Parton reschedules US tour dates

Parton's album, Dolly's Backwoods Barbie, is out on 26 February

Country star Dolly Parton has rescheduled 12 concert dates after postponing the US leg of her Backwoods Barbie tour owing to backache.

The singer had been due to start the tour in Minneapolis later this month but was advised to rest her back for between six and eight weeks.

The US dates will now begin on 22 April in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and will end on 11 May in Dallas, Texas.

"I'm mending very nicely and will be fit as a fiddle soon," Parton said.

"We're anxious for you to see our new show and play you some of the new songs.

"Look forward to seeing you soon," she added in a statement on her website.

UK dates

Tickets for the original dates will be valid for the new concerts.

Earlier this week, Parton joked that her back ache was down to the size of her bosom.

"You try wagging these puppies around a while and see if you don't have a back problem," she said.

The European leg of her tour, which begins in Sweden on 13 June, is unaffected by the new plans.

Parton, whose hits include Nine to Five and I Will Always Love You, will play nine dates in the UK.