Singer Dolly Parton has dismissed concerns about the position of women in today's pop music - saying female stars have become empowered.
Scottish singer Annie Lennox recently criticised a "spate of overtly sexualised performances and videos" and accused record com-panies of "peddling highly styled pornography with musical accompaniment", while Sinead O'Connor penned an open letter to Miley Cyrus following her routine at an awards ceremony.
But Parton, 68, who last week played two nights at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow and will take to the stage this weekend at the Glastonbury Festival, said: "Women are taking their power and using it, and it's great. I've always used mine."
She praised her goddaughter Cyrus, saying the young star is "fantastic".
Parton said women had made great leaps in society since she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the 1980 film Nine To Five, about three women triumphing over their sexist boss.
"I think women have been accepted a lot over the years. It has more to do with your attitude, your personality and your talent," the country music star said.
"I never had those problems. It served me well, being a girl, and being brought up in a family of men. Six brothers, my dad, close to all my uncles. So I know men, I love men, I understand men.
"Women have got a long way to go, but I really think we've made a lot of great strides since Jane Fonda starred in 9 to 5. I felt I was part of a whole new movement, especially in the workplace.
"Women still don't get as much credit, or equal pay, but there are a lot of wonderful women out there doing a lot of wonderful things."
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