(Aug. 19, 1999)

BELZONI, MS (BUSINESS WIRE) - Throughout a remarkable career that began when she was 10 years old, entertainer Dolly Parton has won scores of awards. This month she is being honored again, but not for her music or acting achievements.

The beloved singer/actress/composer/author has been named by The Catfish Institute (TCI) as this year's Celebrity Catfish Lover. The award is presented as part of National Catfish Month.

"Growing up in Tennessee, I was introduced to catfish at an early age and have adored it ever since," said Ms. Parton. "It's just delicious and you can prepare it quickly and in so many ways. It's my favorite dish."

Ms. Parton calls her favorite catfish recipe "Catfish & Fixin's," which is prepared fried and includes among its ingredients vegetable oil, buttermilk, cornbread mix, onion, eggs and potatoes.

One of 12 brothers and sisters, Ms. Parton has won seven Country Music Association Awards, five Academy of Country Music Awards and four Grammys. In an age when the country music scene and its administration was dominated by men, Ms. Parton helped open the doors to female singers and helped them be taken seriously. She has over 3,000 songs to her writing credits, and has also starred in a string of movies including 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk. From 1987 to 1988, she had her own television show, "Dolly!" Ms. Parton oversees the successful "Dollywood" theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and is the author of "Dolly Parton: My Life and Other Unfinished Business" and a children's book, "Coat of Many Colors."

TCI has been recognizing Celebrity Catfish lovers during National Catfish Month since 1988. Ms. Parton joins a distinguished list of honorees that includes Burt Reynolds, Harry Connick Jr., John Grisham, Barbara Mandrell, Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Bo Jackson, Randy Travis and Crystal Gayle.

Based in Belzoni, Miss., TCI is an association of catfish farmers, processors and feed manufacturers founded in 1986 to raise consumer awareness of the positive qualities of genuine U.S. farm-raised catfish. Since TCI began promoting catfish, U.S. consumption has more than doubled, making catfish the fifth most popular fish in America.

Dolly Parton's CATFISH & FIXIN'S

Ingredients: Vegetable oil 4 U.S. farm-raised catfish fillets 1 pint buttermilk 1/2 large box cornbread mix 1/2 medium onion, chopped 1-2 eggs Potatoes

Preparation:

1. Heat vegetable oil in skillet. Season the fish to taste. Dredge the fish pieces in buttermilk, then cornbread mix. Deep fry fish in vegetable oil until golden brown on the bottom, turn and continue frying until the other side is golden brown. Remove from the skillet and place in warm oven.

Make a batter out of the remaining buttermilk and cornbread mix. Add onion and eggs. Mold the hush puppies and deep fry in vegetable oil. Then put them in the warm oven with fish.

Peel and cut potatoes into french fries. Deep fry in vegetable oil. Remove and salt & pepper to taste.

Serve all of the above with cole slaw. Mix together one head of cabbage, 1 grated carrot, 2 tsp. sugar, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 cup sweet pickle juice, 1 chopped dill pickle or 1 tablespoon pickle relish, 1 finely chopped medium onion, 1/2 finely chopped bell pepper, 1 tablespoon salt, 1/4 cup white vinegar, and 1 cup mayonnaise.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serves 4