In the first of two programmes, Michael Ball fulfills his longtime ambition to meet the woman who's bigger than country music itself, Dolly Parton.

The series, which coincides with the release of Dolly's CD and DVD package 'Live From London,' breaks loose from the familiar "life story" approach to this Nashville superstar. Instead, in a long and revealing conversation, Ball finds out what makes Parton tick, how she keeps her family life private, how she became a canny businesswoman and how even she takes the wig off sometimes.

Also in tonight's first part, Dolly talks about why she turned down Elvis and how she went about writing songs for the Broadway production of her hit movie '9 To 5.' Plus live versions of 'Jolene,' 'Two Doors Down' and the song she reveals as her personal favourite from her catalogue. Show less