''Idol'': Whose career should Kellie Pickler follow? | 16715__kellie_l
Dolly Parton: Paul Natkin/WireImage.com; Kellie Pickler: Ray Mickshaw/WireImage.com; Jessica Simpson: Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com

All About

Dolly Parton

ROLE MODEL Dolly Parton

BAD INFLUENCE Jessica Simpson

PROFESSIONAL PLAYBOOK With her pleasingly twangy vocals, eye-catching fashion sense, and impeccable comic timing (''When all else fails, you better have great shoes, right?''), it's not hard to envision Kellie emulating Parton's success on the country-pop charts or on the big screen. What Kellie can't afford to forget, though, is that Parton's multi-decade career — not to mention her Dollywood theme park — weren't built solely on the basis of a larger-than-life persona. Indeed, Parton's always delivered the genuine musical goods, whereas fellow cartoonish blonde Simpson remains best-known for her tabloid exploits. Oh, and while we're on the subject of avoiding Simpson's missteps, is it too much to ask that Kellie's grandpa never be subjected to the sight of his pride and joy lathering up a convertible in a pair of Daisy Dukes?


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