From Rags To Riches: Dolly Parton’s Heart-Melting Journey To Fame

Dolly Parton is one of the most famous recording artists of all time, and one of the most celebrated American performers in modern history. Her joyful and positive spirit, as well as her undeniable talent and her skills as a businesswoman, have endeared her to generations of listeners and multitudes of fans worldwide. Most of us know her as a singer and actor, with outfits and a voice that are larger than life, but very few know her true story. She had all the luxuries life has to offer, but it wasn’t without pain, hurt, and disappointment, each one serving as a stepping stone on her way to superstardom. Dolly was born into poverty, but she made her way to success. Let’s walk you through this legend’s inspiring and heart-melting journey.

A Legendary Musician

In her mid-seventies, entertainment queen Dolly Parton is still making truly artistic country music. She is one of the biggest names associated with country music and has been producing great songs for over fifty years with no hint of slowing down. 

Dolly is not just a legendary singer with a beautiful voice; she is also known for her aura. With over 3,000 songs to her credit as a composer, she is easily among the most popular singers of all time, with dozens of awards under her belt.

Early Years of Her Life

Dolly Parton was born in rural Sevier County, Tennessee in 1946. She comes from a poor, struggling background. She has never shied away from her humble beginnings. In fact, a lot of her songs talk about her struggle and background.

She is the fourth child of her parents, Robert Lee Parton and Avie Lee. Her parents had twelve children and her mother was thirty-five years of age when she gave birth to her twelfth child. The family had a difficult time making ends meet, especially because the parents had so many mouths to feed.

It Didn’t Get Better Right Away

Dolly and her family struggled through very trying times mostly because of extreme poverty. Her father had to work very hard to raise twelve children. In fact, he paid the doctor who delivered Dolly with a sack of oatmeal, since the family did not have enough cash. 

Her parents also struggled to find a decent job and to make ends meet. Things were bad even before she was born but the conditions eventually worsened as the family grew. They needed everything from food to clothes to medicine, and it was getting difficult to pay the bills.

Music Was Her Peace

In her small, rural Appalachian community, young Dolly found her solace in music. Her mother’s father was a preacher. She enjoyed singing at the church and was very fond of playing the guitar her uncle had given her when she was seven. 

She did not get any training when she was young and learned how to handle a guitar on her own by toying with the guitar and watching others play. Music took her away from the troubles of life and she enjoyed it to the core. She would often sit alone and play her guitar and soon she realized she was getting good at it.

Multiple Roles of Her Mother

Dolly Parton once talked about a particular example of her family’s poverty. She recollected an event from her childhood when she had an accident while running around in her neighborhood. She fell down and needed stitches to cover her wounds.

Since her parents were lacking in funds, they could not afford to take her to the hospital but they knew she needed medical attention. Unable to find a better solution, her mother brought out her sewing kit and stitched it up herself. This was a very brave feat that not only healed Parton but also made her love her mother even more.

The Growing Musical Talent

Even though Dolly went through a rough childhood, she still got recognized as a good singer very early on. She participated in multiple radio and television shows and was always praised for her good voice and singing skills. This led her to a recording studio.

There, she released her first single, “Puppy Love”, at the tender age of thirteen. The single wasn’t a massive hit but it gave Parton the hope that she needed. She knew that she had the talent, and all that she needed was the motivation to work on it. 

The Motivation She Needed

Motivation can be hard to come by when you’re struggling to pay the bills. Dolly’s parents and family members could not offer her what she needed but luck was on her side. She once ran into one of the most popular country music legends, Johnny Cash.

He appreciated her good vocals and told her to always follow her dreams. This is the opening that she needed. Cash’s words filled her with confidence and she decided to start her career as a musician and prove to the world that she has what it takes to be a big star.

Life After High School

Despite financial troubles, Parton was able to finish high school but she decided against moving to college. Soon after graduation, she moved to Nashville to pursue her passion and become a country singer. Her first job was as a songwriter.

It paid her well. She continued to work hard and many of her songs started to hit the top. Record labels and music producers were finally taking notice of her work. This newfound interest made her work even harder as she knew it was now or never. She continued to be creative, waiting for her first big break.

Carving Her Niche

Soon she got an offer from a record label to launch her own album. However, it was not what she was looking for. Parton was sure about her priorities. She wanted to be a country singer but the offer was to sing pop songs.

She was not happy about this and pleaded to sing country music but they were of the opinion that she had pop vocals and not country music vocals. It wasn’t easy for her to make a decision, but she went with the gut feeling and started negotiating with the company to let her sing country songs. 

Her First Break

A little while after Dolly stopped negotiating with the record label for singing country songs, one of her songs that she had written reached number six on the country charts! Eventually, the record label let her sing her first country song in 1966, “Dumb Blonde”. 

The song was an instant hit, reaching twenty-four on the country charts. From here on, there was no looking back. She proved that she was able to handle country music. With a single song, Dolly had arrived and she was ready to take the country music by storm.

Blossoming Personal Life

Dolly Parton tied the knot when she was twenty. She met Carl Thomas Dean when she was young and the two immediately fell in love. They married in 1966 and the couple has been together since. Dolly has taken her husband’s last name, but the two rarely make appearances together.

Carl likes to stay away from the limelight and has seen Dolly on stage only once. He runs and manages his own private company. Parton has spoken about him on several occasions and the two are undoubtedly very happy together. However, not all was good in Parton’s life even after marriage.

And Then There Was Trouble

Parton appeared on a television show in 1967 at the start of her career. The show was hosted by Porter Wagoner, a well-known musician of his time. Parton was replacing Norma Jeans, who had hosted the show for six years.

This sparked controversy amongst television and studio viewers. They would chant for Norma during shoots. The audience was not able to see Dolly Parton replacing their favorite host right away. However, with time they accepted her and fell in love with her work, personality, and charm. Dolly continued to be a part of the show for a long time.

Some Whispers Were Heard

Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner partnered up and produced country music that remained on the top charts song after song for six consecutive years. Wagoner remained active in Dolly’s finances as he co-produced her music and owned half of her publishing company. Both worked very closely and long hours on days on end. 

This inherently ignited rumors of them being romantically involved. However, it didn’t deter them and they continued making hit country songs. Dolly’s partner also stayed away from commenting on the rumors and they eventually died a natural death.

Starting a Solo Career

Dolly Parton had always shone as a duet singer. She had not yet dared to sing a solo song. Singing in duets was her comfort zone and she had been doing really well with them until then. She said that she enjoyed teaming up with other singers and working with experienced and new stars.

However, she knew she would have to experience solo singing someday for the betterment of her career. She eventually decided to give it a try on Wagoner’s insistence. Her first solo was “Mule Skinner Blues”, which was fairly well-received by her fans and critics.

The Breakthrough Performance

With a successful single to her credit, Parton was more confident than ever. She sang more regularly and tasted major success when “Jolene” came out in 1973. The song reached the number one spot on the charts and is considered Parton’s most popular song to date.

“Jolene” went on to win several accolades and even made it to the list of The Best Hundred Songs Of Country Music History. This proved that Dolly could sing solo songs and she decided to pursue a solo career after the massive success of “Jolene”. But, it wasn’t going to be easy.

The Partnership With Wagoner Ends

Dolly was used to working with Wagoner who used to look after her work and made it possible for her to have a bright career. Parton still talks about him and credits him for her initial success. However, due to a number of issues, they could not continue to work together and decided to split in 1973. 

However, Parton did not let this split stop us. She continued to work as hard as she did and landed some major contracts. It looked like she was ready to take another leap of faith and reach the next step in her career.

Getting Approached By Big Names

On the very same night that Dolly Parton had written her to hit song “Jolene”, she also penned one that would become one of the most successful songs of the 20th century I Will Always Love You. She was the writer and voice behind this hit song and not Whitney Houston.

This song created a lot of buzz in the music industry and even caught the attention of Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll. He approached Parton to work together on the hit song. Presley was one of the biggest names in the music industry at this time and getting to work with him was a dream for many. However, Parton had to say no to the offer as she did not want to lose the rights to the song. 

Rumors of Infidelity

No celebrity marriage is without infidelity rumors and Parton’s was no different. Gossip columns started to write about her affairs with a number of people she worked with but it never bothered her. She says she found most of them quite funny. However, at that time the rumors did affect her personal and professional life. 

Some of the popular names she was linked to include Elvis Presley and Burt Reynolds. In fact, she was rumored to have a secret child with both of them. Parton declined the rumors and continued to work on her music.

Starting a New Career

Soon after making it to the top, Dolly began enjoying a lot of mainstream fame and fortune. She was offered many bonuses and incentives, including a chance to host her own television show. This wasn’t the first time she was to be seen on television but she was quite excited about the idea. The show began to air in 1976 and Dolly charmed away the audience in style.

She managed to win millions of hearts through her outgoing personality, talent, and charm. Dolly also called and hosted shows with famous guests like Olivia Newton-John and Rose Maddox. The sparkling show did not last very long and after a year in the limelight, Dolly called it quits. She said it was putting too much pressure on her and a lot of strain on her vocals. 

Getting More Versatile

In the late seventies and early eighties, Dolly began her transition from country to pop music. At one end, she was performing country songs and attending country music events but simultaneously she was also releasing new songs with a hint of pop. 

She played it very smart and did not give up on country music right away. Instead, she managed to strike a balance between the two and soon was able to find recognition as a pop artist. This made her more popular and helped her reach a wider audience, making her a global star.

A Little More TV Time

Dolly Parton was getting showered with opportunities left and right, and she grabbed them all. One such opportunity was to star in a film titled, 9 To 5, alongside Oscar-winner Jane Fonda and comedy queen Lily Tomlin. If you are a Dolly Parton fan, you would know how popular this movie became and how many nominations it bagged. 

The movie was released in 1980 and helped Dolly get recognized as an actor. Her act was very well received and a lot of critics were surprised by what she brought to the table. She also recorded the film’s title song, famously tapping her acrylic nails for rhythm, and wrote a musical based on the movie. However, her acting career wasn’t a success and her next big flick Rhinestone, alongside Sylvester Stallone, failed at the box office. 

Some Embarrassing Moments

In 1978, she was awarded The Best Entertainer Of The Year at the CMA Awards. Overjoyed, thrilled, and ecstatically she made her walk to the stage when she ripped her gown right from the middle, causing the crowd to go in a state of shock.

Not one to let such instances affect her, she continued to play the crowd and completed her walk. She did not let a rip in the dress steal away her thunder.  Luckily for her, country artist, Kenny Rogers’s wife in the audience nearby offered Dolly her fur scarf that concealed Parton’s mortifying wardrobe malfunction.

The Beginning of Dollywood

Dolly was ambitious and full of surprises. After several years of making pictures, she decided to venture out of the entertainment world and widen her rapidly growing empire. She purchased a theme park, renovated it, and reopened it in 1986 under the name “Dollywood”. 

The Tennessee park is in business even today. It attracts three million visitors every year and is quite profitable. A lot of her fans also flock to the entertainment arena to have fun. Dolly used to make surprise appearances at the park earlier in her career. However, the visits are now far and few as she is busy with other responsibilities. 

Back to Where She Belonged

By the mid-eighties, Dolly had toured endlessly, attended many pop music events, won several awards, written and sang many hit pop songs, and had carved a niche with her work. She then launched her album, Trio. This too was a big hit but she decided she wanted to revert her time and energy back to the country music scene.

She released her next album in 1989, Limozeen. Unfortunately, the album came when country music was losing its charm, hence it couldn’t reach the success it deserved. However, she continued to work hard and many of her songs went on to win awards. One of her duets, “The Day I Fall in Love”, was even nominated for an Academy Award. Parton was inducted into the Country Hall Of Fame, solidifying her status as a legend in country music. 

Giving Back to the Community

Since Dolly had lived in poverty, she keenly understands the pain of those in need. She’s a humanitarian and supports a number of charities. As part of this, she’s also a supporter of LGBTQ rights. She even hosted LGBTQ community events at her theme park for days. 

She was also in the news for raising money for several HIV charities and American Red Cross. She likes to attend charity events and has often spoken about the need to donate and make the world a better place. Dolly Parton also advocated the preservation of endangered species, offering Dollywood as a sanctuary for the bald eagle.

No Children of Her Own

Dolly Parton does not have any children of her own but she is the godmother of this era’s music sensation, Miley Cyrus. Despite all the controversies, she remains an inspiration to many until today and continues to chase her dreams.

Popular singers still sing her songs and pay tribute to her. She is quite a beloved figure when it comes to cosplay and even for drag queens, and makes regular appearances at award shows and other such events. Many critics and fans believe that her jubilant personality is one of the reasons why she is still relevant. 

Supporting New Talent

Dolly Parton and goddaughter singer Miley Cyrus share a very special bond and often speak about each other during interviews and events. Dolly appeared on her Disney Channel show Hannah Montana, mentored her in the early days of her career, and even allows her to record some of her hit songs.

Miley’s cover of “Jolene” has more than one hundred thirty million views on YouTube. However, Miley isn’t the only one she has mentored. Dolly has helped a lot of musicians learn the art of music and many have sung her top songs.

Helping Those In Need

Dolly Parton has always put her fame and fortune to good use, more interested in helping others than herself. We all know she regularly donates to charities and advocates for important causes. But, her biggest contribution has been towards supporting children’s welfare and health. 

Once she donated a very large amount to a children’s hospital in Nashville. It is believed she gave $1 million to the hospital. However, the good thing is that she doesn’t only help children financially, but also visits them regularly, talking to and spending time with children suffering from chronic and terminal illnesses. 

The Most Notorious Rumor of All

Like all celebrities, Dolly Parton has been the epicenter of many rumors over the years. From relationship scandals to having secret children, Dolly has seen it all. But, the most insane of them all is the rumor that she wore invisible ink all over her body.

Press conspired that Parton got those tattoos to cover up scars from all the surgeries she had undergone to enhance her body parts. One theory even says that Dolly Parton hasn’t worn a sleeveless dress or shirt in many years to cover up the scars on her back and shoulders. 

No Smoke Without Fire

According to Susan Saunders, all the tattoo-related rumors about Dolly, however, are true. Susan visited Dolly frequently and indulged in several long talks and meetings. She is the one who wrote Dolly’s biography and the two became close friends during the period.

Saunders claims that Dolly showed her all the tattoos; however, she has no photos or videos to prove her claim and Dolly has stayed away from commenting on her body or tattoos. We believe this will always remain a mystery, but we must mention that Saunders did not explain why Dolly tries to cover her tattoos.

Oh, So Many Awards

Dolly is very well recognized in the world of music and, moreover, is one of the few female musicians to have at least one nomination from all the major awards including Emmy Awards, Tony Awards, Grammy Awards, and Academy Awards.

She has been nominated a total of 413 times and took home the trophy a total of 153 times, including some of the most prestigious awards from the Academy of Country Music Awards. These included Top Female Vocalist in 1980, Top Vocal Duet in 1983, Single Record of the Year in 1983, Album of the Year in 1987.

A Career Full of Lights

In 2016, Dolly Parton was awarded The Lifetime Achievement Award in a fifty-year celebration of Country Music Awards. Parton sang her famous, hit songs like “I Will Always Love You” and a cover of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads“. She gave a memorable performance, which was very well-received and considered one of the highlights of the event.

Many country artists paid respect to Dolly Parton’s life journey and gave her a standing ovation. The award itself recognized all the hard work Parton has put into her life and career to achieve the successes that influenced and entertained people and fans alike across the world.

And The Name Lives On

In her most recent albums, Parton has combined her musical talent with her philanthropic goals. Profits from these albums will go to Dolly’s program called The Imagination Library. This organization helps children in her home state, Tennessee, get a better future by teaching them to read. 

The inspiration behind this foundation was her father, who did not know how to read or write. Dolly does not want this to happen to anyone in the future and is working hard on supporting the cause, trying to eradicate illiteracy in impoverished areas.