Dolly Parton is one of the few artists whose work has transcended time. The Tennessee native has become a legend, and despite having been singing and performing for the majority of her life, she still enjoys putting on shows for her legions of fans.
Dolly Parton has always been known for her stunning theatrical costumes and extravagant makeup when performing. She has also previously explained why she is never seen in public without her “public look” on.
We were fortunate to conduct some research and discover photographs of her without as much makeup as usual. And, boy, do they show what a genuine and natural beauty she is…
Dolly Parton is an incredible country music performer, and here’s everything you need to know about her!
She was born in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, on January 19, 1946. She was one of 12 children raised in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, near the Great Smoky Mountains. They were not particularly wealthy. As you might expect, money was an issue.
Dolly Parton’s childhood
However, music began to strengthen her family’s bond. Parton expanded her musical knowledge as a child by performing in church. Her mother was a singer and guitarist.
“Music was such a big part of our entire family,” Parton recalled. My mother’s family was all musical. They were all musicians in some capacity. Naturally, I took music very seriously and was constantly accompanying myself on whoever’s instrument was lying around or whenever my relatives came to visit. But I’ve always been a fan of the guitar.
Dolly’s uncle eventually gave her a guitar. She soon began to compose her own music.
She began performing on local Knoxville, Tennessee television and radio stations at the age of ten. She then made her radio debut at the age of 13 on Grand Ole Opry, a major country radio station, earning around $20 per week.
Music and family are inextricably linked for the Partons. In reality, it was her relatives who encouraged her to pursue a musical career.
relocated to Nashville
Parton was the first in her family to complete high school and receive a diploma. But, at the age of 18, she decided to devote herself entirely to her singing career in 1964. Dolly then traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, the heart of the country music industry.
“I had a dream,” she explained. And I thought I had a talent. Furthermore, I had a strong feeling that it would happen.”
Dolly quickly rose to prominence in Nashville. She collaborated with Porter Wagoner on The Porter Wagoner Show, and the duo quickly became well-known. Parton and Wagoner worked together on several country hits, and she soon signed with RCA Records. Parton’s first No. 1 country single, Joshua, was followed by a string of other hits. Of course, “Jolene” was one of them.
Parton had the idea in the late 1960s, when she would frequently sign autographs for fans after her television shows. “One night, I was on stage, and there was this gorgeous young girl; she was about 8 at the time,” Parton explained.
“And she had this gorgeous red hair, this wonderful skin, and these lovely green eyes, and she was looking up at me, holding, you know, an autograph. ‘Well, you have to be the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen,’ I told her. So, may I ask what your name is?’ And she mentioned the name Jolene. And I kept saying, ‘Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene.’ I’m pleased with how it turned out. That’s something that could easily be turned into a song. “I have a song idea that I’m going to write.”
Meanwhile, a bank teller who expressed interest in Parton’s husband inspired the lyrics.
Parton stated. “The woman had a huge crush on my husband. And because she paid him so much attention, he looked forward to going to the bank. ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank,’ I used to say as an inside joke between us. ‘I don’t think we have that much money,’ she says. In other words, despite sounding terrible, it’s an innocent song in every way.
Jolene is a song with only 200 words. However, it went on to become one of the greatest hits of the twentieth century. Dolly Parton’s song reached number one on the charts and received two Grammy Award nominations for Best Female Country Vocal Performance (both studio and live versions).
In addition, Jolene was ranked 217th on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” which was published in 2004.
Here You Come Again helped her win her first Grammy in 1977, and more hits followed shortly thereafter.
Dolly expanded her audience by entering the film industry in the 1980s.
She co-starred in the 1980 comedy hit 9 to 5 with Jane Fonda and composed music for the film’s soundtrack. She continued to appear in films after that, and in 1986 she founded Dollywood, an amusement park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Dolly claims to have written over 3,000 songs in her life. She also won eight Grammy Awards, topped the country charts 25 times, and sold over 100 million albums. She doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
“Almost every day I come up with a couple of song titles or a nice melody,” Parton told BBC in 2016.
“In some ways, I’m 16,” she says. I’ll always be a romantic at heart. My soul and mind, on the other hand, are both 35. My life was at its peak when I was 35; I was successful, happy, and everything in between. So I made the decision to claim that number and always be that number in my mind.”
Dolly and Carl Dean first met outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville, Tennessee in 1964. Carl was 21 at the time, and Dolly was 18. Carl could tell there was something special about the young woman right away.
Dolly and Carl married in a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia, in May 1966. Her record label advised them to postpone their wedding so she could concentrate on her career. Dean and Dolly, however, did not want to wait and made the executive decision to marry in Georgia rather than Tennessee so that the local press in Tennessee would not write about it. The only people who attended the event were Dolly, Carl, and Dolly’s mother.
Carl Dean, on the other hand, never appears on the red carpet with his wife during award ceremonies or charity functions.
He once did it when his wife won her first songwriting award at the age of 20. But that was the end of it.
“I don’t even remember what we were driving at the time, but after dinner, we stepped back outside, and they handed us our car, so we got in it and drove home,” Parton said. “‘Dolly, I want you to have whatever you want, and I’m happy for you, but don’t ask me to go to another one of those stupid things again,’ Carl said, turning to face me. ”
Dolly has spent her entire life in show business, so having the support of her one true love has been beneficial.
Carl and Dolly, on the other hand, decided not to have children. Why? Simply put, it wasn’t a good fit.
Parton stated that she enjoys being “street ready” in an interview with RuPaul for Marie Claire in 2020. This means she should get her hair and makeup done ahead of time in case of an emergency.
“I have to always be ready – street-ready, I always say,” the country queen said. I have to keep my hair and makeup up.”
“If it’s going to earthquake, and if we have an earthquake, I’m not rushing out on the street looking like you do now,” Parton continued. If I become ill or injured, I must always be ready to call an ambulance.
Dolly Parton stated that, while she is always looking polished with her hair and makeup, she has no problem embracing her natural beauty and body.
“I’m totally comfortable in my own skin. I’m satisfied with my image, and I dress for me more than I dress for anyone else,” Parton stated. “I’m not trying to change who I am.”
Dolly Parton is a stunning woman, even when she isn’t covered in a heavy coat of makeup, and we like seeing photos of her in her natural look.
Watch her interview below, and please SHARE this post on Facebook.