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In “Extra’s” exclusive interview with Dolly Parton today in Nashville, the country legend declared, “I can relate to Sarah Palin. I always say we’re very much alike. Both small town girls. Both a Pentecostalism and we both carry an AK-47.”

Parton kicks off another leg of her “Backwoods Barbie World Tour” on October 17th in Florida and continues through the middle of November.

“Extra’s” full interview with Dolly Parton airs tomorrow, Friday, October 3rd.

For all the latest celebrity news, log onto www.extratv.com.

Dolly Parton

The country legend said she was “humiliated and shocked” last week when Stern staffers mashed up an audio book of hers, stringing together words to form racist and vulgar statements in an ongoing routine on the show. “I would never have such vulgar things come out of my mouth,” Parton said in a statement. “If there was ever going to be a lawsuit, it’s going to be over this.” But Stern claims Parton has no case, as the tape was a parody – and he really likes Dolly, anyway. “She’s had a long career and she’s been hot the whole time,” Stern said yesterday on his show, trying to placate the buxom singer.

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Dolly Parton has hit back against “The Howard Stern Show,” which last week manipulated recordings from one her audio books into seemingly racist and sexually graphic sound bites.

“I have never been so shocked, hurt and humiliated in all my life,” Parton says in a statement. “I cannot believe what Howard Stern has done to me. In a blue million years, I would never have such vulgar things come out of my mouth. They have done editing or some sort of trickery to make this horrible, horrible thing. Please accept my apology for them and certainly know I had nothing to do with this.”

“If there was ever going to be a lawsuit, it’s going to be over this,” she continued. “Just wanted you to know that I am completely devastated by this.”

The “Stern” show frequently utilizes audio book recordings in this fashion; altered clips from “Star Trek” actor George Takei became a staple of the program in recent years.

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Dolly Parton visited the woods overlooking Douglas Lake near the Great Smoky Mountains in designer buckskins and 4-inch heels. But she knew she wasn’t the star of this show. It was a young American bald eagle.

The eagle was blown from its nest several weeks ago in Florida. On Thursday, it was returned to the wild by the American Eagle Foundation, which is based at the 62-year-old singer’s Dollywood theme park.

Some 90 eagles have been released from the same spot since the 1990s. But this marked the first time that their country music benefactor had seen it in person.

Before she helped open the cage and watched the bird soar away, Parton named it “Liberty.”

“I thought that sounded better than Baldy,” she said.

DOLLY Parton says her storied boobs, affectionately nicknamed “shock” and “awe,” belong to all of mankind. “They do seem like public property in a way. They served me well – I don’t know if I’m supporting them or they’re supporting me,” the country legend, 62, tells next month’s Ladies’ Home Journal. “I’ve always had nice ones but of course I’ve had ‘em jacked up a bit. And they’re part of the persona – it always takes a little pressure off me.”

Country star Dolly Parton has blasted the North Carolina dinner theatre bosses who fired her brother for onstage drunkeness.

The singer’s younger brother, Randy, was sacked from his namesake theatre in Roanoke Rapids at the beginning of the month after venue bosses reportedly found him under the influence of alcohol.

But his big sister insists Randy is just being used as “a scapegoat” for a failing enterprise.

She says, “I know in my heart that Randy gave it his best effort.

Unfortunately, now things aren’t working as well as everyone hoped, everyone is pointing fingers and naturally no one wants to take the blame.”

Randy Parton, who has occasionally performed in his sister’s band, was also reported to have sworn at audience members during a show in the days leading up to his dismissal.

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Dolly Parton said Monday she feels like a part of her died along with her old duet partner, Porter Wagoner. But she said she was grateful that she was able to spend a few final hours with the man who launched her career before he succumbed to cancer Sunday.

“Part of him will always live through me and my music as he was my first big break,” Parton said.

The 80-year-old Grand Ole Opry star and showman died of lung cancer Sunday in a Nashville hospice, after being transferred there Friday from a hospital.

Parton said she was there with his family, sang for him and prayed with him.

“It felt good that I had the opportunity to say goodbye properly,” Parton said.

Wagoner had a streak of hits in the 1960s and ’70s, and enjoyed a comeback in recent months with a new album.

To many longtime fans, though, he may be best remembered for his sparkly rhinestone suits and for singing with Parton on his TV show from 1967 to 1974.

Marty Stuart, who produced Wagoner’s last album, the critically acclaimed “Wagonmaster,” said he grew up watching his TV show and they later became close friends.

Stuart was one of the musicians who backed Wagoner this summer when he opened for the influential rock group the White Stripes at Madison Square Garden, a show that underscored the aging singer’s newfound popularity with a fresh wave of young fans.

“He was a masterful showman who understood the art of the final act,” Stuart said. “He left the world on top.”

Stuart said Wagoner had been invited to light the nation’s Christmas tree at the Pageant of Peace celebration in Washington, D.C., next month.

“One of the last things he said to me was, ‘You’re gonna have to call the president and tell him I won’t be able to sing him any Christmas songs this year. Maybe next year,’” Stuart recalled.

Country music singer Patty Loveless said Wagoner was a mentor to her in her early years and became like family to her.

“He encouraged me and helped me to fulfill my dreams and was truly an inspiration,” Loveless said. “I love him and I miss him already.”

The Grand Ole Opry announced Monday that funeral arrangements would be open to the public. Visitation will be Wednesday at a local funeral home, with a funeral on Thursday at the Grand Ole Opry House.