Dolly Parton

It’s out with the old and in with the oldies for our dear Dolly Parton, that painted hill girl who broke the hearts of Merle and Porter and who, with Judy Garland, is the fresh-water source of American drag. Her very Dollyness overshadows, powders and rouges her true accomplishments, most notably her leap from buxom sight gag to one of America’s greatest living songwriters. This trip through, as part of her “Vintage” tour, she’s no longer full-on bluegrass; instead, she supplements her classics with covers of vaguely topical ’60s songs, such as “Turn, Turn, Turn” and “Blowing in the Wind.” Some take this to mean that Parton has gone political, but she has always been political, especially about sex, and often with a pluck and clarity that these old protest songs lack. Dylan and Seeger sang about a world changing; with songs like “Just Because I’m a Woman,” Dolly fixed to change it herself. Other recent covers offer reason to hope — “Me and Bobby McGee” — and reason to fear — “Those Were the Days.”