The country music star Dolly Parton brought a touch of Tennessee glamour to the South Yorkshire town of Rotherham today, but aroused rather the wrong passions in some of her council hosts.

Miss Parton delighted the audience at the rather incongruous setting of the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham with a typically belting rendition of her hit “9 to 5,” following the UK launch of her children’s literacy scheme Imagination Library.

But Miss Parton’s visit caused a stir of an unfamiliar kind among some Rotherham councillors, who complained that democracy – in the form of a one-hour town hall meeting - had been delayed for the whims of Council Leader Roger Stone, a dedicated Dolly fan.

Mr Stone was introduced to Imagination Library during a visit to Nashville last year on official council and chamber of commerce business. He later persuaded her to choose Rotherham for the UK launch of the project, which, funded by her Dollywood Foundation, posts books to children every month up until the age of five - and joined her on stage today.

Though Miss Parton’s visit and her initiative was broadly welcomed, there was outrage in some quarters at the decision to delay a council meeting by one hour so that councillors could rub shoulders with the star at a lunch. Tony Mannion, an independent councillor, claimed that his colleagues had been blinded by Miss Parton’s charms to the detriment of vital council business.

Mr Mannion, who boycotted the lunch, told The Times, “I have nothing against Dolly Parton. Not that I know much about her except that she sang 9 to 5. That’s about the top and bottom of my knowledge. And I think the literacy scheme is a good idea. My objection is over the timing. We have vital business to discuss, for example the siting of a power station in the middle of a nature reserve. And we have few enough council meetings as it is.

“I’ve spoken to the Labour leader. Apparently, he’s a Dolly Parton fan. I suppose my complaints will fall on deaf ears and that some might say it’s a storm in a D-cup, or double D-cup. But it’s the principle.”

Mr Stone, however, insisted that the postponement of the meeting was appropriate and his personal affection for Miss Parton and her music had nothing to do with her invitation. “It’s being said I’m this fanatical country and western fan. Well, I do like country and western, but I like all sorts of music, like Elvis, for example, because I’m of that age,” he said. “I admire Dolly Parton, but that’s it. This is one man’s objection.”

Miss Parton, for her part, appeared oblivious to the furore her visit had prompted. Strutting the stage in an emerald green dress and shaking her trademark bottle-blonde hair, she enthused over the warm and friendliness of the people of Rotherham, before quipping: "But people sure have weird accents around here!"

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