Dolly Parton isn't interested in living on through artificial intelligence. The "Jolene" singer was asked about AI technology during a press conference in London where she appeared to promote her upcoming album "Rockstar." "I think I've left a great body of work behind," Parton said, adding she doesn't know how "they'll keep me around." She went on to say that she hopes albums like "Rockstar" will preserve her everlasting legacy, and that she'll "have to decide on how much of that high-tech stuff I want to be involved in because I don't want to leave my soul here on this Earth." With a laugh, Parton said she feels like with that kind of technology she'd be "grounded here forever, so when I'm gone I want to fly with it." "But I'll be around, we'll find ways to keep me here," she said reassuringly, going on to thank the person who asked her the question and saying, "I'm glad to know you still want me around." For the time being, at least, Parton isn't going anywhere. The country music star is set to release her hotly-anticipated album "Rockstar," marking her first-ever rock and roll record featuring collaborations with music legends such as Sir Paul McCartney, Elton John and Stevie Nicks. The album also features collaborations with her goddaughter Miley Cyrus, Lizzo and Pink. Video below: Dolly Parton now holds 10 Guinness World RecordsParton's foray into the rock genre comes after she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 after initially opting to "respectfully bow out," saying in a statement on her Instagram at the time that she didn't feel she'd "earned that right.""Rockstar" will be released globally on Nov. 17.

COLUMBUS, Ohio —

Ohio has turned a big page with its Imagination Library this month, which is tied to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

That's the statewide reading program designed for the very youngest children, from birth up to age five.

Parton founded the program in 1995. Parton's Imagination Library initially delivered books to children in Tennessee but quickly expanded worldwide. The goal of the Imagination Library is to help accelerate children's development through reading.

The program was launched in Ohio in March of last year, back when the pandemic hit. Talk about tough timing.

But data this December showed young children in this state have really taken to it.

So much so that when it comes to books and young kids, one could safely state it is milestone season in Ohio.

First Lady Fran DeWine was the one who started it in the Buckeye State and is pleased with the response.

Forty-three percent of Ohio children up to age five are now part of her Imagination Library. That's 301,457 kids and that's the best in the country.

"So, a state like Tennessee has been doing to for a long time and they have a higher percentage," she told us this week at the governor's residence in Bexley. "But we have more kids getting it every month than any other state."

As she talked about it, she showed WLWT a tree the DeWine's got at a dairy near their family home in Cedarville.

"I love it because it's got the little Imagination Library books on it that we made. The little tiny ones here and lots of the fun books. And also, we decorated with gingerbread and the popcorn and the cranberries," she said.

Children's Hospital administers the program in Hamilton County where 47% of the kids who have enrolled receive a free book each month in the mail, addressed to them instead of their parents.

The first lady believes that is the hook.

"I saw 'em wrap the wrapper off, you know, pull it off," she explained about the reaction from her grandkids. "And, 'read to me, read to me, grandma.' And, 'I thought this is a great program.'"

DeWine met Parton in Cleveland five years ago and hearing her speak about how it is helping children in Tennessee to read inspired DeWine to follow suit and make books available to as many Ohio children as possible.

"No matter what time the kids, how old the kids are when they start the Imagination Library, the very first book they get is 'The Little Engine That Could'," she said while holding several of the most popular mailings. "That's Dolly Parton's favorite."

Science suggests a child's brain is 80% developed by age 3.

So, DeWine's message is to not let that opportunity go unused.

A Children's Hospital study showed after three years in the program, children were 15 points higher in the kindergarten readiness category, which is what the program is designed to do.

Get them to the starting line.

If interested, you can enroll your child in a matter of minutes by visiting OhioImaginationLibrary.org and click on enroll.

Dolly Parton is saying thanks, but no thanks, to Tennessee lawmakers who want to build a statue in her honor at the capitol in Nashville.

In a statement posted to Twitter Thursday morning, Parton said she was “honored and humbled by their intention but I have asked the leaders of the state legislature to remove the bill from any and all consideration.”

“Given all that is going on in the world, I don’t think putting me on a pedestal is appropriate at this time,” her statement reads.

A state representative proposed the idea last month to recognize all Parton has contributed to the state. The statue would have been paid for with a mix of monetary gifts and donations.

Parton has used her fame and fortune for several large philanthropic causes. In 1995, she started the Imagination Library to promote children’s literacy, which has grown into an international organization. Every month, the organization sends out more than one million books to children under age 5.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Dollywood Foundation has focused on Mountain Tough, which offers resources to those impacted by COVID-19, including counseling access and shopping assistance.

And notably, last year she donated a million dollars to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help develop the Moderna coronavirus vaccine.

Parton’s statement Thursday left the door open to the possibility of a statue in the future.

“I hope, though, that somewhere down the road several years from now or perhaps after I’m gone if you still feel I deserve it, then I’m certain I will stand proud in our great State Capitol as a grateful Tennessean,” Parton’s statement reads.

“In the meantime, I’ll continue to try to do good work to make this great state proud.”