Dolly Parton, Ana Matronic, Carla Bruni to present BBC Radio 2 shows

The stars will take to the airwaves as part of a run of shows designed to celebrate female presenters from the world of music, arts and the stage. 

Scissor Sisters singer Ana Matronic will be presenting a four-part series about her record collection and the influence that disco has had on her life and work. It will kick off tomorrow (Wednesday 10 April) from 10-11pm

"I had so much fun on New Year's Eve playing some of my favourite disco tracks, Radio 2 have asked me back for more," said Ana Matronic.  "I'll be mining the rare groove depths, indulging guilty pleasures, exploring the boundaries of the genre, and getting down with the greats of the disco age."

Meanwhile, country sensation and this year's Glastonbury surprise act Dolly Parton will present Dolly's Jukebox on Monday 21 April at 8pm. Her show will be a two-hour special in conversation with journalist Paul Sexton about her favourite song and artists of all time.

"When I get a chance to sit down and listen to music, I just love to pick out some of those old albums," said Dolly. "Music is still number one with me. I love that I can make a living, but it's not the money. I love to work."

Other shows include Carla Bruni's three-part series, Postcards from Paris. Kicking off on 15 May at 10pm, the former First Lady of France will be talking listeners through her favourite songs and artists to paint a picture of the French capital. 

"When you write in French, that's what makes it Chansons Françaises," said Bruni, very Frenchly. "English has a lot of rhythm. Italian has a lot of melody. The good point with French is that it has a lot of description."