It’s no secret that Dolly Parton is one of the biggest legends in country music history. The world has come to know and love her sweet, sultry voice and extraordinary musical talents, from a very young age. But have you noticed that she is ALWAYS wearing long sleeves? No matter how hot the temperature is outside, nor how low her short dips in the front, she will always have her arms covered up. Here’s why…
The Secrets Hidden Up Her Sleeves
To truly understand the secrets behind Dolly’s sleeves and those hidden in her hair, we’ve got to start at the beginning. Like all great musicians and artists, Dolly’s childhood and family influenced her in good and bad ways, but regardless she wouldn’t be the woman she is today without these formative years and experiences she had. It’s a great story how this little country gal went from nothing to owning her own amusement park and being one of the biggest names not only in the country music world, but in the world.
Click next to see why Dolly is truly one of a kind:
It All Started With A Dream
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who has never heard of Dolly Parton. But not many people know about how her past and her upbringing have contributed to the secrets that Dolly has disguised as quirks over the years. From her passion for the feminist movement to her refusal to wear anything that leaves her arms uncovered, Dolly has managed to keep her private life hush hush, despite her enormous fame. To truly understand what we mean, we’ll start from the beginning…
She Has 11 Siblings
She may be the queen of country now, but well before the 9-to-5 star shot to fame, she grew up “dirt poor” in the Great Smoky Mountains. Born Dolly Rebecca Parton on January 19, 1946 in Tennessee, she was one of 12 children. While her father worked as both a farmer and a construction worker to put food on the table, her mother stayed at home to look after the children, with the family all living in a one-room cabin.
The Church Was Her Stage
Parton’s family grew up in a staunchly Pentecostal area, so the church was a vital part of her childhood. At the tender age of six, she started performing in front of the congregation. Then, two years later, her uncle gave Parton her first guitar. The rest, as they say, is history. She didn’t wait until she grew up to launch her career but started to sing on local television and radio shows including The Cas Walker Show in Knoxville.
Johnny Cash Gave Her Advice
When she was only 13, Parton got to meet The Man in Black himself. After she sang at the legendary country music venue the Grand Ole Opry Hotel, she met Johnny Cash backstage. The Walk The Line singer told her never to give up on her dreams, no matter how big they were, and to trust her own instincts rather than be pushed into a direction musically that was not right for her.
Moving to Nashville
After Parton graduated from Sevier County High School in 1964, she moved straight to the Music City. But, despite her talent, success as a singer didn’t come quickly. When she first moved to Nashville, Parton wasn’t singing her own songs, but was writing them for other people, along with her uncle Bill Owens. The pair even had two top 10 hits. 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
Of course, it was inevitable that someone as talented as Parton would eventually be snapped up by a record label. She ended up signing to Monument Records when she was just 19. But, their vision for Parton wasn’t one which worked. They signed her to sing so-called “bubblegum pop” in a bid to appeal to the teenage market in the 60s and 70s. While she released singles, none of them ever made it into the Billboard Top 100 chart.
On the Wagon
With her country career burgeoning, Parton was asked to go on The Porter Wagoner Show. It is this long-running musical variety roadshow which is credited with sending Parton’s star soaring. But, she wasn’t always popular with the audience. She replaced fellow country star Norma Jean, who was always introduced on the show by Wagoner as Pretty Miss Norma Jean. The audience voiced their displeasure by chanting ‘Norma Jean’, but eventually they grew to love Parton. After all, who doesn’t love Dolly?
Going Solo
While it’s hard to imagine Parton being anything other than a solo star, it wasn’t easy. She and Wagoner put out a string of hits together until she left the show in 1974. She was signed to the RCA Victor label, but her first single, Just Because I’m a Woman, only reached the charts at number 17. Although she released lots of solo singles in the late 60s, none of them ever charted as high as the work she did with Wagoner.
At Last
Finally, Wagoner found the perfect vehicle for Parton to emerge as a star in her own right. He persuaded her to record her own version of Mule Skinner Blues, which had originally been a hit for the country, blues and folk singer Jimmie Rodgers. At last, her solo career was truly on its way. That charted at number 3, and she went on to record her first ever number one single, Joshua. In the years that followed, she continued to top the charts.
Tough Love
While they had some of their biggest successes working together, Parton and Wagoner often clashed over the direction her career should take. Both of them were so headstrong that they butted heads. It was clear Parton needed to leave if she was to blossom, but Wagoner sued her for breach of contract when she decided to go. In a bid to show him how she would always feel, she sat him down and belted out I Will Always Love You.
Please Don’t Take My Man!
While Coat of Many Colors was regarded as Parton’s signature song, it only made it to number 4. Later in the 70s, she released her biggest hit ever. Jolene not only soared straight to the top of the country charts but was also a success across the Atlantic in the UK. Written by Parton, Jolene has since been rated as one of the greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. All together now, “Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene…”
Back to Pop
While she hadn’t exactly had runaway success when she started singing pop early in her career, that didn’t stop Parton from trying again the late 70s. It was then that she first started to work with Sandy Gallin, who went on to be her personal manager for the next quarter of a century. While All I Can Do Was and New Harvest…First Gathering, which both had more of a pop vibe didn’t set the world alight, she didn’t give up!
Here She Comes Again
Continuing her bid to appeal to a more mainstream audience, Dolly released Here You Come Again, which sold more than a million copies, shot to the top of the country charts, and also managed to make it to number 20 on the pop charts. But, even greater success was to follow. It was a rare example of Parton’s most successful songs that she didn’t actually write herself. It was written for her by Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann.
Award Winning!
It wasn’t until the late 80s that Parton started to enjoy the kind of success we associate with her now. She released the album Trio which spent a staggering five week stay at the top of the country charts. This album also won one Grammy award and was nominated for another. And, her award-winning streak didn’t stop there. In 1999, she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, before going on to create more Grammy-award winning albums with her Bluegrass style.
She Makes a Change
The pop music world’s loss was country’s gain! After providing Bill Phillips with his biggest ever hit, Parton went on to sing harmonies for him, allowing her to make the move from pop to country. Her first two-track country album Hello, I’m Dolly, was much more successful than her pop offerings, ending up reaching number 17 and 24 in the country charts in 1967. Parton had found her true calling, and a country star was born!
We Will Always Love Her!
She started her career as a songwriter and has written a string of songs for herself, so it’s no wonder Parton’s music has been covered so many times. Who can forget the iconic performance of the late, great Whitney Houston when she sang I Will Always Love You in The Bodyguard? Kenny Rogers also covered it on his album Vote for Love, while LeAnn Rimes also included a version on her Unchained Melody: The Early Years album.
The Oscars Come a Calling
Not only has Parton been shortlisted for, and won, a series of music awards, she has also been nominated for Academy Awards. Her track 9 to 5 was on the movie of the same name, which also starred Parton, along with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. She has also been nominated for an Oscar for Travelin’ Thru, which featured on the movie Transamerica, which tells the story of a transgender woman on a road trip with her son.
Dinner With Dolly?
She sang about working 9 to 5, so it’s no surprise that Parton is also a very savvy businesswoman, although she may not keep to those office hours! She has invested money in businesses in Eastern Tennessee. She even has her own Dollywood theme park, which is operated under the Dollywood Company umbrella. There’s also Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, which is a popular dinner theater show in locations across the US.
Not Riding High
Considering that she has her very own theme park, you’d think Parton would be a roller coaster aficionado. But, it turns out that she has never ever ridden any of the rides at Dollywood. The reason? She gets terrible motion sickness. She even used to get sick on the school bus and, as a child, her daddy told her she could never be a sailor or a pilot. It’s just as well she had singing to fall back on!
A Talented Actress
Not content with dominating in the musical sphere, Parton is also an accomplished actress. While she first dabbled in acting on The Porter Wagoner Show, she continued to hone her talents on stage and screen. She starred in her own show, simply called Dolly!, as well as playing a feisty secretary in 9 to 5. Parton also won rave reviews for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which she starred in along with Burt Reynolds.
Signature Style
It turns out that playing Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse wasn’t so far-fetched after all. While Parton runs the movie’s Chicken Ranch brothel, she says her signature look was actually inspired by a real-life lady of the night. She said in an interview that while she was growing up, she saw a lady with yellow hair piled on top of her head, bright red lipstick, rouge, and high heels, and decided that is what she wanted to look like.
Time for Love
Of course, it wasn’t all work for Parton. She also found time for love. The songstress has been married to her long-time love Carl Thomas Dean since 1966. The loved-up pair married in Ringgold, Georgia, and Parton changed her name to Dolly Parton Dean, although she continues to use her maiden name professionally. Dean used to run an asphalt paving company in Nashville and still likes to stay out of the limelight, so he has only seen her perform once!
True Romance
It’s clear that Parton and Dean would have loved to have children of their own, but she has spoken candidly about it, saying fate decided she was not to be a mother of her own children, but a mother of everyone! She’s also praised Dean for being a romantic and planning surprises for her. The couple are also devoted to their wider family, and celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary by renewing their vows. Surely the strongest couple in showbiz!
A Family Affair
Parton was asked to be the godmother to child-star Miley Cyrus. Now that Cyrus has shed her Hannah Montana days and is all grown up, the pair recently sang a stunning rendition of Jolene together, and Parton has continued to be a supportive influence in her life. 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
Parton has kept her striking looks with a mixture of good genes and plastic surgery! Everytime something drops, she says she has it nipped and tucked. She jokes that while she may look fake on the outside, she’s real “where it counts”. She’s a strong believer in every woman doing whatever they want to in order to feel and look good. Famously playing down her own penchant for cosmetic procedures, she said: “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap!”
Not Herself?
While Parton’s image is one of the most iconic in the music business – big blonde hair, big bosoms and a big personality to match – she once lost a Dolly Parton lookalike competition. She took part in the contest on Santa Monica Boulevard, but lost out to one of the other competitors. “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
As a result of rarely being seen with her husband and because of her close relationship with a childhood friend, Parton was forced to deny rumors that she was secretly gay. She’s often been pictured holding hands with her friend Judy Ogle, who she has been close to since she was in third grade. But she added that while she loves Ogle as much as anyone else in the world, the pair are not linked romantically.
Building Bridges
While they may have fallen out in their younger days, Parton rushed to be at Porter Wagoner’s bedside as he lost his battle with lung cancer. When he passed away at the age of 80, she was there to say her goodbyes. 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
Many in the tabloid media assumed that Parton would be jealous when Whitney Houston’s version of I Will Always Love You was released. But, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. The pair often spoke of their mutual affection and admiration for each other. Houston said she personally thanked Parton for letting her sing the song, while Parton is understood to have told Houston that she was honored she covered it.
Book Days!
Growing up in a poor household must have made Parton aware of all the children who aren’t afforded the opportunities they ought to be. Now that she’s in a position to help, she has launched the Dollywood Foundation, which runs Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Every month, 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 bedtime stories Parton is responsible for!
Teaching Tolerance
As well as everything she does for charity, Parton also holds an annual Gay Day at Dollywood, which members of the LGBT community flock to. She says that Dollywood is a place for everyone and that if anyone wants to pass judgement then they are committing a sin. In her track Backwoods Barbie she says she has always been misunderstood. “I try to love everybody,” she says. We love you too Dolly!
She Once Tried to Commit Suicide
While anyone looking in from the outside would assume that Parton has it all, she was once so unhappy that she tried to take her own life. She was already married at the time, but she and her husband had an open relationship. When she broke up with a so-far unnamed man, it sent her spiraling towards suicide. Only her Boston Terrier Popeye jolted her back to reality and she put down the gun she had been holding.
President Parton
No one knows how she voted in the last presidential election. She was quoted as giving her backing to Hillary Clinton. But she later said she had been asked what she would think of a woman being president and answered, “a woman would be great”. She’s also said she might run herself because she has the hair for it and thinks the presidential race could do with “more boobs!” She’d certainly get our vote!
She’s More Relevant Than Ever
She may be a septuagenarian, but Parton is showing no signs of slowing down! Her recent Pure & Simple tour was one of her biggest within the US. She also performed on The Voice alongside Miley Cyrus and a cappella group Pentatonix, and she was presented with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the Country Music Awards. Parton also collaborated with Kesha for a duet of Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You.
Rags to Riches
She may have described herself as “dirt poor” when she was growing up, but Parton is anything but that now! Her fortune is larger than life, just like Parton herself. At the last count, and we’re guessing it takes quite some time to count, she was worth a staggering $500m. While total royalties have never been released, she’s earned millions from Houston’s version of I Will Always Love You. Parton’s rise to fame has been a true rag to riches story!
A Tattooed Lady?
Rumors have been rife for years that Parton is actually covered in tattoos in all of the places you can’t see. After all, how often do you see her in an extremely low cut or sleeveless top? And, it turns out she definitely does have some ink! A little heart has been glimpsed in her cleavage when she bends over, and comedy actress Roseanne Barr says Dolly showed her “awesome” pastel bow tattoos which cover her plastic surgery scars.
It’s All in the Hair
One of the most influential aspects that makes Dolly Parton’s signature look stand out is her hair. Of course, these are wigs that have enabled her trademark look, but do you know why she wears them. Apparently, she first started experimenting with the wigs when her natural hair could not be formed into desired shapes and styles. She has been reportedly heard saying that she now never leaves the house without her wig on. You do you, Dolly!
Dolly the Sheep
One of the most famous scientific experiments in history that most of the living population have heard of, Dolly the sheep actually got named after our own Dolly Parton. If this is news to you we don’t blame you, because we didn’t know this either! The experiment happened back in 1995 where scientists created a sheep clone from a somatic cell. They named her Dolly because it came out with a particularly large bust. Now it all makes sense!
The Lookalike Contest Fail
Dolly loves to take risks and go all out sometimes. One Halloween she even took part in a lookalike contest to see if she looked anything like herself. It took place on Santa Monica Boulevard and she was up against some stiff competition, a bunch of men. Apparently, she went too far and over exaggerated her look so much so that she did not even resemble herself and she LOST! Oh, the laughs they must have shared when she revealed her true identity.
Recreating Fond Memories
Dolly was raised in humble beginnings as we know, in a small house in Tennessee which did not have very good plumbing or electricity. When she made the big time, she enlisted and paid her brother, Bobby to restore that same house to its former glory. The amazing thing is that she kept it looking virtually the same as back in the day, but this time around it had much better plumbing and the electricity worked too.
Death Threats for Dolly
We are not sure as to why anyone would want to send this music legend death threats, but this actually happened to her. Not only did she receive them, but they came straight from the KKK! This is due to the fact that Dolly was active in supporting the LGBT community and it’s fair to say the KKK were not impressed. Dolly did not bat an eyelid at this, showing no fear whatsoever and often said she was not scared of them.
Dolly Immortalized
Well it’s not a surprise that the people of Tennessee are very fond of Dolly Parton, but they have made this quite clear for the world to see. In front of their courthouse you will find a bronzed statue of her in her younger years. She is sitting back with no shoes on and cradling a guitar. This 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. Stick with us for more Dolly stories!
Rejecting Elvis
Now not many of us have the chance to say they turned down the legendary Elvis Presley for anything, but then again Dolly Parton is not your regular citizen. She was approached by his manager who wanted Elvis to cover her song “I Will Always Love You”. There was no issue until she realized that the deal demanded her relinquishing half of her own publishing rights to the same song. The mighty Dolly held her ground and simply said no.
That Playboy Cover
It was considered to be an honor to get featured on the Playboy Magazine cover back in the day, and so we guess Dolly was too. It was not that common for those people featured to really lay claim as to what they would or would not be wearing for that same cover. Dolly did not want to strip down and instead decided to don a bunny costume, which happened to suit everyone just fine. If you love that Dolly Parton secret, you should keep reading because we have even more!
Bullied at a Young Age
You might not believe it, but Dolly Parton was targeted at school by bullies. She has often given us insight as to not having an easy childhood, but this is really not OK. Students became jealous of her when she sang on local television even going as far as locking her in a coat closet! Bullying is never OK, and we are sure that this moment left a lasting impression on her, but she sure showed those bullies who’s boss now!
Musical Family
We know that Dolly must have gotten her talent from somewhere, but can you believe she is not the only one in her family with a knack for music? Stella, Freida and Rachel are her sisters that also have musical careers of their own! Some of them went down the gospel route, signing in bands, while others stuck with country and rock music. Freida has a voice that got compared to that of Led Zeppelin and Pat Benatar. How cool is that?
The Whole Truth About Jolene
This is by far one of her most popular songs, but do you actually know what this song is about? Dolly has previously come out to reveal the secret behind the hit song. It was actually inspired by a banker with flaming red hair who apparently had a huge crush on Dolly’s husband, Carl. Parton claimed that he often went to the bank to bask in the glory of the attention, but nothing ever came of it. Nothing but that fabulous song!
Her Very Own Record Label
Well you know you have made it in the music world when you can create your own successful record label and it seems that Dolly has done just that. In addition to her many achievements and talents, Parton has always been respected for her nose for business. In her early days she established Velvet Apple Music, owning copyrights and publishing rights of her songwriting success. Today she owns Dolly Records which is also very successful in its own right. The woman can do no wrong it seems!
The Secret To Dolly’s Tiny Waist
Ever noticed how every time you see Dolly on stage, she looks tiny? That’s because she had a secret system for accentuating her waist during her performances. It turns out that it’s all down to her microphone pack placement! While most singers have their microphone packs fixed to their waists, Dolly wears hers in her wig! A pack on her waist could make her appear thicker around the middle than she is, so she makes sure all her wigs have a specially designed compartment.
Carl’s Aversion To Fame
Dolly’s husband Carl Dean is so rarely seen in the spotlight that some people have even questioned whether he actually exists! Her husband of 52 years most certainly does exist, and according to Dolly, it’s 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 went from creating popular music to producing hit movies and TV shows when she started the production company Sandollar Productions with Sandy Gallin, who was her former manager. Sandollar went on to produce many feature 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
Dolly may be 72, but she’s still heavily involved in film and TV. Most recently, she narrated the made-for-TV 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. She also co-starred with Queen Latifah in the musical movie “Joyful Noise” in 2012. She played the widow of a choir director who saves the gospel choir in a small Georgia town.
Dolly’s Poor Upbringing
It’s hard to imagine Dolly Parton ever being poor when you look at how incredibly famous and successful she is. It seems like Dolly has everything, but it wasn’t always like that at all. Dolly was brought up in an extremely poor family, one that she even described herself as “dirt poor”. When she was born the family were so poor they had to pay for the medical bill with a bag of oatmeal.
Dollywood Jobs
As most people know, Dolly Parton owns her own amusement park which she’s had now for around thirty years! The park serves as a huge tourist attraction and the best bit about it is that it has created literally thousands of jobs for local residents, which is incredible – well done Dolly! 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
Dolly is not only a super talented singer and businesswoman. Dolly also plays instruments like a boss! In fact, when the singer was just seven years old she used to play a homemade guitar before her uncle gifted her the real deal a year later. Now she can play at least eight instruments including the banjo, guitar, dulcimer, piano, recorder and incredibly a saxophone! The star admits to really ‘laying’ into instruments when she wants to learn a new skill.
Movie Star
Many of you might already know that our Dolly is a real movie star but were you aware how many television shows and movies she’s actually starred in? Incredibly she’s played roles in: Gnomeo & Juliet, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous, The Simpsons, Steel Magnolias, 9 to 5 to name but a few! Dolly’s music has also been featured in a large number of movies and most recently we were surprised to discover that the song ‘9 to 5’ was featured on the Deadpool 2 soundtrack!
No Regrets
Despite all the charitable work that Dolly Parton does for kids she actually doesn’t have a family of her own. This is a decision that the superstar used to regret but she has since changed her mind. As a religious woman, she believes that God had an alternative plan for her and that was to be a ‘mother of all children’. The star once said that kids are drawn to her because of her high-pitched voice and over-exaggerated features!
Still Singing
Dolly Parton has absolutely no intention of ever slowing down it seems. Despite being 72 years old, the superstar is still singing and more importantly…releasing albums for the whole world to enjoy. In 2016 she released Pure & Simple which unbelievably was her 43rd studio album! This album was said to be inspired by her husband of over 50 years – how romantic is that? In 2017 she released her first ever children’s album called I Believe In You.
Diverse
Everyone loves Dolly Parton. There’s just something about her that oozes charisma and charm and this attracts such a diverse following of fans. People often gather to her concerts from all over the world. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, from the country or the city, Dolly judges no one from any race or sexuality. And this is why to this day the star is so popular. Dolly has said that she not only tolerates she ‘celebrates’ difference.
Not Just Singing
If you’ve ever been to a Dolly Parton concert or indeed seen Dolly sing live, you’ll see that it isn’t just about singing. Dolly is a true performer and really pulls out all the stops to provide her fans with an incredible experience! Not only does Dolly sing, but she also dances and tells jokes at her concerts too! She’s previously admitted her jokes are corny…but they work! There’s no doubt about it…Dolly is an amazing entertainer!
No Sleep for the Wicked
It has long been deliberated as to how long one actually needs to sleep each night in order for their body to run smoothly. Dolly rests for only a few hours each night! In an interview she revealed, “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
When it comes to her appearance Dolly has revealed that a few people have advised her 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.” Instead she decided to base her look on a “tramp” that once lived in her town stating she was beautiful. You do you, Dolly!
Dump that Diet
This singing legend has, like many of us tried and tried again to diet her way to looking fantastic, failing pretty much every time. “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
People might expect that stars like Dolly Parton get a little self-involved after so many years in the spotlight. Not Dolly though. 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 asked as to why she believes she is so popular Dolly said she is relatable to her fans. “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 industry that she is, it is very easy to lose yourself. There are many pressures that celebrities live through which we know nothing about, but it is important to stand up for yourself. “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
Dolly spoke about the hardships she went through as a woman in the industry. “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
When she has downtime, Dolly loves the simple 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
It must be very difficult to enjoy a meal in peace when you are a legendary icon like Dolly Parton. In an interview she shared why it is she avoids eating in public. “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
Want to know what Dolly likes to splurge 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
Getting inspired to write new music can be difficult and some performers even have studios in their own home. Not Dolly, she likes to 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.” Impressed? There’s more to come!
Investing in Real Estate
When people come into money there are various things they like to invest in such as cars, clothing or even shoes. For Dolly she spends her income on 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
We know Dolly likes her wigs, but we cannot believe she has a room in her home dedicated to 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.” 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
Keeping it real is very important to Dolly and she understands that her persona is a big one on stage, but at home the quiet Dolly comes out. “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, the story behind Dolly’s intentions are heartfelt. “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 asked how much her Christian faith influences her in her work Dolly went back to her roots for the answer. “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
Apparently, it was a family member that saw how serious Dolly was about her music and helped her out by gifting her with a guitar. “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
Before Dolly was gaining such momentum, it was her inner strength and beliefs that made her the success story she is today. 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, there is nothing more that she likes to do than to give 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, but the question on everyone’s mind is how she keeps 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
When it comes to addressing the important topics in her songs, Dolly is well and truly on top of things. 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 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.
