It’s not easy to become an icon. That’s because most icons must not only be exceptional at what they do but also have a strong enough presence to leave an indelible stamp on the history of the media. To be deserving of reverence, one must be extremely gifted, dedicated, and passionate. You’ll learn how she became so kind-hearted and beloved all over the world as we explore her life through a collection of never-before-seen childhood Dolly Parton images. If you’re a fan of “Dollywood” as much as we are, make sure to SHARE these stunning photographs and fun information about Dolly with your friends!
The Life And Legacy Of The Country’s Biggest Star, Dolly Parton
Avie Lee Owens
On October 5, 1923, Avie Lee Owens was born in a small South Carolina village. Her mother and preacher father used to sing praises to God as she grew up. Owens was from a musical family, much like her famous daughter Dolly Parton. Her father penned his own songs and played the fiddle. Kitty Wells, an American country singer, would record one of them, “Singing His Praise.” Owens married the love of her life, Robert Lee Parton, in 1939, when she was only 15 years old.
Avie Lee Owens
Robert Lee Parton
Anyone who knew Robert Lee Parton could tell you the man was the epitome of hard work. Throughout his life, he worked on farms and construction zones as a way to provide for his family. Rain or shine he made his way to work every morning and would return home to loving smiles and open arms. His daughters, Dolly and Willadeene, would take turns rubbing his worn hands with corn silk lotion and washing his tired feet.
Robert Lee Parton
Bag Of Oatmeal
Avie and Robert Parton welcomed their fourth child into the world on January 19, 1946, in a modest one-bedroom cabin in Sevier County, Tennessee. Money was tough for Parton’s family no matter how hard he tried to provide for them. So much so that he had to pay the doctor with a bag of oatmeal following Dolly Parton’s birth. Regardless of their financial situation, the family always managed to get by. The Partons were always a family, even when circumstances were bad.
Bag Of Oatmeal
Cold Nights
Imagine growing up in a one-bedroom cottage with 11 other siblings. Dolly Parton often recalls her humble beginnings with nostalgia. “Every night, the kids used to pee on me. We shared a bed with three other people. In the dead of winter, it was the only source of warmth we had. In a 1978 interview with Playboy magazine, Parton claimed, “It was almost a pleasure to get peed on because it was so chilly.”
Cold Nights
Sewing Her Toes Back On
Parton’s toes were nearly torn off when she was barely six years old. She landed on a broken Mason jar while jumping over a fence. When her father picked her up off the ground, her right foot’s small toes were nearly severed. Fortunately, her astute mother applied cornmeal on her toes to absorb the blood. Her father then used kerosene to disinfect the foot.
Sewing Her Toes Back On
That Hurts
Her mother stitched her toes with the same needle she used to make their quilts, which she had used previously. “Ouch!” is one of the first words that come to mind.
That Hurts
Growing Up Self-Sufficient
The Parton family was photographed against Tennessee’s beautiful Smoky Mountains. They made the most of their nutrient-rich environment. Parton’s mother taught her and her brothers how to live off the land and be self-sufficient.
Growing Up Self Sufficient
No Need To Go Shopping
They raised chickens and foraged for fruits and vegetables in the surrounding area. Beans, corn, potatoes, and turnips were some of the other crops that the family raised. Her father used to go hunting for bears, turtles, rabbits, squirrels, and groundhogs in the woods around their house. It turned out that the only things they needed from the supermarket were coffee and sugar.
No Need To Go Shopping
Little Tiny Tassel Top
Parton talked and sung about everything and anything before she could read or write. Her father created her a small doll with a corn cob body and corn silk hair. Parton sat on her front porch that afternoon, playing with her new toy and singing her first song, “Little Tiny Tassel Top.”
Little Tiny Tassel Top
The Beginning Of Something
Despite the fact that she was only five years old, her mother was mesmerized by how beautifully written the lyrics were for a 5-year-old girl. Is this the start of something truly special for her?
The Beginning Of Something
A Dark Cloud
In July 1955, a gloomy cloud hovered over the Parton family. Larry passed away only four days after his birth, leaving everyone heartbroken. In an interview with E-News, Parton discusses the tragedy: “My mother used to remark when we were born, ‘This one is going to be your baby.’ That simply meant you had to take more precautions with it. You must get up in the middle of the night and rock it back and forth. “The baby who died was my baby,” Parton added. The Parton family’s situation deteriorated worse.
A Dark Cloud
Coat Of Many Colors
Temperatures in the Smoky Mountains can easily drop below 20 degrees during a regular winter. Staying warm in the winter was no simple chore for the Parton family, who had straw beds and rags for jackets. One of her mother’s bright coats, on the other hand, would inspire her to create one of her favorite songs. “Coat of Many Colors” is more than a song; it’s a love letter to Dolly Parton’s family and childhood.
Coat Of Many Colors
Singing Debut
Parton got her first guitar from her uncle Bill when she was ten years old. She began composing her own lyrics and making music shortly after that. Parton began singing on her local Knoxville radio station not long after.
Singing Debut
She Has Always Been Stunning
Her charming demeanor and lovely voice propelled her to the top of the social ladder in her hometown. She appeared on Knoxville television when she was 12 years old, and the following year, she recorded her music with a small label company.
She Has Always Been Stunning
Making A Name For Herself
Parton took a leap of faith just one day after graduating from high school to pursue her dream of becoming a country singer. She relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, from her childhood home in Sevier County in 1964.
Making A Name For Herself
Reaching For Her Dreams
Regardless of the fact that she was only 18 years old at the time, Parton was determined to make things work in her new environment. Her luck changed when she was signed to the Monument Records record label as a top performer after less than a year on the road.
Reaching For Her Dreams
Laundromat Romance
Parton got a job at Couser’s diner after making the major move to Nashville. She did her clothes at Wishy-Washy, a neighborhood laundromat, on weekends. Parton was doing her laundry at the table one fateful day when she locked eyes with a man.
Laundromat Romance
Meeting A Man
They had no idea at the time that this was the start of a love story that would eventually lead to their marriage. It was love at first sight for both of them, they subsequently revealed. Carl Dean said, “My first reaction after meeting Dolly for the first time was that I wanted to marry her.”
Meeting A Man
Hello, I’m Dolly
It didn’t feel right for Parton to be signed to Monument Records as a pop singer. It was clear that country music had a special place in her heart. It’s no surprise, then, that her debut track, “Dumb Blonde,” became a country hit.
Hello, I’m Dolly
Her Solo Album
Amidst the fact that she did not write the song, it became a huge hit, peaking at number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Hello, I’m Dolly, her debut solo album was released on September 18, 1967, and was her first chart-topping hit. It would be her lone album to be released on Monument Records, and it would be her last.
Her Solo Album
Dreams Of Her Own
Parton began working with Porter Wagoner, an American country artist when she was just 21 years old. Together, the dynamic duo won numerous honors, propelling both of their careers to new heights. “Parton revitalized my father’s career,” Debra Wagoner, Wagoner’s daughter, stated.
Dreams Of Her Own
A Solo Artist
Parton, on the other hand, realized she was destined to be a solo artist from the beginning of her career. The song “I Will Always Love You” was written by Parton for Wagoner as a farewell to their partnership after seven years of working together.
A Solo Artist
Movie Star
Parton demonstrated she was a formidable force within the studio and on-screen in 1980. She made her acting debut in the comedy 9 to 5, in which she co-starred with Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dabney Coleman. Parton, while being the least experienced actress on set, made up for it with her zeal.
Movie Star
Free Time
In her spare time, when she wasn’t filming, she put her creativity to good use by writing new songs. In the end, one of these songs was chosen as the film’s theme song and reached number one on both the pop and country charts.
Free Time
The First Christmas Gifts She Ever Bought
Parton has always dreamed of being able to care for her family since she was a small child. She celebrated her success in the music industry as a singer and composer by doing what she loved: being kind. “My father was always a truck driver.” Parton remarked, “I purchased my daddy a big blue vehicle, and he was always so proud of it.”
The First Christmas Gifts She Ever Bought
Family First
Her mother, on the other hand, is a different story. Parton surprised her by presenting her with a brand new Cadillac. Despite the fact that both of her parents’ automobiles have since passed away, Dolly Parton has always cherished them.
Family First
Staying True To Her Morals
Despite becoming a well-known star, Dolly Parton never wavered from her moral ideals and beliefs. Playboy, a renowned men’s magazine known for female nudity and sexual material, invited Parton to appear on the cover in 1978. She consented to appear on the cover, but only on her terms.
Staying True To Her Morals
On Her Own Terms
She’d pose in full costume, complete with bunny ears, a wide smile, and a bow tie. “I realized early on that my appearance would have an impact on men,” Parton remarked.
On Her Own Terms
Dollywood
In 1986, Parton took the next logical step in her illustrious career by creating a theme park. She teamed up with the Herschend Brothers, the creators of Silver Dollar City, to build an amusement park near the Great Smoky Mountains. Dollywood quickly becomes one of the most famous tourist destinations in Tennessee.
Dollywood
Her Own Theme Park
Aside from roller coasters and shows, there is also a water park and a spa on the premises. In 2010, the annual international expo for the entertainment industry was held in Orlando, Florida, and Dollywood was recognized as one of the world’s best entertainment parks.
Her Own Theme Park
Always Giving Back
It wasn’t easy growing up in a one-bedroom cabin with 11 siblings, as you can expect. She has always paid attention to her humble beginnings and made it a point to give back throughout her career. Parton supports a number of charities and has started a couple of her own.
Always Giving Back
Imagination Library
She established the Imagination Library in 1995 to encourage children to read. Every month, the team sends one book to children between the ages of 0 and 5.
Imagination Library
Carl Dean
Despite the fact that Dean and Parton have been married since 1966, there are only a few photographs of them together. Parton does so because he respects Dean’s desire for a more quiet life. “They say that opposites attract, and they’re right. “We’re polar opposites, but that’s what makes it exciting,” Parton explained. The happy couple has their own residences on their beautiful Tennessee property and claims that spending time apart is the key to their 50-year marriage.
Carl Dean
Daddy’s Dinner Bucket
Parton’s father was a key person in her life. Her father was always praised for his hard work, bravery, and kindness. A few weeks before Christmas in 2000, she and her siblings laid their beloved father to rest. Her father’s dedication to his family has been symbolized by an old green lunchbox. “After work, he used to preserve a piece of his lunch and share it with his kids.” “We’d hide under a blackberry bush and have a picnic fit for a king with those delectable things he’d left behind,” Parton explained.
Daddy’s Dinner Bucket
Early Riser
The ordinary citizen awakens between the hours of six and seven a.m. Parton, on the other hand, has repeatedly demonstrated that she is not your average Joe. Instead, she prefers to get up at roughly three a.m. every day.
Early Riser
Morning Person
Parton makes the claim that waking up early gives her more time to check her schedule and meditate, which she finds beneficial. Despite the fact that she acknowledges that she must go to bed at a reasonable hour in order to get up so early, she continues.
Morning Person
No Shame In Her Game
Many people may question how Parton, who is 74 years old, manages to look so young and gorgeous. In her daily regimen, a healthy diet and exercise are essential. She does, however, admit to having a little help from her trusty plastic surgery team. “Because I’m in the spotlight, I don’t care who knows what I’m working on.” “I get it sucked, tucked, or plucked if I detect something sagging, dragging, or bagging,” Parton stated.
No Shame In Her Game
She’s Not Stopping Anytime Soon
Considering the fact that the average retirement age in the United States is 62, Parton is still going strong. In fact, she may be busier than she’s ever been. She had an appearance on The Voice lately. Parton has also been promoting her new album, Pure and Simple, by going on tour.
She’s Not Stopping Anytime Soon
Always Ready To Help
No matter how hectic her schedule becomes, she always manages to find time to help others. In 2016, she was successful in raising more than $9 million for the victims of the Tennessee wildfires.
Always Ready To Help
One Of Her Proudest Moments
Parton has earned over 35 honors throughout her career, including Country Music Awards, Leadership Awards, and the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Actress. One of her proudest achievements, though, was being recognized with a statue of herself in her hometown’s courthouse yard. “To me, that’s still a big deal. That’s the sort of thing they do for presidents and other notable individuals. Parton remarked, “I just think that was great, and my dad was so proud.”
One Of Her Proudest Moments
Dolly The Sheep
In 1996, Dolly Parton’s influence was seen in the field of science. Scientists were able to successfully clone a sheep using a mammary from another sheep that year, and they named the animal Dolly after the singer. Why? “Dolly is produced from a mammary gland cell, and we couldn’t imagine of a more amazing set of glands than Dolly Parton’s,” says the project’s lead researcher.
Dolly The Sheep
Almost A Game Show Host
Parton was apparently considered to host a remake of the game show Family Feud in 1999. Parton either turned them down or chose Louie Anderson over them, depending on which version of the story you believe. Dolly has never hosted the show, regardless of how she feels about it.
Almost A Game Show Host
Hall Of Famer
In 1999, the Country Music Hall of Fame inducted Dolly Parton. Dolly has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Nashville Hall of Fame, and the Grammy Hall of Fame, among many other Hall of Fame awards. Despite the fact that numerous country acts have been inducted, Parton has never been inducted into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Hall Of Famer
‘Sesame Street’
Dolly has also been memorialized on Sesame Street, the beloved children’s show. In the 1990s, the show added Polly Darton, a Muppet with a look and mannerisms that were plainly inspired by Parton (remember, it’s a kid’s show).
‘Sesame Street’
Double Honor
Dolly Parton had two entries on the renowned list of music tracks in 2004: The American Film Institute’s 100 Years… 100 Songs: America’s Greatest Music in Films. The title track from her popular film, “Nine to Five,” came in at #78. Parton was recognized again thirteen positions later, this time for authoring “I Will Always Love You.”
Double Honor
Wedded Bliss
Parton married Carl Thomas Dean, a Nashville asphalt firm owner, in 1966. Despite Dean’s dislike of the spotlight and his infrequent attendance to Parton’s events, the couple has been happily married since then. They renewed their vows in 2016 to commemorate their 50th wedding anniversary. “We’re actually quite proud of our marriage,” Parton has stated of their union. It’s our first time together. “And last but not least.”
Wedded Bliss
No Children Of Her Own
Parton and Dean had no children despite their long marriage. This is owing to Parton’s severe endometriosis, which necessitated a full hysterectomy in the future. She explained that she was given the “freedom” to pursue her aspirations as a country singer because she “had no kids and my spouse was quite independent.” “I believe that having the freedom to work was a key component of my overall achievement.”
No Children Of Her Own
Pinball Wizard
The Bally Manufacturing Company released a pinball machine with a Dolly Parton theme in 1978. The machine, which was set to her song “Here You Come Again,” became a huge hit and is still in high demand among Dolly fans today.
Pinball Wizard
Kennedy Center Honoree
Dolly received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2006, one of the highest civilian honors bestowed by the United States. Andrew Lloyd Webber, Zubin Mehta, Smokey Robinson, and Steven Spielberg were among the illustrious members of Parton’s class.
Kennedy Center Honoree
Radio Station Owner
Parton bought two Nashville radio stations, WSEV 930 AM and WDLY 105.5 FM, in 1991. She renamed the FM station “Dolly’s Station” and set aside a section of the Dollywood entertainment park for daily live radio broadcasts. Every day, that is, until Dolly sold both stations in 2000.
Radio Station Owner
Tony Nominee
In 2009, Dolly Parton was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical Score for her work on the Broadway musical adaption of the hit show 9 to 5. Parton and company were defeated by the team in the wake of Next to Normal.
Tony Nominee
Vaccine Queen
Parton gave $1 million to vaccine research in 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak. Parton had her immunization a few months later. She posted a video of her injection on social media while singing a version of Joelene with altered lyrics: “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, I’m begging of you please don’t hesitate. Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, ’cause once you’re dead then that’s a bit too late.”
Vaccine Queen
Godmother
However, despite the fact that Dolly does not have any children of her own, she is the godmother of music sensation Miley Cyrus. Given their respective proclivities for trailblazing and defying authority, this appears to be an eminently apt nickname.
Godmother
“Lay Your Hands on Dolly”
Dolly Parton and Bon Jovi may seem an unlikely pairing, but the country diva covered the New Jersey arena rockers’ 1988 smash “Lay Your Hands on Me” in 2014, transforming the hard rocking classic into a gospel hymn. Richie Sambora, a former Bon Jovi guitarist, and songwriter, performed the song with Dolly at a number of shows, including the 2014 Glastonbury Festival.
Lay Your Hands On Dolly
Immortalized
For country music enthusiasts, the Dolly Parton Statue is a must-see, and getting there is a breeze. It’s right in the heart of Sevierville, in the Sevier County Courthouse yard. If you’re arriving by car, simply follow the downtown signs to the square. In downtown Sevierville, street parking is the best bet.
Immortalized