Dolly Parton

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Birthday:

19 January 1946, Sevierville, Tennessee, USA

Birth Name:

Dolly Rebecca Parton

Height:

150 cm

Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on January 19, 1946, one of 12 children of Robert Lee Parton, a tobacco farmer, and Avie Lee Parton (née Owens). Dolly grew up on a run-down farm in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. At 12, she was appearing on Knoxville TV and, at 13, she was already recording on a small label and appearing at the Grand Ole Opry. After graduating from high school in Sevier County, Tennessee, in 1964, she moved to Nashville to launch her career as a country singer. She fell in love with Carl Dean, who ran an asphalt-paving business; they got married on May 30, 1966 (and they are still together). The next year, Dolly's singing caught the attention of Porter Wagoner. He hired Dolly to appear on his program, The Porter Wagoner Show (1961). Dolly stayed with the show for 7 years, their duets became famous, and she appeared with his group at the Grand Ole Opry; she also toured and sold records. By the time her hit "Joshua" reached #1 in 1970, her fame had overshadowed Porter's, and she struck out on her own, though still recording duets with him. She left him for good to become a solo artist in 1974. Dolly gained immense popularity as a singer/songwriter. Dolly won numerous Country Music Association awards (1968, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1976). This petite (5'0") beauty was a natural for television and, by the mid-1970s, Dolly was appearing frequently on TV specials and talk shows. Dolly then got her own show, aptly titled Dolly (1976). In 1977, Dolly got her first Grammy award: Best Female Country Vocal Performance, for her song "Here You Come Again". Dolly's movie debut was in Nine to Five (1980), where she got an Oscar nomination for writing the title tune, and also Grammy awards 2 and 3, Best Country Song, and Best Female Country Vocal Performance for the song "Nine to Five". Dolly got more fame for appearing in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), and in Rhinestone (1984) with the song "Tennessee Homesick Blues". She is the head of Dolly Parton Enterprises, a $100 million media empire, and, in 1986, she founded Dollywood, a theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, celebrating her Smokey Mountain upbringing. She appeared as herself in the Dolly (1987) TV series. In 1988, she won another Grammy award: Best Country Performance Duo or Group with Vocals, for "Trio". Dolly was in the acclaimed picture Steel Magnolias (1989) with Julia Roberts, and went on to appear in 15 movies and TV-movies for the 1990s, and of course garnered more Country Music Association awards. In 2000, Dolly received her 5th Grammy award: Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. She also released a Bluegrass Album. Dolly is known for beautiful songs such as "Coat of Many Colors" and "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You". Dolly said in an interview, "My music is what took me everywhere I've been and everywhere I will go. It's my greatest love. I can't abandon it. I'll always keep making records". Show less «

I'm not offended by dumb blonde jokes because I know that I'm not dumb. I also know I'm not blonde.

I describe my look as a blend of mother goose, cinderella, and the local hooker!

It takes a lot of money to make a person look this cheap!

I like to buy clothes that are two sizes too small and then take them in a little.

I have little feet because nothing grows in the shade.

If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one.

I had to get rich so I could afford to sing like I was poor again.

There are plenty of charities for the homeless. Isn't it time somebody helped the homely?

(on her ample bosom) I don't know if I'm supporting them, or they're supporting me.

(on the topic of her bust size) People always ask me if they're mine. Yes, they are... all bought and paid for.

(alluding to her famous bust) If I build another park, it will probably be in Silicon Valley.

If you want to see the rainbow you gotta put up with the rain.

There's a heart beneath the boobs and a brain beneath the wig.

After Momma gave birth to twelve of us kids, we put her up on a pedestal. It was mostly to keep Daddy away from her.

[on her 2006 birthday milestone] I'm not sixty, I'm "sexty".

[when asked about her 60th birthday] I don't mind being it, I just don't like saying it.

(on plastic surgery) If I see something saggin', baggin' or dragin', I'm gonna have it nipped, tucked or sucked.

I hope to die right in the middle of a song and right on the stage doing what I love to do. I hope to be about 120 when that happens. (Sourc...Show more »

I hope to die right in the middle of a song and right on the stage doing what I love to do. I hope to be about 120 when that happens. (Source: The Mountain Press) Show less «

I wake up with new dreams every day. So the more I can do to channel that into things that I love to create is healthier for me and probably...Show more »

I wake up with new dreams every day. So the more I can do to channel that into things that I love to create is healthier for me and probably for everybody around me. And the older I get, the earlier I get up. The second my feet hit the floor, I'm awake. I'm like hurry, hurry. I just love life. And I feel like we ain't got but a certain amount of time anyway. I want to make the most of all of it. (Source: Reader's Digest - January 2006) Show less «

He's a precious man. He's got a lot of bad press lately but I think he's out to try to save the world, not destroy it. (on Cat Stevens' (Yus...Show more »

He's a precious man. He's got a lot of bad press lately but I think he's out to try to save the world, not destroy it. (on Cat Stevens' (Yusuf Islam's) deportation from the United States in September 2004) (Source: The Daily Show (1996) - October 17, 2005) Show less «

I'm like a cartoon! I'll look this way when I'm eighty. I can see it now, people will be rolling me around in a wheelchair and I'll still ha...Show more »

I'm like a cartoon! I'll look this way when I'm eighty. I can see it now, people will be rolling me around in a wheelchair and I'll still have my big hair, nails, my high heels and my boobs stuck out! Show less «

Some of my dreams are so big they would scare you.

People don't realize that, you know, we have -- 'we' meaning people in show business have the same problems as everybody else. Money don't c...Show more »

People don't realize that, you know, we have -- 'we' meaning people in show business have the same problems as everybody else. Money don't change that. Fame don't change that. Sometimes, that brings on more problems. You know, it's just a -- different kind of problems. As they say, money ain't everything. Show less «

I have loved performing since I was big enough to wrestle my little brothers and sisters into sitting long enough for me to sing them my lat...Show more »

I have loved performing since I was big enough to wrestle my little brothers and sisters into sitting long enough for me to sing them my latest musical masterpiece. I just hope ya'll will come out and see this little girl from the hills of Tennessee walk out there on that big ole stage and make her dreams come true, don't make me wrestle you too 'cause I will if I have to! Show less «

I'm not like a real person. I love being artificial. I think there's a little magic in the fact that I'm so totally real, but look so artifi...Show more »

I'm not like a real person. I love being artificial. I think there's a little magic in the fact that I'm so totally real, but look so artificial at the same time. Show less «

I'm just a singer/songwriter and entertainer and I miss people and the energy of the crowd. When I play live, it's a lovefest with me and my...Show more »

I'm just a singer/songwriter and entertainer and I miss people and the energy of the crowd. When I play live, it's a lovefest with me and my audience. It's how I get my rocks off. Show less «

I'm a show-off basically... always have been.

I learned early on that I could get a lot of attention by singing and writing little songs, so it was like throwing nuts to a monkey... I ju...Show more »

I learned early on that I could get a lot of attention by singing and writing little songs, so it was like throwing nuts to a monkey... I just couldn't get enough. Show less «

I feel fortunate that I've had a lot of songs recorded by other people, because I take my songwriting very seriously. It's only those people...Show more »

I feel fortunate that I've had a lot of songs recorded by other people, because I take my songwriting very seriously. It's only those people that have followed me over the years and really know my work that know how serious I am about all of it - including the way I look. You can't take my high heels from me, you can't have my long fingernails, you can't take all this hair from me, because it's part of this thing that I've become. I wouldn't want to give any of it up. Do I have to be ugly to be a songwriter? This is the way I am, and it's what I choose to be. Show less «

I'll never harden my heart, but I've toughened the muscles around it.

If there's a heaven, I hope to hell I go!

I always love working with children. I never had children of my own. God has his purposes. God didn't let me have children so everybody's ch...Show more »

I always love working with children. I never had children of my own. God has his purposes. God didn't let me have children so everybody's children could be mine. That's kind of how I'm looking at it. Show less «

I figure if I keep my health, I have no intention of retiring. I love to work. I want to be like Bob Hope. I want to keep on going out and d...Show more »

I figure if I keep my health, I have no intention of retiring. I love to work. I want to be like Bob Hope. I want to keep on going out and doing what I love to do. Of course, I'm no Bob Hope, but I mean that feeling that you never are old and have things to offer and can be useful to somebody. I always want to be useful, I have no intentions of retiring unless I should get sick or something should happen to my husband. Other than that I'm going to work until I fall over. Show less «

My music is so mine, it's hard to turn it over to someone else. I have to be really involved in the production. It's like someone else takin...Show more »

My music is so mine, it's hard to turn it over to someone else. I have to be really involved in the production. It's like someone else taking care of your kids -- if they don't treat them well, you're going to be pissed off. I'm actually co-producing [Backwoods] with my guitar player of 20 years, Kent Wells. We make a good combination... I think we're going to have a real good record. Show less «

I've never been the big recording star I'd love to be some day. I've had lots of hits off and on through the years but I've never had the su...Show more »

I've never been the big recording star I'd love to be some day. I've had lots of hits off and on through the years but I've never had the success of other artists - one hit after another back-to-back-to-back and big hits, where every song is going to be number one. I'm not greedy or nothing. I just want everything. Is there something wrong with that? Show less «

It's when you treat people like freaks that you become one yourself.

Sure I'm in it for the money, but also because I love music. I picture myself in the future as a happy old lady, chubby, rosy cheeks, tellin...Show more »

Sure I'm in it for the money, but also because I love music. I picture myself in the future as a happy old lady, chubby, rosy cheeks, telling stories to the little kids. When I sit back in my rocker, I want to have done it all. [Time magazine, April 18, 1977] Show less «

I was blessed to have family members who encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Whether it is your parents, or your uncles or your aunts or even...Show more »

I was blessed to have family members who encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Whether it is your parents, or your uncles or your aunts or even the neighbor down the road, it's important that kids have someone who encourages them to chase their rainbow. Show less «

Sometimes, you see folks who have a negative view of dreamers - people who sit around all day on their hindquarters and do absolutely nothin...Show more »

Sometimes, you see folks who have a negative view of dreamers - people who sit around all day on their hindquarters and do absolutely nothing. These folks aren't dreamers - they are just lazy. To me, dreaming is just part of being alive, inspired, and curious about the world. Show less «

I feel blessed that I still have the little Dolly in my heart, I'm still the same girl that wants to squeeze every little drop out of life t...Show more »

I feel blessed that I still have the little Dolly in my heart, I'm still the same girl that wants to squeeze every little drop out of life that I can. Show less «

To me, it's about dreaming in the day and in the night. Dreams have always helped me visualize my goals and aspirations. When I was a child,...Show more »

To me, it's about dreaming in the day and in the night. Dreams have always helped me visualize my goals and aspirations. When I was a child, I could see me on stage singing my heart out. I could see what I was wearing and where I was going. I would visit that dream every single day and as I look back, my dreams kept me focused on what I wanted to do and the person I wanted to be. Show less «

I have always been a firm believer in working hard for what is right and for making your own breaks if you want things to change.

I'm on a seafood diet -- I see food, I eat it.

I enjoy the way I look, but it's a joke.

I never, ever get involved in politics. With politics you are not allowed to be honest. I don't have time to deal with that. I would rather ...Show more »

I never, ever get involved in politics. With politics you are not allowed to be honest. I don't have time to deal with that. I would rather work with kids. Show less «

Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn and myself were all in it [Country Music] about the same time. They got a little bit of a head start on me, cert...Show more »

Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn and myself were all in it [Country Music] about the same time. They got a little bit of a head start on me, certainly Loretta, but we were all three good friends and actually ended up doing an album together. But I think I was a little different from them. Loretta had a house full of kids and she wrote those being brought down by men songs. Hers were more about home life and all the women who had children and I totally love and respect her. Tammy could sing any number of things but she was also singing that "Stand By Your Man". I was singing songs like "Just Because I'm a Woman"... my mistakes are no worse than yours just because I'm a woman. I think we all did our little thing. I just filled my spot. Show less «

I saw early on that I could make a business out of this [music business] because I wanted money, I wanted to travel, I wanted clothes, I wan...Show more »

I saw early on that I could make a business out of this [music business] because I wanted money, I wanted to travel, I wanted clothes, I wanted to be loved, I wanted to be staying in fine hotels. It wasn't to get away from what I was because I knew that would always be me. I've never been ashamed of my people. I love my people and I love my home. Show less «

When the new country came out ten to 15 years ago, people my age were almost too old. But it never stopped me. I never stopped writing. I ne...Show more »

When the new country came out ten to 15 years ago, people my age were almost too old. But it never stopped me. I never stopped writing. I never stopped recording. Show less «

[when asked about political ambitions] Don't you think we've had enough boobs in the White House?

(on the Women's Lib movement of the 1960s) I was the first woman to burn my bra - it took the fire department four days to put it out!

It was never a marketing tool. People say that, but I dress this way for the same reasons I did when I first started doing it. It still come...Show more »

It was never a marketing tool. People say that, but I dress this way for the same reasons I did when I first started doing it. It still comes from a serious place inside of me. I get up in the morning, and I think I just look better a certain way I do my makeup. I want to shine, I want to glitter. I'm not getting up thinking, "Oh, this'll get 'em." And I'm not doing it to make a statement. I'm just doing it to look like Dolly - the Dolly that I know and the Dolly that you know. Show less «

On plastic surgery: I'm a proud person. I'm not vain. I look at it like it is. If you've got the money and you're going to be out there, you...Show more »

On plastic surgery: I'm a proud person. I'm not vain. I look at it like it is. If you've got the money and you're going to be out there, you owe it to people not to look like a dog if you can help it. Show less «

On writing a musical version of Nine to Five (1980) for Broadway: It's not like this is a job that I hope I do good at. It's a joy, and it's...Show more »

On writing a musical version of Nine to Five (1980) for Broadway: It's not like this is a job that I hope I do good at. It's a joy, and it's just my nature. And I've made it into something I can make money doing. And thank God for that. Because nobody can ever make enough money for as many poor relatives as I've got. Somebody's got a sick kid, or somebody needs an operation, somebody ain't got this, somebody ain't got that. Or to give the kids all a car when they graduate. Let them shine, let them do what they want to. And not just family - it's for a lot of other people to have their dreams, too. Going into a new business, you make a certain amount of money, build your name, build your brand, and it's prestigious, but it gives other people opportunities, too, even if it's not something I particularly want to do myself. I'm creating jobs. I'm like Barack Obama! Show less «

I want to be like one of those little fainting goats that get scared and then just fall over. I want to go and go and then drop dead in the ...Show more »

I want to be like one of those little fainting goats that get scared and then just fall over. I want to go and go and then drop dead in the middle of something I'm loving to do. And if that doesn't happen, if I wind up sitting in a wheelchair, at least I'll have my high heels on. Show less «

If I have one more face-lift I'll have a beard.

I'm a poor candidate for espionage.

I used to dream, when I would go to other people's shows and the artist had songs that people sang along with, "How cool must that be?". I'v...Show more »

I used to dream, when I would go to other people's shows and the artist had songs that people sang along with, "How cool must that be?". I've been working this "9 to 5" job for 30 years, so God only knows how many times on the road I've sung it. Thousands of times, for sure. But I don't get tired of it, really. Show less «

I think in a way, my music has been almost like my ministry. Hopefully, it's healing in some ways, just having a good sense of humor to be a...Show more »

I think in a way, my music has been almost like my ministry. Hopefully, it's healing in some ways, just having a good sense of humor to be able to lift people up, to have songs that people can relate to. Show less «

[When speaking of Gay rights]: It's not a crusade for me, I just think everybody should stand up and I think it's really sad when people get...Show more »

[When speaking of Gay rights]: It's not a crusade for me, I just think everybody should stand up and I think it's really sad when people get crucified for standing up for what they believe in. Show less «

All these fine Christian-type people that seem to think they know what God wants for all of us, that's certainly more of a sin then anything...Show more »

All these fine Christian-type people that seem to think they know what God wants for all of us, that's certainly more of a sin then anything they would claim about us. To judge people is one of the greatest sins. Show less «

People say how down-home I seem to be. I think of myself as a working girl, not a star or celebrity. I love my life, I would not bitch about...Show more »

People say how down-home I seem to be. I think of myself as a working girl, not a star or celebrity. I love my life, I would not bitch about it now. A lot of people do, but they don't deserve it, the fame or the money they make, when they are running away from their fans like that. There are some people who just absolutely hate fans. I just think they're not happy in their own lives. Show less «

I'm one of those people that if its something to eat I'm going to eat the whole thing, If I'm going to be in love I'm going to love you all ...Show more »

I'm one of those people that if its something to eat I'm going to eat the whole thing, If I'm going to be in love I'm going to love you all the way and if my heart's broken, it's just shattered all to pieces. Show less «

I think my life actually changed at 40. That's when you realize you can't ride the fence anymore. You either have to get on one side or the ...Show more »

I think my life actually changed at 40. That's when you realize you can't ride the fence anymore. You either have to get on one side or the other. I think some of my best years were between 40 and 50: I got my priorities straight and life is good to me now. It's only other people who say, "God, she's 50 years old!" as if I'm over the hill. I feel like I just started. Show less «

I always pattern my look after the town tramp. I swear to God that's true, but I can't give her name.

Mine is only one of millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston. I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful perfo...Show more »

Mine is only one of millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston. I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart - Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed. Show less «

Sometimes, my mouth is a little too big and a little too open and sounds too much like a sailor.

I've never tried to be like anybody but myself. As a singer, I've never wanted to sound like anybody else. God knows, I couldn't, anyway. I ...Show more »

I've never tried to be like anybody but myself. As a singer, I've never wanted to sound like anybody else. God knows, I couldn't, anyway. I just always felt I was responsible for my own personality and gifts. Show less «

I don't give advice, I might give you some information. I often want to say, "Hell, I don't know what you should do. I've got (stuff) to fig...Show more »

I don't give advice, I might give you some information. I often want to say, "Hell, I don't know what you should do. I've got (stuff) to figure out in my own life.". Show less «

[when remarking about her Imagination Library childhood literacy program] If I'm remembered 100 years from now, I hope it will be not for lo...Show more »

[when remarking about her Imagination Library childhood literacy program] If I'm remembered 100 years from now, I hope it will be not for looks but for books. I don't want to be responsible for any boobs in the future! I had to get that off my chest. Show less «

[her motto] Dream more, learn more, care more and be more.

I just write all the time. In my whole life I've never had what I've heard people talk about writer's block. I've never had that. Life is li...Show more »

I just write all the time. In my whole life I've never had what I've heard people talk about writer's block. I've never had that. Life is like a song to me. I just hear everything in music, so I have never once thought "Well, I'm never gonna be able to write again." I've got thousands of songs. Show less «

[When commenting on her songwriting] Some of my simplest things have been my best. I tend to over-think, because I like to write and I like ...Show more »

[When commenting on her songwriting] Some of my simplest things have been my best. I tend to over-think, because I like to write and I like to rhyme. And I like to go for really deep lines. Sometimes with my melody I'll get too many words and it's hard for anyone else to sing besides me. You want to write songs that other people can sing, too. That's what I always loved about (Merle) Haggard's writing. Same thing with Willie (Nelson). They can write so simple, but still so deep and say so much. That's the kind of stuff you long for. Show less «

I do have large boobs. Always had them. I've pushed them up, whacked them around. Why not make fun of them? I've made a fortune with them.

In the country field, we're brought up in spiritual homes, we're taught to "judge not lest you be judged", and it's always been a mystery to...Show more »

In the country field, we're brought up in spiritual homes, we're taught to "judge not lest you be judged", and it's always been a mystery to me how people jump all over things just to criticize, condemn and judge other people when that is so un-Christian - and they claim to be good Christians! We're supposed to love one another. We're supposed to accept and love one another. Whether we do or not, that's a different story. But that's what we're supposed to do. Show less «

I can't imagine a thing that people don't already know about me. I think people would be surprised at how really at-home I am. I look like a...Show more »

I can't imagine a thing that people don't already know about me. I think people would be surprised at how really at-home I am. I look like a party doll but I'm very home-lovin'. I'm a homebody, and I'm family-oriented. I don't get out much unless it's a special occasion. So I guess people might be surprised at just how calm I really am. Show less «

[on countering public criticism of her wardrobe and her style] I never let that stop me from being the business girl I was. I knew my songs ...Show more »

[on countering public criticism of her wardrobe and her style] I never let that stop me from being the business girl I was. I knew my songs were good even, if I had been ugly as sin. I felt like I could sing, even if I had been ugly as sin. I mean, this is my look. I like a lot of makeup. I like a lot of hair. I like flashy clothes. I like to show it off. That's just who I am. Show less «

I really would love to do something [film role] that would be something special enough for me to be willing not to wear the high heels and t...Show more »

I really would love to do something [film role] that would be something special enough for me to be willing not to wear the high heels and the fingernails and all that. In the same way that Billy Bob Thornton did Sling Blade, I'd love to have a character where I could really, really be an actress and not just Dolly Parton, the personality, the boobs and the hair and all that. It would have to be something special, 'cause normally I'm not that comfortable, but if a great role, like a Norma Rae or something should come along, I would do it. At least once in my life, I'd like to do one really great movie where I could really act and not just be all of this phony stuff. Show less «

[observation, 2016] I think it would be wonderful to have a woman for president if she's qualified to do the job. And so I don't know who's ...Show more »

[observation, 2016] I think it would be wonderful to have a woman for president if she's qualified to do the job. And so I don't know who's going to wind up being president but we're going to have PMS in the White House - presidential mood swings. I think we're in for a show. Show less «

[on helping the victims of the 2016 Great Smokey Mountains wildfires] I've always believed charity begins at home and my home is some place ...Show more »

[on helping the victims of the 2016 Great Smokey Mountains wildfires] I've always believed charity begins at home and my home is some place special. That's why I've asked my Dollywood Companies, including the Dollywood theme park, and DreamMore Resort, my dinner theater attractions including Dixie Stampede and Lumberjack Adventure, and my Dollywood Foundation to help me establish the My People Fund. Show less «

[on helping the victims of the 2016 Great Smokey Mountains wildfires]We want to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything...Show more »

[on helping the victims of the 2016 Great Smokey Mountains wildfires]We want to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything in the fires. I know it has been a trying time for my people and this assistance will help get them back on their feet. Show less «