Dolly Parton, The Queen of Country, is the most honored country performer of all time and remains a true icon of the South. The "I Will Always Love You" singer is known for her charm and wit as much as she is known for her musical longevity.
After beginning as a songwriter for other artists, the Leading Lady of Country made her debut album in 1967, Hello, I'm Dolly. Since then, the Nashville native has gone on to break several music records with her sultry voice and her remarkable musical gift.
There's much more to Dolly Parton than her music, let's take a look at why everyone can't help but love this Southern belle.
The Secrets Hidden Up Her Sleeves
To learn about the real Dolly we need to start at the very beginning long before the famous hair took shape and her makeup game was on point. Like many famous artists, Parton's childhood played a crucial role in her storied career.
The blonde who started as a little country girl who owned next to nothing would go onto owning her own theme park and record label. The famous sleeved musician always paid homage to her roots as we'll see.
See why Dolly is truly one of a kind:
It All Started With A Dream
You wouldn't need to be a southerner to have heard about the Queen of Nashville. But few know how her modest upbringing contributed to the various secrets Parton disguised as cute quirks over the course of her career.
Her refusal to wear anything that leaves her arms uncovered is only one of the many secrets the singer has managed to keep hush over the past half-century. To learn about the lass full of class, let's begin at the very start.
She Has 11 Siblings
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on 19 January 1946 as the eighth of twelve children. The doctor who delivered her was paid in with a bag of cornmeal by her father as they were "dirt poor".
Parton spent her formative years on a farm in the Great Smoky Mountains near Locust Ridge. "My Tennessee Mountain Home" was inspired by her cherished memories of youth living there.
The family lived in a one-room rustic cabin in her early years with her father worked primarily as a sharecropper, while her mother stayed at home to look after the dozen young ones.
The singer later expressed her family's poverty in her early songs "Coat of Many Colors" and "In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)".
The Church Was Her Stage
As her family was religiously devout and lived in a predominantly Pentecostal area, while her grandfather pastored the church they attended, the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Music played a vital role in her early life and by the age of six Dolly was already performing in front of the congregation.
At seven she began playing with a homemade guitar. At age eight she was gifted her very first real guitar by her uncle. The talented Parton soon began performing as a child, leading to appearances on local radio and television programs in the East Tennessee area.
Aged ten she appeared on The Cas Walker Show in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Johnny Cash Gave Her Advice
At age 13, Parton recorded the single "Puppy Love" on a minor Louisiana label, Goldband Records. She later appeared at the Grand Ole Opry, a country music stage in Nashville where she met the "Man in Black", Johnny Cash.
"The Walk the Line" singer encouraged the aspiring singer to follow her own instincts in regard to her career, and never give up on her dreams.
Moving To Nashville
Right after graduating from high school in Sevier County in 1964, the teenager moved to Music City. Despite her prodigious talent and dreams of being a singer, she initially found success as a songwriter working alongside her uncle, Bill Owens.
The duo wrote two top-10 hits: Bill Phillips's 1966 record "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" and Skeeter Davis's 1967 hit "Fuel to the Flame".
She Gets A Record Deal
Eventually, Parton signed a contract with Monument Records in 1965, aged 19. Despite the singer's desire to record country material, the studio originally pitched her as a bubblegum pop singer due to her unique voice and strong vibrato.
Parton released a string of singles during this period, with only one song charting, "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby" and none reaching the Billboard Hot 100.
She Makes A Change
When Parton's composition "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" sung by Bill Phillips reached number six on the country chart in 1966, the label finally allowed her to record country music. Parton had, in fact, contributed the harmony to the song despite being uncredited.
Her first single "Dumb Blonde" reached number 24 on the country chart, while her next song "Something Fishy" reached 17. Both songs featured in her first full-length album, Hello, I'm Dolly. And thus, a true Country Music star was born!
On The Wagon
With her career starting to take off, Parton was invited by Porter Wagoner to join his organization by offering a regular spot on his weekly syndicated television program The Porter Wagoner Show as well as his roadshow.
Audiences originally gave Parton a frosty reception due to many being unhappy that Norma Jean, the performer Parton replaced, having left the show. Some would at times chant loudly for Norma, but with Wagoner's assistance, Parton was eventually accepted.
Going Solo
Wagoner convinced his label RCA Victor to sign the talented songstress and the label decided to protect their cherished investment by releasing her first single, a cover of Tom Paxton's "The Last Thing on My Mind" as a duet with Wagoner in 1967.
The song reached the country top 10 in January 1968 and in turn began a six-year streak of uninterrupted top-10 singles for the duo.
Although Parton's first single for RCA Victor, "Just Because I'm a Woman" reached number 17 in the summer of 1968, none of her solo songs, even a future staple such as "In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)", were as successful as the work she did with Wagoner.
The duo was named Vocal Group of the Year in 1968 by the Country Music Association.
At Last
As Wagoner had a significant financial stake in Parton's future (as of 1969, he was her co-producer and owned nearly half of Owe-Par, the publishing company Parton had founded with Bill Owens), he and Parton grew frustrated with her lack of solo success.
Wagoner convinced Parton to record a cover of Jimmie Rodgers's "Mule Skinner Blues". The record reached number three.
It was soon followed by "Joshua" which reached number one in February 1971, Parton's first-ever number one single. For the next couple of years, Parton achieved numerous solo hits.
Tough Love
Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner continued to record songs together, as the singer enjoyed increasing success as a solo singer. The singer enjoyed a string of several hits such as her signature song "Coat of Many Colors" (number four, 1971) – in addition to her duets.
Parton, who'd always envisioned a solo career, made the decision to leave Wagoner's organization in spite of his wishes.
Her top-20 singles included "The Right Combination" and "Burning the Midnight Oil" (both duets with Wagoner, 1971),"Lost Forever in Your Kiss" (with Wagoner), "Touch Your Woman" (1972), "My Tennessee Mountain Home" and "Travelin' Man" (1973).
"I Will Always Love You" (1974), written about her professional break from Wagoner, went to number one on the country chart.
Please Don’t Take My Man!
Although "Coat of Many Colors" is considered Parton's signature song, it only reached number 4 on the charts. It wasn't until late 1973 that Parton released her biggest hit, "Jolene".
The song topped the country chart in February 1974 where it also reached the lower end of the Hot 100. The song also charted in the UK, peaking at number seven in 1976.
Back To Pop
In the late 70s, after she consistently found her dominating the country charts, with eight singles reaching number one, the singer attempted embarking on a high-profile crossover campaign, aiming her music in a more mainstream direction in order to increase her visibility outside of the confines of country music.
In 1976, Parton began working with Sandy Gallin, who served as her personal manager for the next 25 years. Although she didn't experience the same level of success in mainstream music, she did reach the top 20 of the pop album charts with 1977's "Here You Come Again" and the top 20 of the pop singles chart with the double A-sided "Two Doors Down"/"It's All Wrong, But It's All Right".
That Playboy Cover + Interview
Parton turned down several offers to pose nude for Playboy magazine, although she did appear on the cover of its October 1978 issue wearing a Playboy bunny outfit, complete with years.
The October issue later included an extensive and candid interview with the singer. It was one of the singer's earliest high-profile interviews with a mainstream publication.
Bullied At A Young Age
It might come as a shock but the eternally cheerful Dolly Parton admitted she was targetted at school by bullies as students became jealous of her appearances on local television. On one occasion they locked her in a closet.
Her song "Makin' Fun Ain't Funny" for example has a great lesson for younger fans thanks to its anti-bullying theme. It includes lyrics such as, "If you can't be big, don't belittle someone else — that's not the thing to do."
We Will Always Love Her!
Most of Dolly Parton's songs were written by the singer herself, with several later covered by other artists, in turn becoming hits. Who could look past Whitney Houston's famous rendition of Parton's classic "I Will Always Love You" in the film The Bodyguard?
Other notable mentions are "Jolene" by The White Stripes, and "9 to 5" by Robbie Williams.
The Oscars Come Calling
Dolly Parton has is one a select group of people to have been nominated at least once for the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT) Awards.
The two occasions she was nominated for an Academy Award were for her songs "9 to 5" for the movie of the same name in which she also starred, and "Travellin' Thru" for the film Transamerica.
Dinner With Dolly?
Dolly Parton's non-musical ventures include a theme park named "Dollywood" in Pigeon Forge in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
Other efforts including helping childhood literacy such as her Imagination Library, as well as Dolly Parton's Stampede chain of dinner attraction chain, and the dinner and theater company, Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show.
Not Riding High
Surprising as it may sound, Dolly Parton has never ridden any of the rides at her famous Dollywood theme park. The reason being she suffers from motion sickness.
She has stated that she used to get sick on the school bus and as a child, her father had advised her not to become a sailor or pilot. Fortunately for her (and for her fans), she never had to consider other professions.
A Talented Actress
Dolly Parton has dabbled in acting throughout her career. After first appearing on The Porter Wagoner Show in the 1960s and 1970s, she had a few television roles, including two stints a variety show host, both of which lasted a solitary season.
She played a secretary in a leading role with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the comedy film 9 to 5 (1980).
She has earned acting nominations at the for Best Actress at the Golden Globe awards on two occasions. Her other films include the musical film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) opposite Burt Reynolds and Rhinestone (1984) alongside Sylvester Stallone.
Signature Style
When Parton was cast as Mona Stangley in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas she used some real-life inspiration for the look of her character. In the film, Parton runs a brothel called the "Chicken Ranch" and sports a particular look which she later noted was inspired by reality.
She said in an interview that while she was growing up she saw a lady of the night who had yellow hair piled on top of her head, bright red lipstick, rouge powder, and high heels. She decided this was the look she wanted for the film.
Time For Love
Parton was fortunate in that she found love before her career really took off. She married Carl Thomas Dean in May 1966 in Ringgold Georgia.
Despite using her maiden name professionally, Parton has stated her passport says "Dolly Parton Dean" and also uses this name when sometimes signing contracts. Dean is retired and used to run an asphalt road-paving business.
Dean it seems shuns publicity and rarely joins his wife to events. Parton has said that he has seen her perform just once.
True Romance
Parton's nephews and nieces refer to her as "Aunt Granny" as both she and her husband helped raise several of her younger siblings in Nashville.
The couple do not have any children of their own, although Parton is the godmother of a well-known singer as we will soon find out. In the 1980s Parton had a partial hysterectomy and realized she would never have the children she’d longed for.
Parton has commented on Dean's romantic side saying he like to do spontaneous things to surprise her, and on occasions even writes poems for her. They celebrated their 50th "golden" wedding anniversary in May 2016 by renewing their vows.
A Family Affair
Dolly Parton is the godmother of actress and singer, Miley Cyrus and the pair have even performed together, most notably is their beautiful rendition of "Jolene". With Cyrus causing controversy with her behavior throughout 2013 and 2014, Parton was quick to defend her godchild.
She said, "...the girl can write. The girl can sing. The girl is smart. And she doesn't have to be so drastic. But I will respect her choices. I did it my way, so why can't she do it her way?"
Forever Young
Unlike many celebrities, Parton has been open about going under the knife. In 2003, when asked about cosmetic surgery on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Parton said it was crucial in maintaining her image.
She even joked saying, "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap." She acknowledged, "Womanhood was a difficult thing to get a grip on in those hills unless you were a man."
When asked about future plastic surgeries, she famously said, "If I see something sagging, bagging or dragging, I'll get it nipped, tucked or sucked."
Not Herself?
Just like Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton also once entered a lookalike competition of herself on Santa Monica Boulevard. You would think, with her unmistakable big blonde hair, top-heavy figure, and larger than life personality, the competition wouldn't have a chance.
She ended up losing to the other competitors. “I didn’t even come close,” she admitted.
Just Friends
As her husband shunned the spotlight and rarely accompanied his wife, rumors spread that Parton swung the other way, particularly due to her close relationship with her childhood friend since third grade, Judy Ogle, whom she was photographed holding hands with.
She, of course, said as much as she loves Ogle, there is nothing remotely romantic about their relationship.
Building Bridges
Although it could be said, Parton and Wagoner fell out in their younger days, the two never held any ill feelings toward each other. Quite the contrary in fact, as when Wagoner was battling with lung cancer, it was Parton who rushed to his bedside when he passed away aged 80.
She said as difficult as it was she held his hand and prayed for him as his soul had already left to be with God.
The Feud That Never Was
When Whitney Houston's cover of "I Will Always Love You" became an international hit, many believed Parton was jealous of her success. However, this was far from the truth as the pair often spoke of their mutual love and admiration of one another.
Houston personally asked Parton to let her cover the song, with Parton responding she was honored she covered it.
Book Days!
Parton founded the Dollywood Foundation in 1986 in order to help those less fortunate.
Since its founding, it has offered scholarships to local high school students, established the Imagination Library which distributes free books to children monthly until age 5, and also created the My People Fund for victims of the 2016 Tennessee wildfires. It also supports other non-profits.
Teaching Tolerance
On top of her charity work, Parton holds an annual "Gay Day" at Dollywood, which attracts members of the LGBTQ community. She has said Dollywood is a place for everyone and went so far as to say passing judgment was a sin.
In her hit song, "Backwoods Barbie", she suggests, "I've always been misunderstood because of how I look". She's just asking for a chance.
She Once Tried To Commit Suicide
It hasn't been all smiles for Dolly Parton despite her ever-smiling demeanor. She once tried to take her own life in the 1980s. At the time she was already married, even though the couple had an open relationship of a "don't ask, don't tell" nature.
She revealed in her book "Dolly On Dolly" that was depressed and had just split fro an unnamed lover.
It hasn't been all smiles for Dolly Parton despite her ever-smiling demeanor. She once tried to take her own life in the 1980s. At the time she was already married, even though the couple had an open relationship of a "don't ask, don't tell" nature.
She revealed in her book "Dolly On Dolly" that was depressed and had just split fro an unnamed lover.
President Parton
Like many celebrities, Parton remains co on who she votes for during presidential elections. She has been quoted as backing Hillary Clinton when asked about a woman being president, saying, "A woman would be great."
She also quipped she may run herself one day as she has the hair for it since she thinks the presidential race could do with "more boobs!"
On why she doesn't like to talk about politics, Parton said in an ABC interview, "Of course I have my opinion about everybody and everything, but I learned a long time ago to keep your damn mouth shut if you want to stay in show business. I'm not in politics. I'm an entertainer."
She added in the same interview about being a role model, "Yes, I am, that's why I don't talk about people."
She’s More Relevant Than Ever
Now into her 70s, Parton shows no signs of slowing down. Her 2016 tour Pure & Simple was one of her biggest within the United States in 25 years. Sixty-four dates were planned in the US and Canada.
The same year she also released "Jolene" as a single with the a cappella group Pentatonix, which she also performed with the group on The Voice alongside Miley Cyrus.
At the 50th Country Music Awards in 2016, she was honored with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. The next year she appeared on Rainbow, the third studio album by Kesha, singing a duet of "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You."
The track was originally written by Kesha's mother, Pebe Sebert, and was previously a hit on Parton's 1980 album Dolly, Dolly, Dolly.
Rags To Riches
Parton's story is a true rags to riches tale of a small-town girl who dreamt of becoming a star in the big city. Currently, the singer's fortune is estimated to be around $500 million.
She continues to earn royalties from the many songs she's written, and performed, including Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You". She is considered the wealthiest country-music star.
A Tattooed Lady?
For years rumors floated about Parton being covered in tattoos over the places she covered up. For a singer who's so peculiar about her image, she rarely flouts a low cut or sleeveless top. As it turns out she has indeed been inked.
She said, "I do have a few little tattoos, but they were mostly done to cover scars because I’m so fair. I do have a few but they’re not where you can see them… they are mostly for my husband."
It’s All In The Hair
One of Dolly Parton's signature looks is, of course, her fabulous hair. Indeed these are wigs that have allowed her to create her iconic look, and the reason for it was because early on she found that her natural hair could not be shaped into the styles she desired.
As such she began experimenting with wigs, which she stuck with. She has said she never leaves the house without her wig.
Dolly The Sheep
One of the most important scientific breakthroughs in history was the first successful cloned mammal. The cell used to clone the animal was taken from a mammary gland of a sheep and resulted in the creation of another sheep which was called named "Dolly".
"Dolly is derived from a mammary gland cell and we couldn't think of a more impressive pair of glands than Dolly Parton's," said one of the scientists.
The Lookalike Contest Fail
As we noted, Dolly Parton once entered a lookalike competition on Santa Monica Boulevard and lost. But the story gets better - apparently, this occurred on Halloween and the contestants were a group of men.
The reason for her loss? Apparently, she over-exaggerated her look so much that she barely resembled herself. We wonder if anyone ever realized it was really her.
Recreating Fond Memories
One of the things Dolly did once she hit the big time was to repurchase her Locust Ridge family home in the 1980s. She even enlisted her brother's help to restore it to its former glory.
The home looks exactly the same as it did when she was a child, with some minor fixes such as reliable plumbing and electricity.
Death Threats For Dolly
It's hard to imagine anyone not liking the amicable Dolly Parton, but she did receive death threats once upon a time.
As Parton was an active supporter of the LGBTQ community, the KKK threatened her life after she sang on the Transamerica soundtrack, as well as a benefit album in support of homosexual rights.
Dolly Immortalized
The people of Tennessee hold Dolly Parton dearly in their hearts.
The showed this when they placed a bronze statue of her in her younger years sitting holding a guitar with no shoes on in front of the city's courthouse.
Rejecting Elvis
Very few, if any, musicians can say they turned down Elvis covering their song, but Dolly Parton did just that. When Elvis indicated he wanted to cover her 1974 hit song "I Will Always Love You", Parton was initially interested.
However, when Elvis' manager tried to convince her to sign over half the publishing rights for the song to Elvis, Parton refused.
The decision proved to be wise as the song has made Parton millions of dollars in royalties over the years.
Musical Family
Dolly Parton isn't the only one from her family with musical talent. Her sisters, Stella, Freida, and Rachel as well as her brother Randy, have also gone onto have musical careers.
Some focused their talents in gospel music and singing in bands, while others preferred country and rock music.
The Whole Truth About Jolene
"Jolene" is arguably Parton's most popular song, yet the real story behind the song might surprise you. The song was inspired by a red-headed bank teller who flirted with her husband, Carl Dean, at their local bank branch when the two were newly married.
She said that Jolene's name and appearance though are based on a young fan she once signed an autograph for on stage.
Her Very Own Record Label
The most successful musicians usually end up forming their own label, and this is exactly what Parton did.
In her younger days, she ensured she owned the copyrights and publishing rights to all her songs, and this business acumen allowed her to later establish her own record label Dolly Records.
The Secret To Dolly’s Tiny Waist
One of the singer's tricks to ensure she doesn't look thicker than she is is to place her microphone back in her wig.
While most singers place their microphone packs to their waists, Dolly Parton is able to accentuate her waistline during performances by utilizing a specially designed compartment in her wig for the device.
Carl’s Aversion To Fame
Parton says of her spouse of over 50 years, "My husband is not one who wants to be just thrown out there. He’s very private, and I’ve always respected that for him and about him. And so, we just try to live our lives." She explained, "My husband is a loner.
He doesn’t particularly care about being around anybody but me. He’s just always asked me to leave him out of all this."
Production Work
Apart from being a singer and actor, she also started a production company Sandollar Productions with her former manager Sandy Gallin.
The company produced several feature movies and television shows such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Father of the Bride", "Sabrina", "Straight Talk" and the Oscar-nominated documentary "Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt".
Recent Acting Work
Parton's recent film and television projects include the made-for-television film Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors which was based on her childhood. She narrated, executive produced and also appeared in the film.
Parton also co-starred with Queen Latifah in the 2012 musical comedy-drama film, Joyful Noise. She played G. G. Sparrow, a widower who saves the choir in a small town.
Dolly’s Poor Upbringing
Parton's came from a "dirt poor" family, struggling for even the most basic of things at times. When she was six years old, Parton recalls jumping over her fence and landing on a broken mason jar.
The accident left her three little toes on her right foot hanging. As the family couldn't afford to visit a doctor, her mother "played" doctor and had her father and brothers hold her down.
She said they put cornmeal to absorb the blood, then used kerosene as an antiseptic and with her mother then sewing her toes back on with sewing needles. "But they worked and they healed and I’m still walking on them," Parton recalled.
Dollywood Jobs
Dollywood theme park plays host to nearly 3 million visitors in a typical season, from mid-March to the Christmas holiday season. It is the biggest ticketed tourist attraction in Tennessee and also hosts a number of concerts and musical events each year.
Dollywood employees approximately 3,000 people on its payroll.
In 2010, Parton said she had only become involved with the project because she "always thought that if I made it big or got successful at what I had started out to do, that I wanted to come back to my part of the country and do something great, something that would bring a lot of jobs into this area."
Instrumental Skills
Known primarily for her voice, Parton is also a musician, playing at least ten instruments including the electric guitar, banjo, fiddle, dulcimer, piano, and the autoharp.
Yet, even with a natural penchant for playing instruments and writing songs, Parton does not read sheet music. With over 5,000 songs written by her, it's safe to say she never needed to.
Movie Star
Apart from the films already mentioned, Dolly Parton has also made appearances in other well-known films and television shows such as "The Magic School Bus", "Hannah Montana", "Steel Magnolias", "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous", "Gnomeo & Juliet", and even "The Simpsons".
Sometimes she plays a character, on other occasions she plays herself.
No Regrets
Despite her desire to start a family, Parton realized in the 1980s that she was not able to ever have children of her own due to a medical complication. Although it bothered her at first, as a religious woman she realized God had an alternative plan for her to be a "mother to all children".
She has said children love her due to her high pitched voice and her cartoon-like expressions.
Still Singing
At 72 years old, the singer doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Only two years ago, in 2016, she released her 43rd studio album, Pure & Simple.
In 2017 she released her first-ever children's album I Believe In You. All proceeds from the album go to Parton's Imagination Library.
Diverse
Dolly Parton seems to be universally loved no matter where she goes. People from all walks of life come to her shows, whether they're rich or poor, country raised or a city dweller.
She said, "I’ve struggled enough in my life to be appreciated and understood. I’ve had to go against all kinds of people through the years just to be myself. I think everybody should be allowed to be who they are."
She said of her theme park and its appeal to the LGBTQ community, "It’s a place for entertainment, a place for all families, period. It’s for all that... I try to love everybody."
Not Just Singing
For those lucky enough to have been to a Dolly Parton concert, you'll know her shows are more than just singing.
She is a true performer, adding ad-libs and witty remarks on the fly whenever she performs. She dances tells jokes, and genuinely enjoys interacting with her audiences.
No Sleep for the Wicked
Many people will debate the amount of sleep a person needs in order to stay healthy. Parton, it seems only rests for a few hours each night.
She revealed in an interview, "So I sleep you know three hours, five hours is a long night for me. And I’ll take a nap during the day if I can, especially if I’m on a movie set or something. For my lunch break, I take a nap, a whole nap."
Taking Her Own Advice
Parton has stated, many people gave their opinion on her looks.
"A lot of people have said I’d have probably done better in my career if I hadn’t looked so cheap and gaudy, but I dress to be comfortable for me, and you shouldn’t be blamed because you want to look pretty."
Dump That Diet
Parton, despite looking flawless, has admitted she too struggled with diets. "I tried every diet in the book. I tried some that weren’t in the book. I tried eating the book. It tasted better than most of the diets…My weaknesses have always been food and men—in that order."
It seems she figured getting liposuction was the better alternative.
Just Your Regular Ol’ Dolly
How does shekeep herself grounded in regards to her success now versus when she first started her out?
Parton said, "I’m more successful now than I was then, but I still feel like the same girl. I’m just a working girl. I never think of myself as a star because, as somebody once said, 'A star is nothing but a big ball of gas' — and I don’t want to be that."
People Can Relate To Her
Parton believes the reason for her universal likeability is due to fans being able to relate to her.
"I’ve lived a lot and I’ve done a lot. I’ve been around so long that I think people just kind of feel like I’m a member of their family — like a favorite aunt or an older sister. People relate to me because I grew up poor and in a big family. They know I understand all the hardships."
Honesty Is The Best Policy
Being in the limelight so long can mean a person loses touch of reality. With all it's pressures and demands, Parton has remained true to her character throughout her career.
She said of her attitude, "I’m open and I’m honest. I don’t dilly dally. Sometimes if I get mad, I’ll throw out a few cuss words just to prove my point. I’ve often said I don’t lose my temper as much as I use it."
Think Like A Man
Being a female performer half a century ago posed unique challenges for Parton. She learned to get through this by acting like a lady but thinking like a man.
"In my early days, I would go in, and I was always over made, with my boobs sticking out, my clothes too tight, and so I really looked like easy prey to a lot of guys — just looked easy, period. I always said, 'I look like a woman, but I think like a man and you better pay attention or I’ll have your money and I’ll be gone.'"
What Sparks Joy In Dolly
Parton says of her hobbies, "I love to read. I love to cook. I love hanging out with my husband, riding around in our little RV. Even when I get off the road after traveling thousands of miles, I’ll say, 'Get the camper; let’s go somewhere.'"
"He’ll say, 'Are you kidding? Ain’t you tired of riding?' 'No, I’m a gypsy. I want to do that.' My life is fairly simple when I’m out of the limelight."
Hiding From The Public
Being a well-known celebrity means she's easily recognized everywhere she goes. Parton revealed that she avoids going out in public for this reason.
"I hardly go out much anymore. I just send somebody after the stuff I like. But if I go anywhere, I go in full disguise. I’m afraid somebody will recognize me and say, ‘Oh, did you see Dolly? She looked like hell. I’d rather them say, did you see Dolly? She’s so overdone."
On Dressing Up
Dolly Parton believes int he adage comfort over style, except in her case being stylish in her own way is what is comfortable.
"It doesn’t matter how much I spend because it’s like when they try to dress me for the Oscars — I won’t wear the kind of hair that they say goes with that dress. Or I won’t wear the kind of shoes that are supposed to go with that dress because I have to have my hair a certain way. I have to have my makeup a certain way. I have to be comfortable. That’s why I could never be fashionable."
An Office Here, An Office There
Musicians like to work on their music in all kinds of places - some prefer studios while others prefer the great outdoors. Dolly Parton, however, likes to pretty much work everywhere.
"I have an office everywhere, but I usually work on the couch. I also work in the kitchen. I have all these offices — just like I have all these swimming pools, and I never swim. I have offices, but I just work wherever I’m at. I have files of my music in every house."
Investing In Real Estate
Celebrities like to spend their money on various things once they hit the big time, whether it's houses, cars, clothes, shoes, etc. For Parton, it's properties she likes to invest her money in.
"We have a place in [Los Angeles] and a couple of places here [in Tennessee]: on the lake, then we have the office complex, and I have the old [East Tennessee] place up home. It’s investments. It’s not to say, 'Hey, look at me.' I’d rather buy property than play the stock market."
The Wig Room
It's a known fact that Dolly Parton loves her wigs, but it's still surprising to see she has a room dedicated just for them.
"I have a cabinet where I carry all the show wigs. I travel, when I’m on tour, with Cheryl Riddle, who is my hairdresser. But we always have a cabinet in the back of the bus to carry show wigs." Parton has joked she has 365 wigs in all, one for each day of the year.
The Real Dolly Parton
Parton has said that despite her talkative reputation she behaves differently in private.
"If I’m out in public, I have to be really on, and more vocal, and present myself. But I have this other side to me that’s very quiet. Sometimes I can go a whole day without saying anything. But I’m not a different person - I’m just a little quieter."
The Story Behind Imagination Library
Parton was inspired by her father to promote children's literacy.
"It’s very important. I think all children should be able to read, but I actually started the Imagination Library 20 years ago in honor of my father. He was never able to read or write. My dad got to help me, and he felt very proud for me to be doing that, and to involve him in it. He got to live long enough to see it doing well."
Having Faith
When Parton was asked how much of her Christian belief influenced her work, she answered, "I think you need to have a great spiritual background. I grew up in a church, my grandpa was a preacher."
"We were taught that Jesus loved us, and we loved Jesus. In order to do that, you needed to love one another as well. I think my faith has played a big part in every single thing I do."
Her First Guitar
It was a heartfelt gift from her uncle which kick-started the young Dolly Parton's interest in songwriting.
"One of my uncles had this little Martin guitar that I loved, and when he saw how serious I was about my music, he gave me his little Martin guitar. It was my treasure, and I left it at home when I was eighteen-years-old, I put it in the loft because it was beat up."
The guitar, unfortunately, turned was destroyed when the house burnt down.
Whitney’s Greatest Hit
Parton's was driving when she first heard Whitney Houston cover of "I Will Always Love You".
"I turned the radio on and heard that Acappella part. All of a sudden, I knew it was something familiar. By the time it had dawned on me what I was hearing, when she went into that chorus, I had to stop the car. It was the most powerful feeling I’ve ever had. It was such a shock. It was so great. She sang it so good. I was just overwhelmed."
Making It In Showbiz
Parton has said that it was her inner self-belief which proved to be the decisive factor in her success.
"I never thought about whether I was a girl or a boy. I just had a gift and I thought it was God-given. I felt like I was supposed to be doing something. I just always had that attitude about it, and I guess people kind of responded."
Spreading The Love Around
Parton believes it's her duty to do something for those less fortunate.
"I really think that once you’re in a position to help, you definitely should help. I really like that there is a good feeling when you do something for somebody else. I’ve been so blessed in my life that I want to give back. That’s how we spread the love around."
Keeping Things Fresh
With so many songs and albums released by her, it makes one wonder how Parton managed to keep things fresh. But she admitted it comes to her naturally.
"You think you’d run out of stuff to write about, the same melodies, the same storylines, but there’s always a little twist in everything. You can always change it around just enough. Everything’s a melody to me–I love to sing, or whistle, or hum. It’s just easy for me to write."
Pediatric Cancer As A Cause
Parton has said two of her songs were inspired by cancer survivors who are very close to her heart.
"When you do actually see the CD version of the album, on the inside, there’s a picture of two little girls kissing me on the cheek. They’re two of my little nieces. The one on the left is Hannah Denison. When she was four-years-old, she got leukemia and we almost lost her. When she was sick, I wrote: "Chemo Hero" and "Brave Little Soldier" for her and about her."
Getting Inspired
How does the singer keep track of her songwriting ideas? She admitted she writes it down or records it as soon as it pops into her head.
"I always keep a notepad by my bed at night and a tape recorder. I’ve always got a notepad everywhere. I can write anywhere, and I never know when a song is gonna hit me. I write a little bit of something every day. Either an idea or a title, a few lines. If I’m lucky, I can write a few songs in a week."
Standing Up To Bullies
Bullying is another topic that hits close to home for the singer. The topic was covered in her song "Makin’ Fun Ain’t Funny".
"I remember being made fun of as a child. We always had to wear ragged clothes, so we often got made fun of. It was never funny to the one you’re making fun of. Especially now that people are trying to teach children not to be bullies, that it hurts, and it doesn’t feel good."
Supporting Various Charities
Throughout her life, Parton has contributed her time and resources to several charitable organizations such as the American Red Cross and several HIV/AIDS-related charities. She gave $500,000 in 2006 to a proposed $90-million hospital in Sevierville in the name of Dr. Robert F. Thomas, the doctor who delivered her.
She also organized benefit concerts and fund for the project. The same year, Parton also allowed her music to be used for PETA.
Here She Comes Again
In 1977, with the help of pop producer Gary Klein, Parton released "Here You Come Again" which sold over a million copies and took her to the top of the country charts, while also peaking at number 20 in the pop charts.
Greater success was to follow, even if this was a rare example of Parton performing a song she herself hadn't written.
Award-Winning!
It wasn't until the 1980s that Dolly Parton really started to enjoy the kind of success which we associate with her now. Her album "Trio" won the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
She went onto create more Grammy-award winning albums with her style of music.