Dolly Parton’s name is synonymous with country music. The blonde Southern Bell is one of the biggest legends in the music world, and country fans go crazy for her sultry, sweet voice and her incredible stage presence. Not to mention her strong character that always says what’s on her mind. But one thing remains a mystery about this music icon, why is she ALWAYS wearing long sleeves? No matter the temperature, no matter the day, she always has her arms covered up, read on to find out more about the singer the long-sleeved mystery.
The Secrets Hidden Up Her Sleeves
To fully understand the blonde beauty and all her quirks, we have to go back to the beginning., to a time before her fame when she was a little girl. Like all musicians, Parton’s childhood, family and upbringing contributed to who she is today. Her upbringing makes a great story of a simple country girl who went from nothing to one of the biggest names not only in the country music world but in the entire world!
It All Started With A Dream
I bet you won’t be able to find one person in the world who has not heard of Dolly Parton. the country singer has made such a name for herself she’s one of the most famous musicians around who has had a very long and successful career. However, many people are totally oblivious to her upbringing and the events that contributed to her personal life and made her who she is today. From her passion for the feminist movement, to the reason she refuses to wear short-sleeves, somehow Dolly has managed to keep many of these details hush-hush and we are here to help you understand the private and interesting Parton
She Has 11 Siblings
Before Parton became the Queen of country, she grew up ‘dirt poor’ and lived in a one-room cabin with her mother, father and eleven siblings! That’s right, Dolly Parton is one of twelve children, as you can imagine, supporting such a large family was no easy feat. Parton was born on January 19th, 1946 in Tennessee. Her father worked as a farmer and construction worker while he struggles to put food on the table and her mother stayed at home to look after the children.
The Church Was Her Stage
Parton grew up in a Pentecostal area, so naturally, the church was an important part of her upbringing, and also an important part of her growing talent. The southern Bell began performing from her community at their church when she was only six years old! Two years later, her uncle gifted her with her first guitar. It was the start of her total love of country music. Parton was in a rush to develop her talent and throughout her childhood, she sang on local television and radio shows such as The Gas Walker Show in Knoxville.
Johnny Cash Gave Her Advice
Parton’s talent could not be ignored. When she was only 13, she sang at the legendary country music venture, the Grand Ole Opry Hotel and after the performance, she got to meet The Man in Black Himself. Johnny Cash. The Walk the Line signer met her backstage and gave her some inspirational advice. He told her never to give up on her dreams and trust her instincts rather than be pushed into a music direction others wanted for her.
Moving to Nashville
As soon as Parton finished high school, she headed off to the capital of country music, Nashville. Although she was undeniably talented, like most new artist she started off writing songs for others and not singing them herself. Together with her uncle Bill Owens, she even wrote to hit songs! Put It Off Until Tomorrow was sung by Bill Phillips and Fuel the Flame was a hit for Skeeter Davis.
She Gets a Record Deal
But of course, Parton’s talent could not be overlooked for long. Soon she was snapped up by a record label, Monumental Records, which signed her when she was just 19. However, the vision they had for her was not what she imagined. they wanted her to sign what’s known as ‘bubble-gum pop’ which was big among the younger teens in the 60’s and 70’d. for a while she agreed and let Johnny Cash’s advice to go with her guy be ignored. None of her singles made it to the Billboard Top 1900 chart.
On the Wagon
However, she kept country close to her heart and continues to work on her country music. One of her big breaks was when Parton was asked to go on The Porter Wagon show, a long-running musical variety roadshow. Thanks to the show, Parton’s career started soaring. She replaced former country star Norma Jean on the show, and audience took time to warm up to her replacement. When Parton was first introduced to the show she was welcomes by the audience chanting ‘Norma Jean’. However, they soon warmed up and came to love Dolly, after all, who doesn’t?’
Going Solo
Its hard to think of Dolly has anything but a solo act, but she started off her career singing alongside Wagoner. They put out a few hits together until she said goodbye to the show in 2974 and went on to sign to the RCA Victor label. But it wasn’t instant success for her solo career. Her first single, ‘I’m a Woman’, only reached 17 at the charts. She continued to release singles in the late 60’s but to her disappointment, none did as well as the songs she sang with Wagoner.
At Last
Finally, her big solo break came, thanks to Wagoner’s suggestion that Parton records her own version of the hit Mule Skinner Blues which was previously sung by folk singer Jimmy Rodgers. This was it and Parton reached number three on the charts with her version. She went on to record her first hit single, Joshua and from there it was onwards and upwards as she continued to top the charts.
Tough Love
Portner Wagoner and Parton had a serious love-hate relationship. They made some of their biggest hits side by side but later clashed over which direction they thought Parton’s musical career should go in. it didn’t make it easier that both were incredibly stubborn and hard headed... Parton needed to blossom on her own but when she decided to leave, Wagoner sued her for a breach of their contract. Parton tried to explain her decision and make him understand that there were no hard feelings when she sat him down and belted out I Will Always Love you.
Please Don’t Take My Man!
Although many consider Coat of Many Colours to be her first signature song, it surprisingly only made it to number 4 on the charts! However, when she released Jolene in the late 70’s it marked her biggest hit and went straight to the top of the charts, not just for country music, but it was also a success across the Atlantic in the UK! Jolene, which was also written by Parton, is still regarded as one of the greatest songs of all times according to the Rolling Stones magazine (and we agree!)
Back to Pop
Despite Parton not making it big with pop at the beginning of her career, she was determined to try again in the late 70’s. She started to work with Sandy Goslin , who would be her personal manager for the next 25 years! Although her pop songs While All I Can Do Was and New Harvest…First Gathering didn’t make it big, she refused to give up.
Here She Comes Again
Parton was determined to appeal not only to country fans but to a more mainstream audience too. She started achieving this dream when she released ‘Here You Come Again, which not only sold upwards of a million copies but also made it to the top 20 of the mainstream charts. This was only the start of her mainstream success and it happened to be a rare example of a song that was not written by her, but by Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann.
Award Winning!
Believe it or not, only in the late 80’s did Parton start enjoying the success we associate with her today. Her album ‘Trio; made t to the top of the country charts for a total of five weeks, and also on a Grammy award! Her award-winning streak couldn’t be stopped, in 1999 she was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame before continuing to record more Grammy winning albums with her bluegrass style.
She Makes a Change
After trying again and again to make it into the pop music world, Dolly finally began to focus fully on her country style. And what can we say, pop music’s loss was country’s gain! Parton went on to sign harmonies with Bill Phillips which secured her move from pop to country. As you can imagine, her first two-rack country album, ‘Hello I’m Dolly’ was far more successful than her previous pop endeavours and reached number 17 and 24 in the country charts in 1967- and thus, a country star was born!
We Will Always Love Her!
Since Parton started off her career as a song writer, not to mention majority of her own songs were written by her, its no surprise so many artists have chosen to cover the country gal. who could forget Whitney Houston’s incredible performance of I Will Always Love You in The Bodyguard or Kenny Rogers version in his album Vote for Love? Other artists such as Leanne Rimes also chose to cover Parton.
The Oscars Come a Calling
Nevermind the multiple music award she has won in her lifetime, Parton has also been nominated for Academy Awards for her track 9 to 5 on the movie of the same name, and starred Parton, along with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. She has also been nominated for an Oscar for Travelin’ Thru, a movie about a transgender woman.
Dinner With Dolly?
Its no surprise Parton sang a song titled 9 to 5 since she works as hard as she does! She may not keep to exactly those hours, but Partin is known to be a business savvy woman who has invested money in businesses in Eastern Tennessee, not to mention she has her own Dollywood theme park, which is operated under the Dollywood Company umbrella.
Not Riding High
You would think that since she owns a theme park, she would be a fan of rollercoasters, right? Think again! Parton has actually never been on even one of her rides, the reason being she gets terrible motion sickness! When she was younger she would even get sick on the school bus!
A Talented Actress
Parton is one of those multi-talented stars who not only conquered the music world but is also a talented actress! She first was exposed to acting when she performed on the Porter Wagoner Show and continued with her own show called (wait for it…) Dolly! She also won rave reviews for her performance in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which she starred in along with Burt Reynolds.
Signature Style
Not everyone can base their look on a prostitute and get away with it like Dolly can! Turns out, her role as Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse wasn’t so far-fetched after all. Parton said in an interview that while she was growing up she once spotted a lady with yellow hair piled above her head, red lipstick, and high heels and decided that was the look she would go for! So, she based her whole image on a lady of the night!
Time for Love
Parton is one of the stars in Hollywood who has had the longest marriage. Despite her busy career, she always made time for live. The country star married her long-time love Carl Thomas Dean in 1966 and have been together since! Parton changed her name to Dolly Parton Dean, although she continues to use her maiden name professionally. Dean is not one that loves the spotlight and has only seen his wife perform once! (though we are sure he has gotten plenty private performances).
True Romance
While Parton and Dean would love to have kids of their own, Parton has been honest and open about her decision not to have children and prefers to be something like a mother to everyone! She has spoken about how lucky she is to have Dean as a partner and how he is always romantic and plans surprises for her, the couple are also devoted to their wider family, and celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary by renewing their vows.
A Family Affair
Parton is also the godmother to nonn0other than Miley Cyrus! Parton has been a big influence in the child-star turned musicians’ life. who could forget the pairs beautiful rendition of Jolene which they sang side by side. Parton was one of the few that understood Miley through all her stages. When Cyrus was growing up in the spotlight, twerking on stage and wearing very little, Parton said she just needed a chance to become her own person and to make good choices.
Forever Young
The southern bell credits her looks with good genes and a hell of a lot of plastic surgery. She is an advocate of women doing whatever they want to feel beautiful and has no shame to admit that she has had nips and tucks whenever she feels like she needs, she jokes that while she may look fake on the outside, she’s real “where it counts”. Famously playing down her own penchant for cosmetic procedures, she said: “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap!”
Not Herself?
This is one hell of a story: Parton’s image is one of the most iconic in the music industry with her big blonde hair, big bosom and even bigger personality. But she once decided to have some fun and take part in a Dolly Parton look-alike contest in on Santa Monica Boulevard and lost!! “I didn’t even come close,” she says. It’s possible she was actually taking part in a drag show, as most of the others on stage were actually guys!
Just Friends
Obviously, with fame comes many rumors. Since Parton is rarely seen in public with her husband, a rumor went around that she is secretly gay thanks to her close relationship with her childhood friend Judy Ogle. Her and Ogle have been close since third-grade and are often pictured side by side holding hands. however, she has claimed that while she loves Ogle as much as anyone else in the world, the pair are not linked romantically.
Building Bridges
Despite their love-hate relationship and falling out back when she was younger, Parton was at Porter Wagoner’s side when he passed away after battling with lung cancer at age 80. She said in an interview that it was phenomenally hard, but she held his hand and prayed for him. His soul, she said, had already left to be with God.
The Feud That Never Was
As we know, the public loves when stars have feuds and when Whitney Houston released her version of I Will Always Love You, the tabloids started a rumor that a feud was imminent, however, this could not be farther from the truth! The pair had mutual admiration and respect for one another with Huston personally thanking Parton for letting her sing the song and Parton feeling honored that she chose to cover it.
Book Days!
As we mentioned, Parton grew up in a poor town in a poor household and was aware of the struggles people less fortunate have. Now that she is where she has and can help others she launched the Dollywood Foundation which runs a library. The way it works is that children who are enrolled get a new book mailed to them from the time they are born until they get to kindergarten. Just imagine how many people have become readers thanks to her!
Teaching Tolerance
Parton is also a firm LGBT supporter and as Gay Day at Dollywood which members of the LGBT community flock to. She preaches acceptance to all and definitely practices what she preaches! She says Dollywood is a place that accepts all. She even sings about acceptance in her track Backwoods Barbie where she says she has always been misunderstood. “I try to love everybody,”
She Once Tried to Commit Suicide
While it seems that Parton now lives the perfect life, like every person she has struggled with her own demons and has even tried to commit suicide on one occasion. Her and her husband previously had an open marriage, and after one of her relationships came to an end it sent her on a downward spiral towards suicide. It was none other than her Bostin Terrier Popeye who brought her back to reality and she put down the gun she had in her hands.
President Parton
Although it is classified who exactly Parton voted for, when asked about Hilary Clinton she was quoted saying ‘A Woman president would be great’! she has also said she has thought about running herself because she has the hair for it and thinks the presidential race could do with “more boobs!” she certainly seems qualified!
She’s More Relevant Than Ever
Although she has been in the business for years and years, she has somehow managed to remain super relevant! Her recent Pure & Simple tour was one of her biggest within the US and she also recently performed on The Voice alongside her god-daughter Miley Cyrus. Parton has also collaborated with Kesha in the previous years for a duet singing Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You.
Rags to Riches
She may have grown up with nothing of value other than a guitar in a ‘dirt poor’ home, but that is far from her current reality! Just like her hair, her fortune is larger than life! Last counted her net worth was a staggering $500m. a lot of that fortune came from the millions she earned from her royalties from Houston’s version of I Will Always Love You. Talk about the epitome of rags to riches tale.
A Tattooed Lady?
Although none of them are visible. Rumor has it she has many tattoos in places only she can see! This seems true as we have gotten glimpses of a little heart in her cleavage when she bends down! Comedy actress Roseanne Barr also says Dolly showed her “awesome” pastel bow tattoos which cover her plastic surgery scars.
It’s All in the Hair
One of her trademarks is, of course, her bouncy huge hair. These are wigs that she chops and changes, but always makes sure they are blonde and extravagant! She started wearing wigs when she couldn’t get her hair in the desired shape and not reportedly has said she never leaves the house without a wig on. But when you get to her level of success, who is to judge!
Dolly the Sheep
Another legendary story having to do with he country singer is one of the most famous science experiments ever performed, when in 1995 scientists created a clone cell from a somatic cell! What does this have to do with Dolly Parton you ask? Well, they famously named the cloned sheep Dolly after Dolly Parton because it came out with a particularly large bust! Now it all makes sense…
The Lookalike Contest Fail
Despite her fame and fortune, Dolly is determined to always keep it down-to-earth and exciting. One Halloween she decided to take part in a Dolly Parton lookalike contest! Most of the other contestants were actually men. The best part was that Dolly went so overexaggerated as herself that she was barely recognizable and lost her own contest!!! We can only imagine how the judges reacted when they realized her true identity.
Recreating Fond Memories
As we know, Dolly was raised with her eleven siblings in very humble beginnings. Her home barely even had plumbing or electricity! Once she made it big she decided to restore her old house to its former glory and also add top-class plumbing and electricity. The crazy part is that it looks exactly the same as it did all those years ago!
Death Threats for Dolly
With great fame comes some craziness too, like death threats! It’s hard to believe this country gal could have enemies, but the KKK actually sent her death threats! This is because of her support for the LGBT community which she has been very vocal about. But being classic Dolly, she didn’t even bat an eyelid and was not scared of them in the slightest- you go girl!
Dolly Immortalized
Of course, the people of Tennessee, Dolly’s hometown absolutely love the singer as she is their pride and joy. They even have a bronzed statue of her in front of their courthouse! In the statue she sits back with no shoes on and cradles a guitar. his is one of the popular stops in the walking tour of the town so if you ever get the chance you should check it out. Carry on reading to find out more Dolly stories!
Rejecting Elvis
No, not in the way you think. She was approached by the legends manager who wanted Elvis to cover her song ‘I Will Always Love You’. However, the manager also demanded that she relinquish half of her publishing rights to the same song! When Dolly heard this part of the deal she put her foot down. Who on earth can say they rejected an offer from Elvis Presley? Dolly Parton can!
That Playboy Cover
Back then it was considered something of a huge honor to be on the cover of Playboy, so of course, they asked the gorgeous Dolly to be one of their cover girls. Although usually, the person featured has little say on what they will be wearing, Dolly would not strip down and instead wore an adorable bunny costume which made everyone happy! If you didn’t know this about Dolly, keep reading because there are a whole lot more secrets to come!
Bullied at a Young Age
It is hard to believe that someone as beautiful and talented as Dolly was a target for bullying, but when she was younger kids at her school were jealous of her singing on local television and reacting with bullying. They even locked her in a closet once! We can imagine this greatly affected the country star, however she certainly showed those bullied whose boss now!
Musical Family
It isn’t that surprising that Dolly was not the only one on her family with a musical talent, these genes usually run in the family! Indeed, her sisters Stella, Freida and Rachel have their own music careers. Some of them went down the gospel route, while others stuck with country and rock music. Freida has a voice that got compared to that of Led Zeppelin and Pat Benatar.
The Whole Truth About Jolene
Ever wondered what the inspiration to Dolly’s biggest hit Jolene was? Look no further! Dolly revealed that the song was inspired by a banker with flaming red hair who had the hots for her husband. She went on to explain how her husband would visit the bank just to bask in the glory of the attention. Nothing came out of the crush, but we did get a brilliant song from it!
Her Very Own Record Label
Nothing says ‘success’ in the music industry quite like having your own label. In addition to Dolly’s many achievements, she also established Velvet Apple Music owning copyrights and publishing rights of her song writing success. Today she owns Dolly Records which is also very successful in its own right. It seems there is absolutely nothing that this woman cannot do!
The Secret To Dolly’s Tiny Waist
Every time the country gal appears on stage her waist looks particularly tiny, and it turns out she has a secret for this look! While other singers where their microphones fixed to their waists while performing, Dolly rather attaches it to her wig! This helps accentuate the tininess of her waist. In fact. all her wigs have a secret compartment made specially to accommodate the microphone!
Carl’s Aversion To Fame
Dolly’s long-time husband Cark Dean is practically never seen with her in public, some went so far as to even question his existence! Indeed, he does exist, but he has no desire to be the center of attention! In fact, it his strong aversion to fame that helps to maintain their privacy as a couple. “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”.
Production Work
Parton’s success stretches far further than the music industry, she also has a hand in producing hit movies and TV shows! She started the production company Sandollar Productions alongside her former manager Sandy Gallin. Their company had produced many hit films including the hugely popular “Father of the Bride” movies, “Sabrina”, “Straight Talk”, “Shining Through”, and the acclaimed documentary “Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt”. Sandollar also produced the Fox TV shows “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Babes”, as well as many other shows.
Recent Acting Work
She may be 72, but there is no stopping Dolly Parton! she is still heavily involved in film and TV. Her most recent project was her narration for the film “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors”, which was based on the song of the same name. It aired on NBC at the end of 2015, with child actress Alyvia Alyn Lind playing a young Dolly. Another project saw her acting alongside the powerhouse Queen Latifah in the movie ‘Joyful Noise' where she plays a widow of the choir director.
Dolly’s Poor Upbringing
It’s very hard to think of Dolly as anything other than the big-busted blonde who’s rolling in cash, but she actually grew up in an incredibly poor family and even described herself as ‘dirt poor’ back in the day. In fact. her family was so broke that they had to pay for the medical bill with a bag of oatmeal!
Dollywood Jobs
As we have written, Parton created her own amusement park, Dollywood which has been around for upward of thirty years! But more than just a place for fun, it has also created thousands of job openings for residents of the area. That isn’t the only thing Dolly has done to help others though. Keep reading to see what Dolly has done for those in need.
Instrumental Skills
The singer is not only incredibly talented with a voice like an angel and acting chops, she is also talented when it comes to musical instruments! When she was just seven-year-old she used to play a homemade guitar before her uncle bought her a real one. She now knows how to play a total of eight instruments! including the banjo, guitar, dulcimer, piano, recorder and incredibly a saxophone!
Movie Star
While we know Parton has played her part in the movie and TV industry, you probably don’t know just how many films and shows she has starred in! she’s played roles in: Gnomeo & Juliet, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous, The Simpsons, Steel Magnolias, 9 to 5 to name but a few! Another interesting fact that her song ‘9 to 5’ was featured on the Deadpool 2 soundtrack!
No Regrets
Although Dolly is incredibly involved in charity work for children and loves to help, she has never had kids of her own. Although she used to regret this decision, she has come to peace without stating God had alternative plans for her and that she now aims to be ‘ the mother of all children’ Parton also once stated that children are drawn to her because of her high-pitched voice and over-exaggerated features, lets be honest, she does look like a life-sized doll!
Still Singing
Like we said, it seems this star never stops shooting upward. Despite being 72 she is still releasing music, her latest was an album she released in 2016 titles ‘Pure & Simple’ which was her 43rd album! She claimed that the album was inspired by her husband of over 50 years, in 2017, Parton released a children’s album called I Believe in You. What an impressive woman!
Diverse
It's clear to see that Parton is one of the most accepting and open artists, not just of the older generation but throughout! It makes sense, therefore, that she has such a diverse following. people of all ages, races, and preferences love Dolly. Rich, poor, city, country, there are no boundaries her love and charisma doesn’t cross. Dolly has said that she not only tolerates she ‘celebrates’ difference.
Not Just Singing
Some singers just have an amazing voice, but Dolly is truly the full package. When you go to one of her performance you realise what the word ‘performance’ means. She interacts with the audience, tells the corniest of jokes (they work for her!) and dances her heart out. This woman is most certainly a true entertainer.
No Sleep for the Wicked
While normal people need 7 to 8 hours a night of sleep to properly function, Dolly is not most people12 the star rests only for a couple of 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
One of the most unique things about Parton is her appearance, she has claimed that a few people have made comments 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.” Rather than go the traditional route, Parton based her image on a “tramp” who lived in her town who she thought was beautiful!
Dump that Diet
Parton also has her own unique ways when it comes to dieting (or lack thereof). Like all of us she has tried to diet but always lands up failing. “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.” We love to hear that just like everyone else Dolly has a weak spot for great food and is human just like the rest of us.
Just Your Regular Ol’ Dolly
Many singers and actors can let fame get to their heads as their career takes off, but not Dolly. She has remained grounded and herself throughout. Comparing herself now to when she first moved to Nashville Dolly reveals, “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
When it comes to the question of her long-lasting popularity, she also has some thoughts of her own: “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
The industry of fame and fortune is a risky one, where it is easy to lose oneself. But Dolly somehow has managed to stay true to herself and be honest and open with the person she wishes to be. “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,” Dolly said.
Think Like a Man
We have to remember that Dolly started off her career in a different time when women in the industry had their own hurdles. She is quoted talking about that topic saying . “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
Like every person in this world, even Dolly Parton needs downtime to do simpler and replacing things in life! “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
While there are many positives that come from fame (like millions of dollars) it also has its downside. In an interview Dolly explained exactly why she started avoiding eating in public places and spaces: “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.”
Spending Her Cash
We know she has made millions ion her career, but what has she spent it all on? “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
When it comes to writing music, the inspiration for lyrics can be hard to come by and some performers prefer to have private studios where they can sit and think. But this is not what stirs up the creative juices for Dolly! “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.” Impressed? There’s more to come!
Investing in Real Estate
Another one of Dolly’s biggest passions that she uses her money on is real estate and expanding her properties: . “We have a place in and a couple places here : on the lake, then we have the office complex, and I have the old 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
Not only does she love wigs, but she has an entire room dedicated to her collection! “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.” When asked as to how many she had Dolly had no idea and joked that there must be around 365. One for each day of the year.
The Real Dolly Parton
Like many performers, her onstage persona is vastly different to the one we see on stage: “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
When it comes to children’s literacy, she means business. “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
It makes sense her Christian roots have influenced the way she lives today, she stated, “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 none other than her uncle who first planted the musical seed when he recognised her natural talent “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.” Unfortunately, when that house burned down so did her guitar.
Whitney’s Greatest Hit
Did you know that Dolly first heard I Will Always Love You whilst driving? “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
It was Dolly's inner strength and beliefs that made her the success story she is today even before she made it big. She said, “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.” Impressed? We should think so! Keep reading for more about the story behind Dolly.
Spreading the Love Around
Now that Dolly has made it in her industry as a legend, her biggest passion has become giving back to those less fortunate. She stated, “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
Dolly has been in the music business for decades now, so how on earth has she managed to keep things so unique and fresh all the time? “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
Dolly addresses cancer in a song and the reason behind this is very close to home. “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
If you want to know how often Dolly pops out a new song, we have you covered and in truth, the answer might surprise you. “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
Dollly does not shy away from more serious topics in her lyrics, She tackled bullying in her song Makin’ Fun Ain’t Funny because as she recalls, “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
Parton has worked hard to raise money for several charitable causes, such as the American Red Cross and several HIV/AIDS-related charities. In 2006, she gave $500,000 towards a proposed $90-million hospital in Sevierville in the name of Dr. Robert F. Thomas, the doctor who delivered her. She also organized a benefit concert raise additional funds for the project. The concert played to about 8,000 people. That year, Dolly also allowed her music to be used an ad campaign for PETA- talk about a big heart!!
