The loss of Dolly Parton is a tragedy that is reverberating all over the world. Far more than just a country music singer, Parton spent decades as one of the most beloved entertainment icons of all time. We’re taking a closer look at Parton’s extraordinary life and career.
Where Was Dolly Parton Born
Parton was born in Pittman Center, Tennessee, in Sevier County in East Tennessee on January 19, 1946. Parton was one of 12 children raised in a one-bedroom log cabin, which did not have electricity or running water.
What Was Dolly Parton’s Childhood Like
Parton has said her childhood was a happy one. She credits her mother, Avie, with her musical gifts, and her father, Robert, with her unstoppable work ethic. Although her family was poor, Parton remembers feeling rich in love.
“We always made jokes and said we didn’t even know we were poor till some smart aleck up and told us,” Parton said on the Today Show. “We didn’t have any money, but we were rich in things that money don’t buy. You know, like love and kindness and understanding.”
When Did Dolly Parton Move to Nashville
Parton knew at a young age that she wanted to move to Nashville. When she was just 13 years old, she recorded a single called “Puppy Love,” which was played on local radio stations in East Tennessee. She also performed on the Grand Ole Opry when she was just 13 as well.
In 1964, Parton moved to Nashville, one day after she graduated from high school. Interestingly, on her very first day in Music City, she met Carl Dean. The two wed in 1966 and remained married until he passed away in 2025.
How Did Dolly Parton’s Career in Country Music Begin
When Parton was 19, she signed a record deal with Monument Records. Her Hello, I’m Dolly debut album came out in 1967. The record includes “Dumb Blonde,” her first Top 25 single, and “Something Fishy,” a Top 20 hit. It wasn’t until 1970 that Parton had a Top 5 single, with “Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8).” The song is part of The Best of Dolly Parton, her first Greatest Hits record. Later that year, Parton had her first No. 1 single, with “Joshua,” the title track of her seventh studio album.
In 1967, Porter Wagoner invited Parton to be part of his The Porter Wagoner Show on TV. Parton stayed as part of The Porter Wagoner Show for seven years. Her massive “I Will Always Love You” single was written by her to Wagoner, when she was ready to leave the show.
In addition to Parton’s numerous successful solo singles she released in the late 60s and early 70s, she also had several hits with Wagoner. Together, the two released 13 duet albums, and had more than a dozen hit singles, including “The Last Thing On My Mind,” “Just Someone I Used to Know,” “Please Don’t Stop Loving Me,” and more.
Dolly Parton’s Superstar Career in Country Music
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For the next several decades, Parton’s success in country music became nearly unprecedented. Among her many, many hits are “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You,” “Hard Candy Christmas,” “Tennessee Homesick Blues,” and many more. Parton also had numerous crossover singles, including “Here You Come Again,” “Baby I’m Burnin’,” and “You’re the Only One,” among others.
Wagoner wasn’t Parton’s only duet partner. She also released songs with Kenny Rogers, including their iconic “Islands in the Stream,” their first duet, plus “Real Love,” “You Can’t Make Old Friends,” and more.
In 1969, Parton was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, and in 1999, she became a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2022, she became a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She has 11 Grammy Awards, and nine CMA Awards.
Dolly Parton Becomes a Successful Actress
Parton wasn’t content to be just a country music superstar. She also became a successful actress. Parton first appeared in 9 to 5, a film that also starred Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. She followed that with Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. In 1989, Parton starred in the blockbuster film, Steel Magnolias. Parton was also part of several made-for-TV films, including Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors in 2015.
Dolly Parton’s Other Business Ventures
Dolly Parton’s other business ventures are far too numerous to mention. She was especially proud of her Dollywood theme park, created as a way for her to employ her relatives living in East Tennessee. In recent years, Parton launched her own wine, cosmetics, pet product line, perfume, packaged food, and more. In 1995, she launched the Imagination Library. To date, it has given more than 304 million books to children all over the world.
Parton’s SongTeller Hotel is slated to open in downtown Nashville this fall. Inside the hotel will be Parton’s My Life of Many Colors museum. Her Broadway musical will open in early 2027.
If there was a secret to Parton’s success, it’s that she never tried to be anyone but Dolly Parton.
“I’ve always been true to myself,” Parton told The Guardian. “That was what my mama always used to say: to thine own self be true. I put a lot of stock in that. Everything I do, whether it’s my personality, how I conduct myself and business, or whatever, if I do it my way, according to what I understand and believe, there’s a strength in that. You can think, ‘I can stand by this, I can live by this.’”
Photo Credit: CMA