Dolly Parton: Bio, Facts, Lessons 2024 [UPDATED]

But wait – let me tell you some facts you might find interesting… 

1. Parton and her family only had a sack of oatmeal to pay the doctor during her birth. Being the 4th of 12 children wasn’t easy, especially when you’re from a poor family. Clearly enough, being poor didn’t stop her desire to become the star her family is so proud of. And her love for country music made the way possible.
2. Parton was bullied in school. Her schoolmates were so  jealous of her fame that they locked her in a closet. Dolly has known her best friend since 3rd grade. Judy Ogle was her partner through the good days and the bad. They’ve been the closest of friends and Dolly loves her with all her being. 
3. Dolly and her first crush.  Parton told Nightline; “I was sitting in the audience and that’s when I first knew about sex appeal, he had this tick when he moved his shoulder… and it was still sexy. It still got to me.” It was Johnny Cash.
4. Parton wanted to look like the town tramp. Dolly got her look inspired from a very unlikely model. “I had never seen anybody, you know, with the yellow hair all piled up and the red lipstick and the rouge and the high heeled shoes, and I thought, ‘This is what I want to look like,'” Dolly said in a 2012 interview.
5. Singing ran in her blood. Dolly’s siblings and relatives were Musicians too. They’ve had singing careers and starred in Dollywoods’ “My People.” It is evident that country music influenced their lives completely. 
6. Singing ran in her blood. Dolly’s siblings and relatives were Musicians too. They’ve had singing careers and starred in Dollywoods’ “My People.” It is evident that country music influenced their lives completely. 
7. Dolly turned down an offer from Elvis Pressly. Part of the deal was for Parton to surrender half of the publishing rights of the song. It just didn’t sit well enough for her and so she declined. It may have been for the best I guess… 
8. Dolly Parton is Miley Cyrus’ Godmother.  Dolly and Miley are so close that they’ve done concerts together. Their love for music tied their bond. Fun Fact:  Parton also played Cyrus’ godmother in the hit TV show, Hannah Montana. With Dolly and her appearance, it boosted both their popularity and fan base.
9. Dolly describes her early works as “sad ass songs.” The songs she used to write were about the incredibly troubled life of a young teen. Parton mentioned in an interview, “That was really, really early on in those early, early days.” She continued, “Oh, I used to write a lot of sad a** songs.” I wonder if she’d look back and cringe at herself?
10. Dolly’s doggie friend stopped her from a suicide attempt. Parton struggled with depression. It was during these dark days that Parton actually contemplated suicide. She got so far as to pick up a handgun. But Popeye, her furry friend, had other plans. The dog ran up to Dolly and that was when she had a revelation. “I put the gun down. Then I prayed. I kinda believe Popeye was a spiritual messenger from God,” Dolly said.
11. She had a baby-in-a-box experience. “I have a farm in Nashville and one day in the ’60s we came home and there was a box near our gate with a baby in it. I had just recorded the song ‘Jolene’ and the note said, ‘Her name is Jolene. I named her after you, so please keep her.'” Yep, no mistake there— a real human baby! Parton responded “I called child services. “Immediately!” It’s crazy to what extent people would go! I would’ve named her Parton. Dolly. Or Rebecca!
12. Parton can play a lot of instruments. The list includes the dulcimer, banjo, guitar, piano, recorder, pipes, and saxophone. Dolly is proficient at all of them.
13. Roger Ebert once said Parton had “Healing Powers.” “Here’s what I remember,” Ebert wrote on his website. “I had a one-on-one interview with Parton in a hotel suite. As we spoke, I found myself enveloped by her presence. This had nothing to do with sex appeal. Far from it. It was as if I were being mesmerized by a benevolent power. I left the room in a cloud of good feeling.” Ebert then admitted he told his partner Siskel of Parton, “I almost felt like she had healing powers.” the following day. An impression only the famous Dolly Parton can pull off. 
14. Dolly Parton wears long sleeves to hide her tattoos. Most of them are all about her husband. Dolly mentioned in an interview that each one is an attempt to cover up her scars.
15. Dolly likes to spend time in cemeteries. “Yeah, I love cemeteries, they’re so quiet,” she told Flippo in an interview. “You know, people are dying to get into ’em. Really, I write in cemeteries a lot; nobody bothers you there.”