton family.
“They’re big fans. I know her nephews, her cousins, people associated with her, her publicist, these people know that I’m around,” O’Brien explained.
“I haven’t got direct endorsement from her, she hasn’t come to see my show, but I’m working on it.
“I have met her and when I met her, she was really lovely and I told her what I did for a job and she was really accepting, so I guess in that way she has endorsed it, but I wouldn’t say officially.”
The performance will showcase Dolly through time – from 1967 to current day – and will be full of costume changes, anecdotes, wig changes, and Dollyisms.
And this won’t be O’Brien’s first time performing in Penrith as she returns for a full-circle moment.
“I think I won a competition at Penrith Panthers around 20 years ago; I still have the video!” O’Brien exclaimed.
“I haven’t been back there since then. Coming back now is one of those pinch me moments.”
‘The Dolly Show’ will be at EVAN Theatre on March 29 and tickets range from $59.90 to $69.90. Book your spot online via the Panthers website or at Panthers reception.
Ally Hall
Ally Hall joined the Weekender in 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She's a graduate of the University of South Australia and has previously worked as a Video Journalist with Southern Cross Austereo and as a News Reader with Australian Radio Network.