The 3rd Annual Dollypalooza - Epic Fan Tribute to Dolly Parton

Fans of the inimitable Dolly Parton came together at the Greenwich Village nightclub Le Poisson Rouge over Labor Day Weekend for The 3rd Annual Dollypalooza - Epic Fan Tribute to Dolly Parton, the annual tribute to all things Dolly.

Hosts World Famous BOB and emcee Bevin Branlandingham brought artists of assorted skill and caliber to the stage, including the bearded and enthusiastic Tammy Cannons, who performed a Dolly mash-up wearing shortie jeans overalls and a green sequined tube top.

He was followed by drag impresario Sequinette. She sported awesome drag as she lip-synced Parton's "Dumb Blonde," singing, "This dumb blonde ain't nobody's fool." Her blonde wig stayed put as she twirled around and around, the wizard sleeves of her long white gown billowing out.

Organizer Dara Barlin took the stage to encourage attendees to be generous while bidding on the three tables of silent auction items in the foyer, including many framed photos of Parton, an electric guitar, jars of moonshine, and more. Inside the venue, partygoers stopped to purchase buttons, stickers, and posters reading Dolly Parton for President -- perfect for this upcoming election season. For $25, they could enter a raffle to win a trip to Dollywood. All proceeds went to Parton's charity, Imagination Library, which provides free books to children. This year's event will benefit children in Belize.

Clad in skin-tight white jeggings that left nothing to the imagination, singer Nath Ann Carrera used his acoustic guitar to present several songs written during Parton's period of belaboring all the dead children in her family. These tunes were truly creepy, like "Malena," about a little girl who loved butterflies, with the stanza, "We'll always remember Malena's last birthday/ Boxes with bright colored ribbon and string. And the wish that she made as she blew out the candles/ A wish that Malena had wings."

From the femme collective Heels on Wheels came Lady Quesa'Dilla, a tall drag queen with more style than talent. "Why is this iconic Latina doing songs by this iconic blonde? Because she is fierce, and transcends boundaries," said Lady Quesa'Dilla. Her dress and her sentiment were welcome, but her lip syncing gaffes made this reviewer wonder if she shouldn't have picked a more popular song to perform.

Bevin and BOB then brought participants to the stage for the costume contest. By applause -- and with legendary drag queen Sweetie judging -- an African-American cowpoke with a huge silver belt buckle took home the dubious honors.

Burlesque queen Darlinda Just Darlinda thrilled with her skilled striptease to "All I Can Do," revealing layer after layer as she let the song gird her loins. Sweetie was the evening's headliner, and her floor-length sequined gown was blinding as she sang "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" to a groundswell of applause.

The excellent band Doll Parts followed, with their talented performers running through numbers including "Blue Smoke," "Islands in the Stream," "Two Doors Down," "9 to 5" and of course, "Jolene."

Although the crowd was likely only about 300 people, the vibe of the evening's event was celebratory, with a sense of bonhomie uniting these city slickers, bringing Nashville right to NYU.

Dollypalooza was held on September 3 at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street in New York City. For information, visit http://dollypalooza.com/