The Tournament of Roses Association announced Tuesday that the world’s favorite southerner, Paula Deen, will be the Rose Parade Grand Marshal in Pasedena, California on New Year’s Day.

Paula Deen Hit With Ham (VIDEO)

Deen, 63, will ride in the 122nd parade and will also toss the coin before kickoff at the Rose Bowl game. She said:

“My whole family has watched it on TV for years. My sons are very impressed that I was chosen. It only took me 40 years to impress them, but I’ve finally done it.”

“I’m living the dream, honey. Actually, no. I never thought this would happen in my wildest dreams, because I just don’t have that kind of imagination!”

She first heard the news while sitting at her Savannah-area home in Georgia:

“Someone delivered a big, beautiful arrangement of white roses, and I said, ‘This has to be some sort of mistake. Who would be sending me roses?’ And then I learned that I had been chosen, and I was thrilled.”

Now the southern chef has plenty of preparations to get to work on:

“I have to decide what to wear. And what am I going to say? I’m speechless right now.”

She added:

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll find my tongue long before the parade. You can’t keep me quiet for long.”

What a fabulous choice! I LOVE Paula!

[image: WENN]