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Who doesn’t loveDolly Parton?
Parton fought her way out of poverty to become a truly iconic entertainer.
She’s got charm for days and a distinctive voice to boot, making her a sought-after interview subject.
Keep reading to find out more about this twangy legend.
Asone of 12 kids yes,Dolly Parton has 11 siblings!
who grew up in rural Tennessee in a one-room shack, the singer is no stranger to hard knocks.
Her family was what you might call “dirt poor,” but Parton didn’t mind.
“The kids peed on me every night.
We slept three and four in the bed.
I would wash every night.
That was almost a pleasure to get peed on because it was so cold.
It was as cold in the room as it was outside.
We’d bundle up to go to bed.”
Founded in 1995,the Imagination Libraryis a nonprofit organization created to foster children’s love of reading.
“He got to live long enough to see it doing well.
He got a kick out of people calling me the book lady.”
Fortunately, her dog Popeye had other plans.
As he ran up the stairs towards her, Parton had a revelation.
“I put the gun down.
I kinda believe Popeye was a spiritual messenger from God,” she said (viaPeople).
The course is no joke either.
It’s a thesis seminar designed for history students enrolled in the honors program.
And, in Dolly Parton’s case, one town’s tramp is another woman’s style icon.
It wasn’t until much later, Parton admits, that she learned the woman was a local prostitute.
A fan once left a (real!)
But, arguably, none have a tale quite as wild as Dolly Parton does.
When asked to share her most bizarre fan experience withAct Twomagazine, the country icon revealed a shocking truth.
I had just recorded the song ‘Jolene’ and the note said, ‘Her name is Jolene.
I named her after you, so hey keep her.'"
Yes, y’all, you read that right a real human baby!
So how did Parton respond?
“I called child services,” she toldAct Two, laughing.
“My husband and I have a camper,” she toldSouthern Living.
“We travel around all the time.
Usually a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.”
“Or are just exceptionally beautiful.”
Affectionatelydubbed the Gypsy Wagon, the bus is permanently parked at Parton’s Tennessee amusement park,Dollywood.
When asked about Cyrus’ wild ways over the last few years, Parton didn’t flinch.
“She knows what she’s doing.
And she was just smotherin' and chokin' in it.
So she felt she had to do something completely drastic.
And she did,” Parton toldTime.
Things have worked out well for Parton’s goddaughter here’s how much Miley Cyrus is worthtoday.
Enter Dolly Parton, who marriedhusband Carl Deanwhen she was just 20 and he was 23.
Today, they are still going strong.
“Not everyone is lucky enough to be with someone for 50 years, but I have been.
He has been theloveof my life and the life of my love,” she toldPeople.
According to Parton, the couple works largely because they are so different.
“They say that opposites attract, and it’s true,“she saidin another interview withPeople.
“We’re completely opposite, but that’s what makes it fun.
I never know what he’s gonna say or do.
He’s always surprising me.
“Parton and Dean, who’venever had children, wed in 1966.
When asked about her musical dexterity, Parton replied modestly, “Oh, I play some of everything.
I ain’t that good at none of it, but I have a go at sell it.
I really take a stab at lay into it.”
According to Parton, it would have been stranger in her household if shehadn’tpicked up so many instruments.
“Here’s what I remember,“he 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.
It was as if I were being mesmerized by a benevolent power.
I left the room in a cloud of good feeling.”
Talk about a glowing review!
It was during a 1977 interview thatRolling Stonewriter Chet Flippo learned this firsthand.
Incredulous, Flippo asked if Parton was serious.
“Yeah, I love cemeteries, they’re so quiet,” she told him.
“You know, people are dying to get into ‘em.
Really, I write in cemeteries a lot; nobody bothers you there.”
There’s an interesting morsel to mull over the next time you listen to one of Parton’s songs.
The answer, of course, was to do what she did best: write a song.
According to Parton, Wagoner was immediately taken with the ballad.
“When I finished [playing it for him], he said, ‘Well, hell!
Interestingly, though, Parton didn’t even realize the song made it into the movie.
What’s that?’
I thought my heart was going to just bust right out of my body.
Elaborating on her emulation, Parton toldBBC, “Everyone loves Adele.
With all my little nieces, it’s all ‘Adele this’ and ‘Adele that!’
Well, as it turns out, those fans weren’t exactly wrong.
In an interview withVanity Fair, Parton confirmed that she is indeed inked.
“I’m not trying to make some big, bold statement,” she explained.
Rather, she’s just trying to cover her scars.
We can only imagine.
She continued, “Oh, I used to write a lot of sad a** songs.”
Who knew bright and bubbly Dolly Parton could be so dark?
Thecountry musiclegend continued, explaining her complicated relationship with the word “feminist.”
She told Abumrad, “I do believe in making a point and making it well.
I don’t believe in crucifying a whole group just because a few people have made mistakes.”
For herfirst performanceonThe Porter Wagoner Show, Parton sang “Dumb Blonde.”
In fact, audiences even booed Parton following herPorter Wagoner Showdebut.
Fortunately, they eventually did.
According to Dollywood’s website, the theme park is home to “nine amazing roller coasters.”
“I don’t ride the rides.
I never have,” the songstress explained to the publication.
She continued, “I have a tendency to get motion sickness.
Also, I’m a little bit chicken.
With all my hair I got so much to lose, like mywigor my shoes.”
Joked Parton, “I don’t like to get messed up.
She continued, “So, I’d rather say it before they do.
And then we get that off our chest, so to speak, right up front.”
