The Stunning Transformation Of Dolly Parton

In the late 1960s, Dolly Parton rolled into Nashville with big hair and even bigger dreams. At the time, she was an aspiring singer-songwriter, but she quickly took the Music City by storm. Parton released her first chart-topper "Joshua" in 1971, and by 1978, she had won her first Grammy.  After dominating the country music industry, she continued branching out; first to the big screen, and then to numerous other industries. Today, Parton's job titles include movie star, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and so much more.

Thanks to her charming, down-to-earth persona, Parton has firmly cemented herself as a national treasure. In addition to being universally beloved, she has sold more than 100 million albums and earned countless accolades throughout her career. After all of her successes, Parton is still going strong — and still dreaming big. "I keep dreaming myself into a corner!" she told People in 2021. "But I can't stop now. I've learned you can't just say, 'Oh, my dream's come true and I'm walking out of here.' No, you've got to show you're grateful and show that you're not going to just leave it all in the hands of other people."

From her humble beginnings in Tennessee to her groundbreaking entertainment career, Parton's life story is sure to touch your heart. That said, let's take a look back at the Queen of Country Music and her incredible journey.

Dolly Parton grew up in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. Her parents, Avie Lee Owens Parton and Lee Parton, married in 1939 and had a total of 12 children. Dolly Rebecca was born fourth in line in 1946. Her father, a farmer, worked in a logging camp and went as far as Detroit to find work to support his family. Dolly's mother, a preacher's daughter, worked hard as a housewife and was the inspiration for Dolly's famous song "Coat of Many Colors."

In a 1978 interview with Lawrence Grobel for Playboy (via Blank on Blank), Dolly talked about an aunt of hers possessing the first television and flushing toilet that Dolly ever saw. She discussed making their own soap and going to the river to wash themselves in the warmer months. She joked that there were so many siblings, and they were so dirty, that they'd leave a ring around the Little Pigeon River. In cold weather, Dolly recalled, "We'd have a pan of water and we'd wash down as far as possible, then we'd wash up as far as possible ... and when somebody cleared the room, we'd wash possible."

Dolly Parton was first introduced to music by her mother, who sang and played the guitar. Parton also discovered her voice at church, and when her uncle, Bill Owens, gave her a guitar, she immediately started writing songs. 

At the tender age of 10, Parton started singing and playing guitar on local TV and radio shows in nearby Knoxville, Tennessee. Uncle Bill could see that the motivated, talented young girl had star potential and believed she was destined for greatness. He introduced young Parton to Cas Walker, a successful grocery chain owner who had created a radio program to promote his stores that later turned into the local TV show "Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour."

Uncle Bill brought Parton backstage and the child marched right up to Walker and told him she wanted to work for him. Parton became a regular on his show, which led to future opportunities. She tells the story of her early career in the film "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors," which was released in 2015. Parton enjoyed success on Walker's show, and even made her first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in 1959 when she was just 13. Parton was introduced by Johnny Cash, and her performance of George Jones' "You Gotta Be My Baby" earned her three encores.

While Dolly Parton enjoyed her time on Cas Walker's show, any country singer worth their salt knew that to really make it, you had to move to Nashville. As soon as Parton graduated she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, home of country music. But before she found fame and fortune, Parton found something else first: a man who, in two years, would become her husband. 

According to Parton, she was doing her laundry on her first day in Nashville at a laundromat called the Wishy Washy. During her first few months in town, Parton worked at Couser's restaurant, which closed in 2016. (Parton, of course, made her mark everywhere she went, and when Norman Couser died, the restaurant's Facebook page said that Parton was his favorite customer.)

Soon, the aspiring singer got a writing job with a publishing company but starting writing her own songs. One song, "Put It Off Until Tomorrow," was penned with Parton's uncle, Bill Owens, and recorded by Bill Phillips in 1966. Parton sang harmony on the record, which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard charts. Parton was signed to Fred Foster's Monument Records and achieved her first Top 40 hit with the song "Dumb Blonde," with lyrics like "Just because I'm blonde, don't think I'm dumb." Interestingly, Parton did not write "Dumb Blonde," even though she was known as a songwriter.

Dolly Parton was 21 years old when she was hired by Porter Wagoner to be the new female vocalist on "The Porter Wagoner Show." Parton and Wagoner were a hit, and they won many awards for their work together. Wagoner's daughter, Debra, said Parton helped rejuvenate her father's career and that their working relationship was fantastic, but Parton had dreams of her own. She had promised to work on Wagoner's show for five years, and ended up there for seven. During that time, she had a hit with "Joshua," in 1970, and in 1974, had three rapid-fire No. 1 songs with "Jolene," "Love Is Like a Butterfly," and "I Will Always Love You."

Dolly Parton wanted to go out on her own, and in February 1974, announced she was doing just that. Wagoner really didn't want her to go and wouldn't listen to reason. She wrote "I Will Always Love You" to make him understand, and the song brought him to tears. His daughter said he told Parton, "That's the prettiest song I ever heard. And you can go, providing I get to produce that record" (via Closer Weekly). Wagoner produced Parton's records until 1976 and recorded two albums quickly after that, earning her the esteemed CMA Award for Entertainer of the Year in 1978. Dolly Parton was a legitimate solo recording artist, songwriter, and TV personality. 

In 1980, Dolly Parton had her first movie debut in "9 to 5," a comedy also starring comedian Lily Tomlin and acting legend and activist Jane Fonda. In a 1980 interview with Bobbie Wygant (via Vimeo), Parton said that even though she was over-excited and that movies were so foreign, she felt confident and was sure she could do it. After all, she had experience with television, so the only difference was the amount of time that making a movie takes. Parton told Wygant that she filled the time by writing songs, one of which became the theme song of the movie. That song, "9 to 5," went to No. 1 on the pop and country charts, and Parton received an Academy Award nomination for her first movie.

Parton's next movie, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," ranked No. 1 at the U.S. box office, knocking out "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial," a film that had been at the top for six weeks. Parton continued to have a successful acting career, appearing on the big and small screens, notably in "Steel Magnolias," episodes of "Designing Women," "The Simpsons," and her own movies, "Dollywood's a Christmas Carol," "A Country Christmas Story," "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors," and more.

In 1978, Dolly Parton appeared on the cover of Playboy decked out with bunny ears, lots of cleavage, and a bow tie, but insisted on not taking her clothes off for the famous magazine. Parton admitted she became aware at an early age that her figure would have an impact on men. In her Bobbie Wygant interview, she talked about how she turned come-ons into jokes if things got too uncomfortable, and always felt okay walking out the door if things got too weird. She said she never had to sleep her way to to get where she wanted to go, regardless of how many people tried.

Furthermore, for decades, fans speculated as to whether Parton had engaged in an affair with Kenny Rogers. The pair recorded the popular duet "Islands in the Stream" in 1983, and their chemistry raised a few eyebrows. Parton fans knew she would never cheat on her husband, and Rogers addressed the long-held rumor in his book, "Luck or Something Like It," saying the pair were wonderful friends, and anything sexual would have ruined their friendship. Parton never sacrificed her morals for her career.

In 1986, Dolly Parton partnered with the Herschend Brothers, founder of Silver Dollar City, an attraction just beside the Great Smoky Mountains. Dollywood was born, and is still one of Tennessee's most popular tourist destinations. The theme park boasts lots of shows and rides, including one of the world's fastest wooden roller coaster, the Lightning Rod. The water park features gorgeous scenery and lots of water slides. There's also a resort with a spa, convention center, and other features. Visitors can also rent one of Dollywood's cabins for a family getaway.

In 2010, Dollywood won the amusement park industry's top theme park award, the Liseberg Applause Award. It was in its 25th year at the time and represented a total of $1 billion in accumulated payroll in the area. Since most of Dollywood's employees are local, Dollywood is important to the community and is the area's largest employer. Dollywood was the only U.S.-based theme park nominated that year.

These days, Dolly Parton lives an exceptionally lavish life filled with dream homes, private jets, and luxurious clothing. Still, Dolly Parton has never forgotten the tragic circumstances of her childhood in Tennessee, which was marked by abject poverty. Guided by those experiences, Parton realized that her time and monetary support could make a powerful impact on impoverished communities. In 1988, she launched the Dollywood Foundation, which focuses on funding education and promoting child literacy. In 2016, Parton raised $12 million to support victims of a wildfire in Sevier County, Tennessee. When catastrophic floods struck Tennessee in 2021, Parton donated $700,000 to help with the relief efforts.

Speaking with People in 2021, the country diva revealed that philanthropy is one of her greatest passions in life. "I'm kind of addicted to the feeling of giving," she told the publication. "Knowing that I'm doing something good for someone else." Parton added that she has no desire to be lionized for her charitable work. "I don't want to be worshiped, because there's a scripture in my Bible that talks about idol worship," the singer explained. "And I see that happening all the time with movie stars and these celebrities. People literally worship them more than they worship God. And I just — I cringe at it sometimes." 

If there's one thing to know about Dolly Parton, it's that she never stops working. In addition to being a musical icon, she's also an entrepreneur with an array of projects under her belt. The business mogul has managed to dig her heels into just about every industry, from cosmetics to literature and beyond. One of her most notable business ventures is her restaurant, Stampede, which features a Wild West-themed dinner show. Parton also owns a cosmetics brand called Dolly Beauty, inspired by her love for bold hues and over-the-top makeup looks. She has even released a line of frozen dinners featuring Southern staples like shrimp and grits.

In 2021, Parton took on a new challenge when she co-wrote a book with esteemed author James Patterson. Despite being a seasoned songwriter, she didn't know if she'd be any good at fiction. However, after receiving a pep talk from Patterson, she decided to give it a go. "He said he had always thought about writing a book about Nashville, which I do know something about," Parton shared on her website. "We exchanged ideas and before we knew it, we had a book going, and now we have a novel." The book, "Run, Rose, Run," debuted in 2022. Parton also released a soundtrack to the novel. In 2023, she doubled down on her literary credentials by releasing a children's book titled "Billy The Kid Makes It Big."

After six decades in the spotlight, Dolly Parton has experienced plenty of personal and professional changes. However, a few things have remained relatively consistent — namely, her plush blond mane and eternally youthful face are still going strong after all these years. Parton is no stranger to speculation about her looks, and she's never been afraid to open up about her lengthy history with cosmetic procedures. While appearing on the "CBS Morning Show" in 2019, Parton shared that Botox and plastic surgery have helped her keep up with conventional beauty standards. "It is true that I look artificial, but I believe that I'm totally real," she explained (via USA Today). "My look is really based on a country girl's idea of glam. I wasn't naturally pretty, so I make the most of anything I've got."

As for her voluminous hair, Parton will be the first to admit that it's a wig. Speaking with Vogue in 2023, the singer gushed about her longstanding love affair with hairpieces. "It was always the bigger, the better," she told the publication. "I started wearing wigs because I quickly realized that bleaching and teasing my hair every day would cause breakage and not look good. It was handy to have several looks that I could just choose from, and never have a bad hair day."

When Dolly Parton was nominated to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, she didn't immediately jump for joy. As a dedicated country music artist, the singer feared that she didn't belong within the ranks of rock icons. However, after giving it more thought, Parton came up with a solution: she decided to record her own rock & roll album. Thus, in 2023, she released her 49th studio album, a rock-infused escapade titled "Rockstar." The record contained nine brand new songs and 21 covers of blockbuster jams like "Free Bird" and "Purple Rain." Parton's rock album was a star-studded affair, featuring vocal appearances by Joan Jett, Elton John, Sting, and many more.

Speaking with NPR in 2023, Parton opened up about how the album came to fruition. "I just started recording songs that I thought would be great, and then before I knew it, I had 30 songs," the icon recalled. "I thought, well, I got to narrow this down. But the more I listened, the better they sounded. This is the first and only rock album I've ever been involved in, and so I just went for it." Parton officially joined the Rock & Roll Hall of fame in November 2022. Her induction ceremony featured celebrity appearances, electrifying performances, and of course, lots and lots of rhinestones.

In addition to her singing and acting chops, Dolly Parton is a bona-fide fashion icon. The Southern diva is known for her unique wardrobe, characterized by a heavy rotation of rhinestones, fringes, waist-hugging silhouettes, and plunging necklines. Parton's clothing is so famous that it has even been exhibited at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Thus, it goes without saying that Parton has loads of sartorial wisdom to share. In 2023, the "9 to 5" crooner authored a book called "Behind the Scenes: My Life in Rhinestones." Part memoir and part photo album, the book chronicles Parton's fashion journey and showcases some of her all-time favorite looks.

In an interview with Vogue, Parton noted she has never been afraid to take risks with her wardrobe; a philosophy that paved the way for her legendary style. "I was always a little bit flamboyant, even before I could afford to buy clothes," the superstar revealed. "I always [toed] the line, and sometimes I was willing to cross it in order to look like I wanted to look." When it comes to her personal style, Parton sticks to what she likes rather than what's trending at the moment. "I never cared about what other people did, and I never cared what other people said about what I wore," she explained. "It was more important that I be comfortable in my own clothes and in myself."

Dolly Parton may be one of the most accomplished musicians of all time, but that's not her only claim to fame. She's also known for her squeaky-clean public image — a trait as iconic as her towering blond curls. Throughout her career, Parton has kept her nose clean and remained relatively uncontroversial. Plus, unlike many entertainers, she spent several decades in a happy, healthy marriage.

Parton tied the knot with her spouse Carl Dean in 1966, and the pair went on to have an idyllic life together. "I married a really good man, a guy that's completely different from me," the country star told Parade in 2015. "He loves to hear about the things I do. I love to hear about the things he does. So we enjoy each other's company." Dean rarely made public appearances; however, he did maintain a presence in Parton's music. Several of her songs, including "Jolene" and "From Here to the Moon and Back," make reference to her relationship with Dean.

Sadly, their love story was upended in March 2025 when Carl Dean died at age 82. Amid her grief, Parton paid homage to Dean and their 58-year marriage. Speaking with "Today" in 2025, the country star shared, "I've loved him since I was 18 years old, and it's a big adjustment." She added, "I'll always miss him of course, and I'll always love him. He was a great partner."

In September 2025, Dolly Parton set off alarm bells when she postponed several concerts, stating she needed to deal with "some health challenges" before taking the stage again. Things escalated a few weeks later when Dolly's sister, Freida Parton, asked her Facebook contacts to pray for the "Wildflowers" singer. Shortly after the Facebook post, Dolly become the subject of a cruel hoax involving an AI-generated photo. In the fake snapshot, a frail-looking Dolly was shown lying in a hospital bed. As the health speculations mounted, some fans couldn't help fearing the worst. 

Dolly Parton caught wind of the rumors, and it wasn't long before she addressed them in an Instagram reel. In typical Dolly fashion, the singer appeared immaculately dressed, full of energy, and glammed up to the nines. She thanked fans for their prayers and clarified that her health issues were nothing serious. "I wanted to say, I know lately everybody thinks that I'm sicker than I am," the country star declared. "Do I look sick to you? I'm workin' hard here!" Dolly added that she'd been neglecting her health in the wake of her husband's death, but she was taking steps to get herself back on track. Dolly did not reveal any specifics about her health issues; however, her sister Stella wrote on X that the singer-songwriter had sought treatment for kidney stones.