Dolly PARTON Dolly Parton is an iconic American singer, songwriter, actress, author, and philanthropist, known for her contributions to country music and pop culture. Here are some key highlights about her:
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Dolly Rebecca Parton
- Born: January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee
- Genre: Country, Pop, Gospel, Bluegrass
- Spouse: Carl Dean (married since 1966)
- Notable Awards: 11 Grammy Awards, 50+ Grammy nominations, 2 Academy Award nominations, Kennedy Center Honors (2006), Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2022)
Career Highlights
- Began performing as a child on local radio and TV in Tennessee.
- Gained fame in the 1960s as a songwriter and singer, working with Porter Wagoner.
- Founded Dollywood, a popular theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
- Released over 50 studio albums, with recent works like Rockstar (2023), a rock album.
Philanthropy
- Started the Imagination Library (1995), which provides free books to children worldwide.
- Donated $1 million to COVID-19 vaccine research (MODERNA).
- Active in literacy, disaster relief, and education causes.
Fun Facts
- Known for her big hair, rhinestone outfits, and witty personality.
- Has over 3,000 songs to her name.
- Turned down Elvis Presley’s request to record “I Will Always Love You” because he wanted half the publishing rights.
Her Look is a Trademark
- She once lost a Dolly lookalike contest because the judges didn’t believe it was really her.
Dolly’s Hidden Talents & Surprising Roles
- Broadway: Wrote the music and lyrics for 9 to 5: The Musical (2009).
Unexpected Cameos:
- Appeared in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (as herself, mentoring a teen vampire slayer).
Business Savvy: The Dolly Empire
- Dollywood: Her Smoky Mountain theme park attracts 3 million+ visitors yearly and includes a water park (Dollywood’s Splash Country) and Dream More Resort.
- Dolly Parton’s Stampede: A dinner attraction with horse stunts (she sold it in 2023 for $385 million).
Dolly’s Licensing Genius:
- She owns the rights to every song she’s ever written, including “I Will Always Love You”, which has earned her millions from Whitney Houston’s cover.
Books, Books, Books!
- Novel: “Run, Rose, Run” (2022, co-written with James Patterson) + an accompanying album.
Musical Deep Cuts
- Bluegrass Queen: Albums like “The Grass Is Blue” (1999) prove her mastery of the genre.
- Rockstar Turn: Her 2023 album Rockstar features covers with legends like Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Steven Tyler.
Dolly’s Biggest Regrets & Controversies
- Political Neutrality: Dolly avoids endorsing candidates but supports LGBTQ+ rights and Black Lives Matter.
- Plastic Surgery Honesty: “If I see something SAGGIN’, BAGGIN’, or DRAGGIN’, I’m gonna get it nipped, tucked, or sucked!”
Dolly’s Next Big Moves
- Possible Rock Biopic: She’s hinted at a film about her life (with her playing younger Dolly via CGI!).
- More Philanthropy: Expanding the Imagination Library (which mails 2+ million free books monthly to kids).
- New Music: At 78, she’s still writing and recording like a powerhouse.
- Dolly’s Royal Titles (That She’s Earned & Joked About)
- “The Queen of Country” – Undisputed.
- “The Iron Butterfly” – Strong as steel, sweet as sugar.
- “The Book Fairy” – For her Imagination Library (over 200 million free books gifted to kids!).
- “A Living Barbie Doll” – She loves it and even met Barbie’s creator, Ruth Handler, who told her, “You’re my ideal!”
Dolly’s Wildest Stage Moments
- 1989: Falling Off Stage at Dollywood – She tripped on a high heel, tumbled into the pit, and got right back up singing like a champ.
- 2019: Glastonbury Festival – At 73, she rocked the UK’s biggest stage in a silver jumpsuit, bantering, “Y’all didn’t know I was this rock ‘n’ roll, did ya?!”
Dolly & Carl Dean: The Secret Love Story
- How They Met: At a laundromat in Nashville (1964).
- Why He’s Never Seen: Carl hates fame—Dolly says he’s only ever seen her perform once in 60+ years!
- Their Love Letters: Dolly writes him old-school romantic notes, and he keeps them in a shoebox.
Dolly’s Diet & Cheat Meals Yes, Really!
“I tried dieting once… the *d* word is deprivation!”
- Snack Attack: Keeps M&Ms in her purse for energy during concerts.
- Coffee Rules: Drinks it all day long—”I never sleep ‘cause I don’t wanna miss nothin’!”
Dolly’s Famous Friends & Frenemies
- Bestie: Kenny Rogers – Their duet “Islands in the Stream” was a smash, and she cried for days when he died.
- Mutual Love: Miley Cyrus – Miley calls her “Aunt Dolly”; Dolly says “She’s like my wild child!”
- Unexpected Fan: Adele – Calls Dolly “the greatest living legend.”
Dolly’s Most Outrageous Outfits
- Head-to-Toe Sequins at the 2018 Grammys – “Honey, if you’re gonna sparkle, commit!”
- Her Wigs: She owns hundreds and once revealed they each have names (like “Cindy Lou” and “Dolly Lama”).
Dolly’s TV Obsessions
- Loves Law & Order – “I could watch those dun-dun sounds all day!”
- Reality TV Junkie: Adores The Bachelor and Ru Paul’s Drag Race (she’s a drag icon!).
- Game Shows: Once turned down Celebrity Jeopardy! because “I don’t wanna embarrass myself!”
Dolly’s Near-Miss Career Moments
Almost Played:
- The Fairy Godmother in Shrek (but turned it down—”I didn’t get it at the time!”)
- A Bond Girl (“I was too busty—they said I’d tip the boat over!”)
- Missed Elvis’ Duet: He wanted to sing “I Will Always Love You” with her, but Colonel Parker ruined it.
Secret Alter Egos
- “Dolly DOLITTLE“: Her childhood nickname because she “talked to every animal, rock, and tree”.
- “The Backwoods Barbie”: A persona she embraced in her 2008 album—”I’m just a country girl with a glam squad!”
- “Aunt Granny”: What her actual nieces and nephews call her (she’s too young to be a grandma, but too wise to just be an aunt).
Dance Moves Or Lack Thereof
- “I Can’t Dance, But I Can Shimmy!” – Dolly admits she has “two left feet” but kills it onstage with pure charisma.
- That Time She Line-Danced with Ellen – It was chaotic, glorious, and involved a lot of sequin-sparkle.
- Her Go-To Karaoke Song: “Stairway to Heaven” (but only if Kenny Rogers duets).
Radio Prank Calls
Yes, Dolly prank-called radio stations in the ‘70s pretending to be a fan named “Patsy” just to hear her songs requested. When the DJs caught on, she’d laugh and say, “Well, play it anyway, sugar!”
Dolly’s First Car And It’s So Dolly
- A 1966 Cadillac—painted pearl pink with her name bedazzled on the doors. She traded it for a tour bus but joked, “I still miss that pink gal!”
The Real Reason She Wears Long Sleeves
- Not Just for Style: She has tattoos covering scars from a childhood accident (she fell into a fireplace!).
- “I’m Like a Butterfly—Pretty but Tough Underneath” – Her words.
Dolly’s Kitchen Secrets
- Favorite Midnight Snack: Peanut butter & banana sandwich (just like Elvis!).
- “I Don’t Cook!” – Carl does most of it. “Why mess up my nails?”
- Her Famous Cornbread Recipe: Includes a dash of Coca-Cola for sweetness. (Want it? “Buy my cookbook, honey!”)