What is Dolly Parton’s background. How did she rise to fame in country music. What are her most significant accomplishments. How has Dolly Parton impacted the entertainment industry and philanthropy.

The Early Years: Dolly Parton’s Humble Beginnings

Dolly Parton’s journey from poverty to stardom is a quintessential American success story. Born on January 19, 1946, in the rural Appalachian town of Locust Ridge, Tennessee, Parton was one of 12 children in a family that struggled financially. Despite these hardships, her early life was rich with musical influences that would shape her future career.

What was Dolly Parton’s first exposure to music? Her initial musical experiences came from her family, particularly her mother, who sang and played guitar. The church also played a crucial role in Parton’s musical development, as it provided a platform for her to perform and hone her skills from a very young age.

A Prodigy in the Making

Parton’s natural talent for music became evident early on. At the tender age of 10, she began her professional career, appearing on local television and radio shows in Knoxville. This early start laid the foundation for her future success and demonstrated her unwavering determination to pursue a career in music.

• Received her first guitar from a relative
• Began writing her own songs at a young age
• Made her Grand Ole Opry debut at age 13
• Moved to Nashville after high school to pursue her music career

The Rise to Stardom: Partnering with Porter Wagoner

Dolly Parton’s career took a significant turn in 1967 when she partnered with country star Porter Wagoner on “The Porter Wagoner Show.” This collaboration proved to be a pivotal moment in her career, propelling her into the national spotlight and helping her secure a contract with RCA Records.

How did the partnership with Porter Wagoner impact Dolly Parton’s career? The duo’s popularity led to numerous country hits and increased Parton’s visibility in the music industry. However, it was her solo work that truly showcased her exceptional talent as a singer-songwriter.

Breaking Out as a Solo Artist

While working with Wagoner, Parton began to establish herself as a formidable solo artist. In 1971, she achieved her first No. 1 country hit with “Joshua,” a bluegrass-inspired track that demonstrated her ability to craft compelling narratives through song.

What are some of Dolly Parton’s most iconic early hits? Some of her most memorable songs from this period include:

• “Jolene” (1973) – A haunting plea to a beautiful woman not to steal her man
• “I Will Always Love You” (1974) – Written as a farewell to Porter Wagoner as they ended their professional partnership
• “Love Is Like a Butterfly” (1974) – A delicate, ethereal love song
• “The Bargain Store” (1975) – A provocative track that showcased Parton’s ability to tackle complex themes

Crossover Success: Dolly Parton Conquers Pop Charts

As Dolly Parton’s career progressed, she began to transcend the boundaries of country music and appeal to a broader audience. Her crossover success began in earnest with the release of “Here You Come Again” in 1977.

How did “Here You Come Again” change Dolly Parton’s career trajectory? This bittersweet ode to a returning lover not only topped the country charts but also reached No. 3 on the pop charts, marking Parton’s first significant crossover hit. The song also earned her first Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female.

Expanding Her Reach: Film and Television

Dolly Parton’s talents extended beyond music, and in the 1980s, she began to make her mark in film and television. Her film debut came in 1980 with the hit comedy “9 to 5,” co-starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

What impact did “9 to 5” have on Dolly Parton’s career? The film not only showcased Parton’s acting abilities but also provided her with another chart-topping hit. The title song “9 to 5,” which she wrote and performed, became an anthem for working women and earned her an Academy Award nomination.

• Starred in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” (1982) with Burt Reynolds
• Recorded the duet “Islands in the Stream” with Kenny Rogers in 1983, which became another major hit
• Continued to balance her music career with film and television appearances

Dollywood: A Testament to Entrepreneurial Spirit

In 1986, Dolly Parton embarked on a new venture that would further cement her legacy and demonstrate her business acumen. She opened Dollywood, a theme park located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

What is the significance of Dollywood in Dolly Parton’s career? Dollywood represents Parton’s commitment to her roots and her desire to give back to her community. The park has become a major tourist attraction, providing jobs and economic opportunities for the region while celebrating the culture and heritage of the Smoky Mountains.

More Than Just a Theme Park

Dollywood is not merely an amusement park; it’s a reflection of Dolly Parton’s values and her dedication to education and preservation of Appalachian culture. The park features:

• Traditional crafts and music performances
• Educational programs focused on the region’s history and ecology
• The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which promotes early childhood literacy
• Seasonal festivals and events that attract visitors year-round

Musical Collaborations and Continued Success

Throughout her career, Dolly Parton has demonstrated a remarkable ability to collaborate with other artists, resulting in some of her most memorable work. These partnerships have allowed her to explore different musical styles and reach new audiences.

What are some of Dolly Parton’s most notable collaborations? One of her most acclaimed collaborative projects was the album “Trio,” recorded with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt in 1987. This Grammy Award-winning album showcased the harmonic blend of three of country music’s most distinctive voices.

The Enduring Legacy of “I Will Always Love You”

Perhaps no song better exemplifies Dolly Parton’s lasting impact on popular music than “I Will Always Love You.” Originally written and recorded by Parton in 1974, the song found new life when it was covered by Whitney Houston for the 1992 film “The Bodyguard.”

How did Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” impact Dolly Parton’s career? Houston’s powerful rendition became one of the best-selling singles of all time, introducing the song to a new generation and further solidifying Parton’s reputation as a masterful songwriter. The song’s success also demonstrated Parton’s business acumen, as she had retained the publishing rights to her catalog, earning her millions in royalties.

Philanthropy and Social Impact: The Imagination Library

While Dolly Parton’s musical and entertainment achievements are legendary, her philanthropic work has had an equally profound impact. In 1995, she founded the Imagination Library, a program dedicated to promoting early childhood literacy.

What is the Imagination Library, and how does it work? The Imagination Library provides free books to children from birth to age five, regardless of their family’s income. The program began in Sevier County, Tennessee, where Parton grew up, but has since expanded to five countries, mailing millions of books to children each month.

The Power of Reading

Dolly Parton’s commitment to literacy stems from her own experiences growing up in a family where education was valued but resources were limited. The Imagination Library aims to inspire a love of reading in children and provide them with the tools they need for future success.

• Partners with local communities to fund and implement the program
• Carefully selects age-appropriate books to engage young readers
• Has mailed over 150 million books since its inception
• Recognized by the Library of Congress for its contributions to literacy

Dolly Parton’s Enduring Legacy and Cultural Impact

As Dolly Parton’s career spans over six decades, her influence on music, film, and popular culture cannot be overstated. She has become an icon not only for her artistic achievements but also for her resilience, business acumen, and philanthropic efforts.

What makes Dolly Parton’s legacy so unique and enduring? Parton’s ability to connect with audiences across generations and genres is rooted in her authenticity, storytelling prowess, and unwavering commitment to her values. Her rags-to-riches story continues to inspire, while her music remains as relevant and moving as ever.

Awards and Recognition

Dolly Parton’s contributions to music and culture have been recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout her career. Some of her most notable accolades include:

• Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999
• Multiple Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award
• Kennedy Center Honors recipient in 2006
• National Medal of Arts recipient in 2005
• Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee

A Voice for Equality and Inclusion

Beyond her musical achievements, Dolly Parton has used her platform to advocate for social causes and promote inclusivity. She has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and has spoken out against racism and discrimination.

How has Dolly Parton used her influence to promote social change? Parton’s approach to advocacy is often subtle but effective. She leads by example, promoting kindness and acceptance through her actions and her art. Her theme park, Dollywood, has a non-discrimination policy that has set an example for other businesses in the region.

The Future of Dolly: Continuing to Inspire and Create

As Dolly Parton enters her mid-70s, she shows no signs of slowing down. She continues to record, perform, and explore new creative endeavors, all while expanding her philanthropic efforts.

What can we expect from Dolly Parton in the coming years? While it’s impossible to predict the future, Parton’s track record suggests that she will continue to surprise and delight her fans with new music, collaborations, and projects. Her recent contributions to funding COVID-19 vaccine research demonstrate her ongoing commitment to using her success for the greater good.

A Living Legend

Dolly Parton’s journey from a small cabin in the Smoky Mountains to international stardom is a testament to the power of talent, determination, and authenticity. Her impact on music, entertainment, and philanthropy has left an indelible mark on American culture and continues to inspire new generations of artists and dreamers.

• Continues to release new music and collaborate with contemporary artists
• Expands the reach and impact of the Imagination Library
• Explores new business ventures and creative projects
• Serves as a role model for aspiring artists and entrepreneurs

As we reflect on Dolly Parton’s extraordinary career and ongoing legacy, it’s clear that her influence extends far beyond the realm of entertainment. She has become a symbol of resilience, creativity, and compassion, inspiring millions to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact on the world. Whether through her timeless music, her philanthropic efforts, or her unwavering spirit, Dolly Parton continues to touch lives and shape the cultural landscape in ways that will resonate for generations to come.

Dolly Parton – Age, Husband & Imagination Library

(1946-)

Who Is Dolly Parton?

Country music icon and actress Dolly Parton initially found success with country star Porter Wagoner, before embarking on a solo career marked by hit songs like “Joshua,” “Jolene,” “The Bargain Store,” “I Will Always Love You,” “Here You Come Again,” “9 to 5” and “Islands in the Stream,” among many others. A highly skilled singer/songwriter known for thoughtful narratives and distinctive vocals, she has won many major awards and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. She has also starred in films like 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias and opened her Dollywood theme park in 1986. Parton continues to record and tour regularly.

Early Life

Parton was born on January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. Parton grew up poor in rural Appalachia. She was one of 12 children, and money was always an issue for her family. Her first exposure to music came from family members, including her mother, who sang and played guitar. At an early age, she also learned about music while performing in church.

Parton received her first guitar from a relative and soon began to pen her own tunes. At age 10, she started performing professionally, appearing on local television and radio shows in Knoxville. Parton made her Grand Ole Opry debut three years later. Set on a career in music, she then moved to Nashville after finishing high school.

Dolly Parton in 2011

Photo: Don Arnold/WireImage

Porter Wagoner, Solo Artist Success and “Jolene”

Parton’s singing career really started to take off in 1967. Around this time, she partnered with Porter Wagoner on The Porter Wagoner Show. Parton and Wagoner became a popular duo and the pair recorded a slew of country hits together. Much was made of her shapely curves, petite stature and warm personality, which to some belied a thoughtful, visionary artist with a strong business sense. Since her early career, Parton has protected the publishing rights to her catalog of songs, which has earned her millions in royalties.

“As soon as I could, I started my own publishing company, got my own record label. I think it’s important, if you can, to keep all of your goods close to home where you can control them and know what’s happening with them.” – Dolly Parton

Parton’s work with Wagoner also helped her land a contract with RCA Records. After having had several charting singles, Parton scored her first No. 1 country hit in 1971 with “Joshua,” a bluegrass-inspired track about two solitary figures who find love. More No. 1 hits followed in the mid-’70s, including “Jolene,” a haunting single in which a woman begs another beautiful woman not to take her man, and “I Will Always Love You” — a tribute to Wagoner as the two parted ways professionally. Other country hits from this era included the ethereal “Love Is Like a Butterfly,” the provocative “The Bargain Store,” the spiritual “The Seeker” and the rollicking “All I Can Do. ” For the range of her compelling work, she won the Country Music Association award for female vocalist in 1975 and 1976.

In 1977, Parton had her first crossover smash with the bouncy, bittersweet ode to a returning lover, “Here You Come Again.” The song reached the top of the country charts as well as No. 3 on the pop charts, and also marked the singer/songwriter’s first Grammy Award, specifically for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female. More emotionally-driven No. 1 country hits followed including “It’s All Wrong, But It’s Alright,” “Heartbreaker” and “Starting Over Again,” a ballad written by disco star Donna Summer.

Film Debut and No. 1 Hit: ‘9 to 5’

Parton perhaps reached the apex of her mainstream success in the 1980s. She not only starred with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the 1980 hit comedy 9 to 5, which marked her film debut but also contributed to its soundtrack. The title song, with one of the most memorable opening lines in popular music history, proved to be another No. 1 hit for Parton on both the pop and country charts and earned her an Academy Award nomination. Parton next starred with Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1982, which helped to introduce a new generation to her song “I Will Always Love You.” The following year she scored another major smash with “Islands in the Stream,” her duet with Kenny Rogers.

Dolly Parton in 1993

Photo: Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

Dollywood

Around this time, Parton branched out in a new direction. She opened her own theme park called Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in 1986. The amusement park remains a popular travel destination to this day.

‘I Will Always Love You’

Over the years, Parton has enjoyed many other successful collaborations. She recorded the Grammy Award-winning album Trio with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt in 1987. In 1992, her song “I Will Always Love You” was recorded by Whitney Houston for the film The Bodyguard. Houston’s version catapulted Parton’s song into a new stratosphere of popularity, with the single sitting atop the pop charts for 14 weeks and becoming one of the bestselling singles of all time. “When Whitney did it, I got all the money for the publishing and for the writing, and I bought a lot of cheap wigs,” she told Anderson Cooper when he asked her how she spent her royalties from the song. Then in 1993, Parton teamed up with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette for Honky Tonk Angels. Parton revisited her now-signature song, “I Will Always Love You,” in 1995 as a duet with Vince Gill.

READ MORE: The Surprising Connection Between Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton

Parton explored the music of her Appalachian roots with The Grass Is Blue (1999) with a little help from such talents as Alison Krauss and Patty Loveless. The record won a Grammy (Parton’s sixth) for best bluegrass album in 1999. Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and won another Grammy the following year for the song “Shine” off the 2001 album Little Sparrow.

Continuing to write and record, Parton released Backwoods Barbie in 2008. The album featured two country singles, “Better Get to Livin'” and “Jesus & Gravity.”

Dolly Parton’s cover of “I Will Always Love You”

Lifetime Honors and Screen Projects

In 2006, Parton received special recognition for her lifetime contributions to the arts as one of five artists feted at the annual Kennedy Center Honors. She also picked up a second Academy Award nomination for the song “Travelin’ Thru,” which appeared on the soundtrack for 2005’s Transamerica.

Over the years, Parton has continued to work as an actress in an array of films and TV projects that include Rhinestone (1984), Steel Magnolias (1989), Straight Talk (1992), Unlikely Angel (1996), Frank McKlusky, C.I. (2002) and Joyful Noise (2012), having also hosted her own variety show in both 1976 and 1987-88. At the 50th Annual Country Music Association Awards in 2016, Parton was honored as the recipient of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.

In early 2018, just before the music icon’s 72nd birthday, a Sony Music press release revealed that she was still setting records and sweeping up accolades. Along with receiving gold and platinum certification for some of her songs, Parton was to be honored with the Governors’ Award at the 32nd Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards. Additionally, she was recognized in the Guinness World Records 2018 edition for her accomplishments of most decades with a Top 20 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart (six) and most hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart by a female artist (107).

Having already been honored by the Grammys with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, Parton received another tribute during the February 2019 awards show, with artists like Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and Kacey Musgraves joining her on stage to sing a medley of her hits. Later that year, Parton joined a televised special to celebrate her 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Books and Biopics

After writing so many of her own hits, Parton penned the songs for a new musical based on her earlier hit workplace comedy, 9 to 5. The show, starring Allison Janney (who won a Tony for the role), ran on Broadway for several months in 2009.

Parton has shown no signs of slowing down. In 2011, she released Better Day, which fared well on the country album charts. In 2012, Parton published her book Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You. She is also the author of the memoir Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business (1994).

“I think that I’ve been at this so long that [my audience has] come to know me, they know I’m not judgmental. They know I like everybody. I want to be accepted myself, and I not only accept, but celebrate, the difference in everyone. ” – Dolly Parton

The TV movie Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, a biopic about the singer’s childhood, aired in 2015. It starred Alyvia Alyn Lind as young Dolly and Sugarland star Jennifer Nettles as Parton’s mother. The next year, Parton had her first number 1 country album in more than 25 years with the set Pure & Simple, supported by a North American tour. The 2016 holiday season also saw the airing of the biopic sequel Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.

In June 2018, Netflix announced plans for a Dolly Parton anthology series, with the iconic performer on board to executive produce and appear in select episodes. Heartstrings premiered in November 2019, with each of its eight episodes based on one of Parton’s songs.

Dolly Parton performing live onstage at the launch for her ’Imagination Library’ literacy project.

Photo: Matt Kent/Redferns

Philanthropy

Parton has worked with charitable organizations in support of numerous causes over the years and established her own Dollywood Foundation in 1996. With the goal of improving literacy among young children, she created Dolly’s Imagination Library, a program that donates more than 10 million books to children annually. “They call me the Book Lady. That’s what the little kids say when they get their books in the mail,” she told The Washington Post in 2006. “They think I bring them and put them in the mailbox myself, like Peter Rabbit or something.”

Though many of her charitable contributions are anonymous, Parton has used her success to give back to her community by providing scholarships for children, donating thousands to hospitals and providing technology and supplies for classrooms.

READ MORE: Why Dolly Parton Has Devoted Her Life to Helping Children Read

Dolly Parton Husband

Parton has been married to Carl Dean since 1966. The couple met at a Nashville laundromat, the Wishy Washy, two years earlier. On their 50th anniversary, the two renewed their vows. “My husband is not one who wants to be just thrown out there,” she has said about Dean. “He’s very private, and I’ve always respected that for him and about him.”

READ MORE: Inside Dolly Parton’s Private Marriage to Carl Dean

Parton is the godmother of pop singer and actress Miley Cyrus.

A&E Biography Special

The two-hour documentary Biography: Dolly, aired Sunday, April 12, on A&E, and traced Parton’s extraordinary journey from her childhood spent in poverty and early days in Nashville to her multiple hit songs and recent 50th-anniversary celebration at The Grand Ole Opry. Reflecting on the acute social commentary and personal stories within her lyrics, the documentary examined hit songs including Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You. Featuring exclusive interviews with Parton herself, the documentary revealed the bold and fearless woman behind the rhinestones and wigs who has moved seamlessly with the times to inspire generations. Biography: Dolly also featured interviews with Lily Tomlin, Chris Stapleton, Jane Fonda, Kylie Minogue and other friends and fellow musicians as they reflected on one of music’s most beloved stars.

• Name: Dolly Rebecca Parton
• Birth Year: 1946
• Birth date: January 19, 1946
• Birth State: Tennessee
• Birth City: Locust Ridge
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Female
• Best Known For: Dolly Parton is a cultural icon whose powerful voice and songwriting skills have established her as a presence on both the country and pop music charts for decades.
• Industries
• Film
• Country
• Television
• Astrological Sign: Capricorn
• Interesting Facts
• Dolly Parton wrote her hits “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” on the same day.
• The world’s first cloned sheep was named after Dolly Parton in 1996.

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn’t look right,contact us!

• Article Title: Dolly Parton Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/dolly-parton
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E Television Networks
• Last Updated: March 30, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014

• I’m not offended by dumb blonde jokes because I know that I’m not dumb. I also know I’m not blonde.
• As soon as I could, I started my own publishing company, got my own record label. I think it’s important, if you can, to keep all of your goods close to home where you can control them and know what’s happening with them.
• When I write, I don’t try to be commercial. I just write what I feel, and hope that it might turn out to be a ‘Jolene’ or an ‘I Will Always Love You.’ You can’t really purposefully try to do that. If they’re good, they’re good, and if they’re mediocre, they’re mediocre. I got a lot of them, too.
• I think that I’ve been at this so long that [my audience has] come to know me, they know I’m not judgmental. They know I like everybody. I want to be accepted myself, and I not only accept, but celebrate, the difference in everyone.
• Everyone loves Adele. With all my little nieces, it’s all ‘Adele this’ and ‘Adele that!’ And I love how she does her makeup, and so I’m always saying to my little nieces, ‘Can you fix my eyes like Adele?’
• I love to think of myself as an entertainer. I make things look like I’m better than I am, because I like to entertain. Even that tongue-in-cheek kind of stuff—when I say, ‘I know it so well I can play it backwards,’ and I turn myself backwards—that’s corny as hell. But it works!
• 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. Everybody is not entitled to every single thing you do and thought you think, although I do share as much of my life as I possibly can. I’m not holding back any information, but there are just some things that are sacred and private.
• I look just like the girls next door… if you happen to live next door to an amusement park.

Inside Her Early Career and Country Music Dreams

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Dolly Parton has long been an American icon and is regarded as one of the greatest songwriters and singers of our time — not to mention, a dynamite TV and movie personality. Although pretty much everybody loves Dolly now, that was not always the case, as Nancy Anderson discovered when she visited the artist’s hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee for the February 1988 issue of Good Housekeeping. There was plenty of petty jealousy to go around, and although it bothered Dolly, it certainly did not deter her. Speaking to Dolly, as well as family members, teachers and classmates, Nancy’s deep dive into Dolly’s past gives us a candid look at the real life of one of our greatest stars. — Alex Belth, Hearst archivist

If Dolly Parton were a mean-spirited woman, the barefoot bronze girl on the lawn of the Sevier County Courthouse in Sevierville, Tennessee would be her revenge on the townsfolk who’d once laughed at her.

Sevierville, Dolly’s hometown, was named for John Sevier, a Tennessee hero, famous Indian fighter and the state’s first governor. But it’s not his statue on the lawn of the Sevier County Courthouse. It’s Dolly Parton’s, guitar on her lap, and it was erected by admiring Sevierville residents at a cost of $60,000, raised through public subscription.

It symbolizes how the local attitude toward Dolly has changed since that night in 1954 when the baccalaureate service for her high school graduating class took place at the First Baptist Church.

“Dolly was the happiest person I ever saw.”

As part of the program, each senior was asked to stand and announce their ambition. Most said that they wanted to be doctors or lawyers. But when Dolly’s turn came, she jumped to her feet and proclaimed, “I’m going to Nashville to be a singer and a songwriter.”

A few seconds of startled silence was followed by laughter. But in the end, Dolly had the last laugh.

Dolly, the fourth of 12 Parton children, was born on January 19, 1946 at her parents’ farm home in the Tennessee mountains. It was bitterly cold. Snow had fallen the night before, and the morning was so frigid that when a cousin mopped the Parton floor, the scrub water formed a sheet of ice.

Country singer Dolly Parton poses for a portrait circa 1955 in Tennessee.

Michael Ochs Archives

Willadeene, the eldest of the Parton children, remembers that she and her brothers thought Dolly was the prettiest baby they’d ever seen.

Dolly has spoken often both of the poverty that afflicted the Parton household and of the love that sustained it, but former neighbors say that the family wasn’t really thought of as poor because they weren’t any poorer than anybody else.

“They had a big potato patch,” one old friend recalls.

Clyde McCarter, in whose yard Dolly played, says, “She grew up hard, but everybody lived hard then.”

Faye Dunn, who lived near the Partons and whose brother has been married to and divorced from Dolly’s sister Willadeene, points out that electricity wasn’t brought into the neighborhood until 1951, so Dolly’s family wasn’t the only one without electric lights and a television set. While the Partons lived modestly, Mrs. Dunn says the children were adequately clothed, and there was always good food in the house because Mrs. Parton was an excellent cook.

“Nobody in their wildest dreams imagined Dolly would become such a big star.”

“I always loved to go to the Parton house,” Mrs. Dunn remembers, “Because they all had so much fun. Dolly was the happiest person I ever saw.”

Dolly began her public singing as a tot at the church where her grandfather Jake Owens preached. However, Clyde McCarter opines, “She wasn’t the best singer in the family — her sisters Stella and Cassie were better.”

All the children in the congregation sang, encouraged by Grandpa Jake, who loved good gospel music. Yet, since the little Partons were mischievous, going to church featured more than singing and worship — on at least one memorable Sunday.

Once, according to Willadeene, she, Dolly and brothers David and Denver got some whiskey from their daddy’s hidden supply and sipped it all the way to Sunday school and finished it off just as they reached the church. That day, instead of singing out, they sat still and quiet, hoping no one would smell their breath.

Dolly’s first schoolteacher, Mrs. Archie Ray McMahan, can’t recall exactly when she met the youngster. “Back then,” Mrs. McMahan says, “children used to bring their younger brothers and sisters to school, so Dolly may have come to school when she was only two or three. But I know when she enrolled in the first grade in August, she was going to be six the following January.”

Mrs. McMahan had been recruited against her will to preside over the Locust Ridge School, a one-room, one-teacher schoolhouse atop a mountain so remote that she had to walk two miles each morning and afternoon to get there and back home. The only amenities the little building had were a water bucket and dipper, a stove and an outhouse.

Mrs. McMahan remembers Dolly as a sweet, well-behaved child with a convenient memory. “One day,” she says, “when she was supposed to be reading aloud, I realized that she wasn’t looking at the book. I found out that she couldn’t read; she was reciting from memory. So I got some flashcards and worked with her and then she learned to read. The thing I remember best about her is that she was always ready with an answer.”

She also remembers holding Dolly, and other students, on her lap and rubbing their little legs to increase circulation when they arrived at school in freezing weather, since the children, like their teacher, had to walk or ride a horse two miles up the mountain.

Dolly’s second teacher was Tilman Robertson, who took her on her first visit to a television station in Knoxville where Dolly got to sing, accompanied by another student, Dian McCarter, who played the guitar.

Dian, now Dian Robertson and one of Dolly’s closest hometown friends, says, “I was terrified, but Dolly wasn’t afraid at all.”

When Dolly was only 10 years old, her uncle Bill Owens, himself a singer, took her to the Cas Walker radio and television show in Knoxville. She was hired to sing during the summer months for $20 a week. At first, she stayed in Knoxville with an aunt and uncle who lived there. But she soon began staying with Carl and Pearl Butler, both performers and songwriters.

“When Dolly comes home, she’s nice to everyone, but you can tell she remembers who treated her badly.”

Mrs. Butler says that Dolly preferred being with them because they didn’t go to bed as early as her relatives and would take her to the movies. “She was 11 years old when she started staying with us,” Mrs. Butler says fondly, “and was full of life and full of tricks. Once she stripped my little nephew naked and sent him [outdoors]. Years later he met her at a Hollywood studio and asked if she knew who he was. When she remembered what she had done, they had a good laugh.”

Dolly’s famous curves developed early, to her embarrassment, Mrs. Butler recalls. “She used to try and bind herself flatter until I told her, ‘You may hurt yourself. God gave ’em to you, so don’t be ashamed.’”

“I told her she needed to get a good brassiere. She didn’t want to, but finally I got her to go with me to a department store, and I bought her a bra. She put it on and said, ‘I look like an advertisement for Pet Milk.’”

Country singer Dolly Parton poses for a portrait circa 1970.

Michael Ochs Archives

Although Dolly had seen a flush toilet and electric lights at her aunt’s Knoxville home, she was fascinated by the Butlers’ conveniences. She’d flush the toilet just to see it work, and Mrs. Butler remembers she’d turn the lights off and on, “until the switches almost fell off the walls.”

And when Mrs. Butler baked a chocolate cake for Dolly, the little girl was so excited, she plunged her face into it. “But don’t make me no more chocolate,” she said, “because chocolate breaks me out.”

Dolly continued to stay off and on with the Butlers until her marriage, an event Mrs. Butler had been expecting, “because anybody like Dolly would have to get married to have someone to protect her. I mean, she was so pretty, boys were bound to chase her, so she needed a husband. Dolly’s husband, Carl Dean, is just as handsome as Dolly is beautiful,” Mrs. Butler judges.

Dolly attended Sevier County High School, which she hated — even though the school has an excellent music program. The first member of her family to finish high school, she claimed that she was the most popular girl in the student body, “but in the wrong way.” She got attention, she maintains, because she wore tight clothes and told dirty jokes.

Yet her former teacher, Mrs. Julia Householder, doesn’t think her clothes were unusually tight and can’t believe Dolly told dirty jokes. “She was just a normal, giggly girl,” Mrs. Householder says, “who wore more makeup than some and less than others. I was a guidance counselor, and she talked to me about wanting to go into music and entertainment. I can’t recall what I said to her, but I hope I told her to keep trying. However, nobody in their wildest dreams imagined Dolly would become such a big star.”

While teenage Dolly was a dish, old friends say she didn’t have many dates, partly because she lived a long way from town and partly because her father didn’t encourage them.

People who knew Dolly in high school and liked her still resent the treatment she got from some of her peers. When her senior class awarded the “most” titles (most beautiful, most talented, etc.) Dolly was ignored.

However, slights went much deeper than that. A friend of Dolly’s says, “It makes me furious to hear some people boast that they were friends of Dolly’s when she was growing up when, in fact, they weren’t nice to her. When Dolly comes home, she’s nice to everyone, but you can tell she remembers who treated her badly.”

The day after she graduated from high school, she lit out for Nashville to look for a job in the music industry — and she met two men who changed her life completely. One was country singing star Porter Wagoner, who turned the mountain girl into a popular recording and television star. The other was Carl Dean, whom she married.

Country singer Dolly Parton and her collaborator Porter Wagoner perform onstage circa 1967.

Michael Ochs Archives

Porter asked Dolly to come to his office for a business conference. She figured he wanted to use a song she had written and sent to him. But Wagoner told her that the girl singer on his television show was going to marry and move to Oklahoma and that he was considering Dolly as a replacement. Wagoner asked her if she’d be willing to wear conservative clothes, since his was a family show, and Dolly said she would.

Then he asked her if she knew many hymns.

“Minnie Hemms?” Dolly inquired. “No, I don’t believe I know her.”

Since they’d been talking about costumes, Dolly thought Wagoner was recommending a seamstress to her. Porter thought the mistake was charming.

Dolly joined him on The Porter Wagoner Show, syndicated out of Nashville, and on hit records. She wrote many of their duets. Her earnings soon reached $60,000 a year. But after seven years, she left Wagoner.

According to Dolly, she met Carl Dean in a launderette. But Willadeene says they met after Carl drove past Dolly, waved and she waved back (since in Sevierville, that was good manners).

In any case Dolly began dating the lanky paving contractor and on Memorial Day, 1966, they were married in Ringgold, Georgia with the bride’s mother in attendance. In fact, she was in attendance for most of their wedding night because, after riding with Dolly and Carl almost all of the way back to Nashville, Mrs. Parton remembered that she’d left her purse in Ringgold. Already the good son-in-law, Carl turned the car around and drove back to retrieve the purse.

Dolly insists that she and Carl have a sublimely happy marriage. She says he’s her “daddy” and her “little boy” and her best friend as well as her husband. She loves him, she says, and he loves her, though physically they aren’t a close couple.

Dolly says Carl gives her freedom, “but he knows I ain’t really goin’ nowhere. We both know we’ll never find anyone we love as much as we love each other.”

Though Dolly says that Carl’s not jealous and neither is she, one has to wonder how he really feels when he reads interviews like the one Dolly gave in 1981, in which she declared: “I certainly was not a loose girl, and I’m not a loose woman. But sex is an overwhelming emotion. Natural as breathing. I will say that if I feel the need to express my emotion, I’m gonna do it.”

Dolly Parton performing circa 1970.

Richard E. Aaron

Carl’s a mystery to the public because he’s seldom photographed. In fact, he is so camera-shy that when he finally consented to pose for a photo for the Dollywood museum, he met the photographer with a paper sack over his head. But Sevierville folk like Carl and think of him as sensible and down-to-earth. Gary Wade, who went to school with Dolly says, “You don’t have to worry about there not being a real side to her once you meet Carl.”

After a deeply depressing period during which she almost lost her voice, Dolly says she’s now as happy as a person can be. She’s also about as thin as a person can be. To the suggestion she’s too thin, that she looks anorexic, Dolly guffaws, “Honey, hogs don’t get anorexia.”

“I now wear size 0 to 3 jeans and weigh between 95 and 100 pounds,” Dolly says, “which is the size I ought to be. I’m really just a little, bitty person with a big mouth. A lot of people think I’m too skinny now because they’ve seen me so fat for so long. The other day my mam said, ‘Honey, you ain’t no bigger than a bar of soap.’”

Back in Sevierville, Dolly still has a few critics, but even they have to admit she’s done a lot for the town. Dollywood, an amusement park, has made nearby Pigeon Forge a major draw for tourists. Dolly is the national chairman of the Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation, which supports the hospital in Sevierville and is named for the mountain doctor who traveled on horseback to deliver Dolly. A rehabilitation center in the hospital’s new wing is named for Dolly herself.

Ironically, Dolly, the girl who hated school so much she has said she cries when she sees children on a school bus, has for the past 17 years given scholarships to Sevier County High School graduates and now gives scholarships to graduates of each of the county’s high schools. Her friend Dian is in charge of the scholarship program.

In addition, Dolly has raised money to supply some of her school’s needs by giving concerts and paying all of the expenses involved out of her own pocket.

Dolly Parton performing at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards in 2022.

Kevin Winter

“I got closer to her after she started doing the concerts,” her former teacher Mrs. Householder says. “Once before a concert she was helping me move a table and called me ‘Mrs. Householder.’ I said, ‘Dolly, don’t you think it’s time for you to call me ‘Julia’? Well, she put down her end of the table, thought a minute, and said, ‘I don’t believe I can do that. You’re my teacher.’”

Dolly has also said, “I never did have the sense to be scared.” If she had, the laughter on her baccalaureate night might have scared her back into the hills. But if it affected her at all, it only increased her gumption.

“It took me a long time to get here,” Dolly says. “So there’s no telling what I’m liable to do next.”

More About Dolly:

• Stunning Photos of Dolly Parton Through the Years
• See Dolly Parton’s Tribute to Kenny Rogers

Dolly Parton reveals why she never had children | Do you remember?

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Dolly Parton is undoubtedly one of the most iconic figures in country music of all time. She is loved by listeners of all ages. Despite her large family and strong bond with children, she and her husband Carl Dean never had children of their own. According to Parton, it should have been.

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In an interview with Today on , Parton spoke with host Matt Lauer about promoting her first children’s album, I Believe in You . She also works with children through her charity Imagination Library, which has provided almost 100 million free books to children.

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During an interview, Parton said that fate led her to become a mother to everyone, and not just a mother to her own children. “God has a plan for everything,” she said. “I think it was probably his plan for me not to have children so that all the children could be mine. And now they are.”

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Previously, Parton said that she used to regret not having children, but now she does not feel it, and instead she has become closer to her younger brothers and sisters, as well as her nieces and nephews. “Now that Carl and I are older, we often say, ‘Aren’t you glad we didn’t have kids?’ Now we have nothing to worry about the children,” she said. Billboard .

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She told Lauer that children are just drawn to her, like everyone else, and she associates her large family and her appearance with this. “My voice is so high… I sound like Mother Goose or one of those exaggerated characters, and the kids just love it,” she said.

71-year-old Parton says she’s having a “second childhood” now, and it’s the perfect time to release songs for kids. All proceeds from the album go to the Imagination Library. Watch the full interview on Today.com.

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Dolly Parton before and after plastic surgery, photo and video

Dolly Parton is one of the most talented country singers in America. But in the world she became famous not only for her charming voice, but also for her appearance, lovingly fashioned by plastic surgeons. In 2016, Dolly Parton turned 70 years old, and she is still proud of her breasts, heavily painted and wears stilettos.

Briefly about Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton can only be described with one word – “zive”. During her career as an author, she has sold more than 100 million discs, wrote songs for eminent singers, and herself fascinated listeners with her provocative manner of performance. It was she who wrote the cult composition for Whitney Houston “I will always love you”, which fell in love with the audience after the release of the picture “The Bodyguard”. Among other things, Miss Parton is the owner of the Dollywood amusement park, for which she receives $ 45 million a year. The state of the star is 865 million dollars. She is not greedy, but is widely involved in charity work.

Dolly Parton’s appearance

Dolly Parton’s appearance has long been discussed on television. Man-made appearance was needed to move up the career ladder. The woman was not initially mistaken, saying: “The path to world success helped me pave my cool bust.” By the way, the singer tried to correct her appearance with her own efforts. She has been on a strict diet all her life.

• Mammoplasty. Huge size 8 breasts still cause a lot of controversy and disagreement. A number of plastic surgeries led to the fact that the bust of a woman grew by leaps and bounds.

Although, it was much more difficult not to pump up the buffers, but to maintain them in a normal state. It was for this that Dolly Parton turned to surgeons, because without a braces, according to her, “the chest dragged along the floor.” Dolly Parton, after plastic surgery, also proudly wears her weighty dignity, which has become a little tighter. It is worth noting that the first cloned animal, Dolly the sheep, was named after Dolly Parton, because the cells for cloning were taken from the udder of a donor. This means that when a sheep was cloned, cells were taken from the udder of a donor animal, and then the clone was named Dolly, since she symbolizes a large breast.

Regarding the heated discussion of the content of her cleavage, the singer says: “I’m not at all against discussions. I always expose my breasts for everyone to see. I always had good breasts, but I made them even bigger, because I love to live as fun as possible. Now people at least know that my heart is beating under my boobs. And this is one of the main reasons why my boobs are so big – they cover a huge kind heart.

• • Chin plastic surgery. The implants were sewn into Dolly Parton’s chin to give it relief. Dolly Parton after the operation has found a well-defined face and is not at all ashamed of appeals to surgeons.

She says “I’m a media personality and I don’t care if anyone knows what I’ve done there. And if I notice that something is sagging, sagging or hanging, I will definitely pull it up, tighten it and pull it off.

• Facelift. Dolly Parton evokes exceptionally positive emotions with her self-irony. Regarding her appearance, she responds with great self-criticism. Before plastic surgery, Dolly Parton had many deep wrinkles that even cosmetics could not hide. Needless to say, if a woman is far from 30 years old. The star personality herself says: “If I do another circular facelift, then my beard will sag.” Say what you like, but unlike Donatella Versace, Dolly Parton looks organic and natural after the operation. “Yes, I have already done everything I could. And it’s not over yet! ”- the woman comments on her decisive war on aging.

• Neck lift. Dolly Parton’s neck in her youth was distinguished by chiseled shapes and noble subtlety. With age, the neck “floated”, because it is on the female neck that age first manifests itself. Dolly Parton before the operation was ashamed of the difference in the condition of the neck and the beauty of the neckline. Therefore, carefully choosing a surgeon, I removed the so-called “annual rings” of sagging skin.

• Butt lift. Photos of Dolly Parton radiate zest for life. With a small stature, and the woman’s height is 152 cm, her figure has not lost its youthfulness. The famous singer pulled her ass up repeatedly, saying that she would fight old age until her last breath. “I always told everyone that if I had ever been born a boy, I would definitely become a transvestite,” Dolly Parton tells about her grotesque femininity.

• Veneers. The woman’s teeth were naturally slightly yellowish. Now they are blindingly white. This is the merit of dentists, who, like other stars, made Dolly Parton a “million dollar smile”.

• Chemical peel. Signs of a respectful age in Dolly Parton have almost completely been replaced by signs of plastic surgery. The American country star does chemical peeling regularly. Gets rid of the effect of “acne” and other age-related pigmentation of the skin of the face.

• Bright look. The country star reports that she made her image based on the appearance of the whores of her city.