From Humble Beginnings To The Queen Of Country
Not many celebrities come from roots as humble as Dolly Parton. Her family home had one bedroom, and she played music with a homemade guitar. As she rose to fame, Parton did everything she could to stand out from the others—including undergoing extensive plastic surgery. But she’s never made a secret of this.
What is in fact secret is the story behind her bizarre and furtive relationship with her husband.
1. She Grew Up Poor
On January 19, 1946, Dolly Rebecca Parton was born in a log cabin consisting of just two rooms. She was the fourth child of her parents, and there were seven more to come. The family was so poor that to pay for Dolly’s delivery, Dad offered the doctor a bag of cornmeal—it was all he had.
They may have had little money, but they did have one very important thing.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
2. She Started Early
Music was always prevalent in the Parton household, and Mom kept her brood of kids entertained with ballads and stories. They also regularly attended church, where music was a constant. Before long, Dolly Parton wanted to perform in front of the congregation. She made her debut at the age of six.
Now all she needed was an instrument.
3. She Had A Kind Uncle
Parton had no money to buy an instrument, so she used a homemade guitar, which she played until she was eight. A kind uncle then bought her a real one. Parton soon began performing on radio and television shows in and around East Tennessee. When she was 13, she made her first recording. The song was called “Puppy Love”. Her next stop was the prestigious Grand Ole Opry, where she would meet Johnny Cash. The Man in Black had unforgettable advice for her.
He told her she had to follow her own instincts when it came to music. She took his words to heart.
Heinrich Klaffs, Wikimedia Commons
4. She Met A Guy
The day after she graduated from Sevier County High School, Dolly Parton said goodbye to her family and moved to Nashville, Tennessee. While doing her laundry at a laundromat, she decided to sit in the sun. It was a small decision, but it would change her life. As she sat outside, a Nashville local named Carl Thomas Dean walked up and suggested she take better care to avoid a sunburn.
Little did Parton know, but this good-natured man would be in her life for a long, long time.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
5. She Wrote Hits
Parton and Dean started dating, but she still made time to get down to work. She picked up a job writing songs for Combine Publishing. She joined forces with her uncle, Bill Owens, a country songwriter, and the two got down to writing. But Parton wasn’t content with just writing songs for other people; she wanted to sing.
This did not start well.
RCA Records, Wikimedia Commons
6. She Started In Pop
Eventually, Dolly Parton signed on with Monumental Records, but they didn't think her soprano voice was right for singing country music. They convinced Parton to sing as a bubblegum pop singer. Parton obliged, but none of her singles were hits, except for one: “Happy, Happy Birthday Baby”.
Parton wasn’t happy, and then the label did something that made her angry.
Dolly Parton & Willie Nelson - Happy, Happy Birthday Baby - Bg Prevod, Rosica Georgieva
7. She Defied An Order
At this time, Parton was still dating Dean, and it was time for them to take a walk down the wedding aisle. The record company had a surprising reaction. They thought this was a bad idea. They didn’t want to risk losing this huge talent to a marriage. But Parton wasn’t one to back down so easily, and they tied the knot in a tiny church.
She’s stood up to the record label. Now she had to convince them of one more thing.
Richard E. Aaron, Getty Images
8. She Proved Them Wrong
It was time for Dolly Parton to prove herself—and that’s exactly what she did. When one of her compositions made it to the number six spot on the 1966 country chart, Monumental Records finally felt like they owed something to Parton. And so, they let her sing country music. She recorded “Dumb Blonde”, which went to the number 24 spot on 1967’s country chart, and “Something Fishy”, which hit the number 17 spot.
Clearly, the record company had been wrong, and it was time to record an album.
Dolly Parton - Dumb Blonde (1967), manbehindthescreen
9. She Introduced Herself
In 1967, Dolly Parton introduced herself to the music world with her album Hello, I’m Dolly. Critical reception was strong, and most believed they would be hearing more from Parton. Hello, I’m Dolly was on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for 14 weeks and hit its height at the 11th spot. Clearly, she had a voice people wanted to hear.
But she was about to face a formidable opponent.
10. She Was The Replacement
In 1967, Dolly Parton was invited to join the Porter Wagoner Show by none other than Wagoner himself. It was a gateway to a much larger audience—but when Parton stepped out on stage, it all went horribly wrong.
Moeller Talent, Inc. Nashville (management), Wikimedia Commons
11. They Didn’t Want Her
Dolly Parton was there to be the replacement for beloved country singer Norma Jean, and whenever Parton would perform, the audience would chant “Norma Jean”. Despite their reaction, both Parton and Wagoner refused to give up, and Parton eventually won over the audience with her one-of-a-kind voice and charm.
On top of that, Wagoner would go even further to help Parton.
12. They Paired Her Up
Wagoner was recording with RCA, and he thought they should sign up Parton as well. RCA was hesitant but agreed to sign her—but they eventually acquiesced, agreeing they’d take her on as long as she did a duet with Wagoner. They released “The Last Thing on My Mind” in 1967, and it made its way into the Top 10 by 1968.
RCA realized it had a success on its hands and was ready to reap the rewards of a Parton and Wagoner pairing—but Parton was stubborn and convinced she could solo.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
13. She Failed On Her Own
Parton and Wagoner continued to pump out the hits, but Parton wanted to do some songs without him. For some reason, her solo efforts failed to soar as high as her songs with Wagoner. In 1968, the Country Music Association named them the Vocal Group of the Year. While Parton must have been happy about this, it likely hurt that all her solo efforts got little attention.
Parton had to make a change.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
14. She Tried Something Unusual
At this point, Wagoner was also a co-producer for Parton, and they both were feeling the frustration of Parton not hitting the heights she wanted in her solo career. So, they decided to do something very different. Parton recorded Jimmie Rodgers’ “Mule Skinner Blues”, which is traditionally a song for a man.
They had no idea how the country music world would respond.
Dolly Parton - Mule Skinner Blues HQ, CharmedHourHauntedSong25
15. She Soared
Parton’s version of “Mule Skinner Blues” soared to number three on the charts. She quickly followed that up with her own song. “Joshua” went even further than “Mule Skinner Blues”. It became a number one single—the first for Parton. It was clear. Parton had hit the big time.
Now, she had to deal with her husband’s response to being the spouse of a star.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
16. She Hit the Town
Dolly Parton was getting popular, and with this fame came public events. When she got an invitation to an awards ceremony in Nashville, it made perfect sense to bring along her husband. Carl Dean was not so into fancy events, but reluctantly rented a tuxedo for the occasion. This would be one of the few public appearances for the couple. Why?
It did not go well.
17. He Left In A Hurry
Once they’d left the event, Parton and Dean headed back to their car. Parton couldn't help but notice that her husband was quickly removing parts of his tuxedo. No, Dean wasn’t getting romantic. He just couldn’t wait to get out of his fancy dress that made him feel so uncomfortable.
When they got in the car, Dean had some explaining to do.
Dennis Carney, Wikimedia Commons
18. He Refused To Go
Dean carefully explained to Parton that he supported her in her career. But he also said that she should not bother to invite him to any more stuffy events, because he had no intention of ever going to one again. It just wasn’t his thing. Parton took him at his word and never asked him again.
This didn’t stand in Parton’s way of going for fame.
Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, Wikimedia Commons
19. She Hung On To Her Man
In 1974, Dolly Parton released the song “Jolene” on her album with the same name. The song is about a woman named Jolene, who threatens to take the singer’s husband away. Parton said that she based the woman on a bank teller who had flirted with her husband.
However, she may have made a big mistake in the situation.
Dolly Parton - Jolene 19880110, SidsCardShop
20. She Got The Name Wrong
The story goes that Parton borrowed the name “Jolene” from a fan she met backstage at one of her concerts. The strange thing is that the fan she met that night was actually named Juline. Juline Whelan said that people often confused her name with the more common Jolene.
This name confusion did nothing to stop the soaring hit that “Jolene” was becoming.
Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, Wikimedia Commons
21. She Crossed The Pond
“Jolene” was an incredibly popular song. It reached the top spot on the charts in February 1974. Even more amazing was that it crossed the pond and hit number seven in the UK. Parton was now an international star. Parton had never been more sure that her future lay in being a solo artist.
But she still had Wagoner to deal with.
DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby, U.S. Air Force. (Released), Wikimedia Commons
22. She Said Goodbye
With the massive success of “Jolene,” the writing was on the wall. It was time for Dolly Parton to stop working with Wagoner and focus on her solo career. It was a tough decision, as Wagoner had taken her to heights of fame that she may not have reached on her own. To make the split, Parton had a song ready. It was called “I Will Always Love You”.
This song also went to number one—a clear sign to Parton that she’d made the right decision. And this song would quickly become more than a simple goodbye tune.
Dolly Parton - I Will Always Love You (Live), ShoutFactoryVEVO
23. She Got An Incredible Offer
Dolly Parton must have been over the moon to learn that Elvis Presley wanted to record a version of “I Will Always Love You”. But there was a brutal catch. She found out that Presley’s manager expected her to hand over 50% of the publishing rights. Parton had a devastating decision to make. She could say no to the King or, as Johnny Cash had told her, follow her instincts.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
24. She Made The Right Decision
Dolly Parton stuck to her instincts and said no to Elvis—but that didn’t mean the song wouldn’t eventually find its way into the pop sphere. In 1992, Whitney Houston would take the song and make it into a massive number one hit. It also became the best-selling single of all time for a female solo artist. BMI recognized “I Will Always Love You” for having more than ten million broadcast performances. The song made Parton millions of dollars.
But the untold origin of this song is a shocker.
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You (Official 4K Video), Whitney Houston
25. She Did Both In One Night
“Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” solidified Parton as an international star. Many years later, Parton remembered something amazing that came as a shock to fans. She’d written both songs during the same session of songwriting. Her reply was simply, "Buddy, that was a good night!"
With a string of hits, Parton had conquered the country music world. Now she was ready to take a new and exciting step.
Kristopher Harris, Wikimedia Commons
26. She Needed Help
Pop stars like Olivia Newton-John and Linda Ronstadt were climbing the charts covering Parton’s songs, so she decided to give pop music a try as well. Her first attempt—New Harvest…First Gathering—met with tepid reviews. To make her second try a sure thing, she turned to pop producer Gary Klein for help.
She couldn’t afford another failure.
27. She Crossed Over
Parton’s collaboration with Klein resulted in 1977’s Here You Come Again. This album thrilled both country and pop music lovers. The Recording Industry Association of America certified it as platinum. The truth was out. Parton was now a star both inside and outside country music circles.
It was time to take her fame in a different direction.
Dolly Parton - Here You Come Again (Official Video), Dolly Parton
28. She Could No Longer Say No
Because of Parton’s beauty—and her rather significant measurements—Playboy magazine had been breaking down her door trying to get her between its covers. Parton said no to appearing in the magazine…until 1978. She finally broke down, but she wanted to do things a little differently. She appeared fully clothed on the cover, wearing a bunny outfit.
It seemed that everyone wanted a piece of Parton. Even Cher.
29. She Teamed Up With An Icon
Now that Dolly Parton was a certified pop star, superstar diva Cher wanted her to work with her. Her cheekily-titled special, Cher…Special, aired in 1978 and featured Parton, Rod Stewart and the Tubes. Parton got to try out her comedic side in skits with Cher. She’d obviously done something right, as she received an Emmy nomination for "Best Supporting Actress in a Variety or Musical Special".
These comedic talents were about to be put to the ultimate test.
30. They Needed A Third
At the turn of the decade, celebrated actor Jane Fonda was putting together a feminist comedy that needed three strong women at the front and center. Of course, Fonda was one, and she brought on comedic heavy-hitter Lily Tomlin as the other. For the third part, Fonda took a chance on Parton, who had never been in a movie in her life.
But before Parton would sign on, she had a demand.
Mieremet, Rob / Anefo, Wikimedia Commons
31. She Wanted To Sing
Fonda’s film was the office comedy 9 to 5, and Parton’s demand was simple. She wanted to write and sing the theme song. Fonda would have been a fool to say no to this multi-award-winning music powerhouse. Parton’s ask paid off, and the song “9 to 5” received an Academy Award nomination and took home two Grammys.
Writing and recording songs was easy for Parton. But now she had to act.
20th Century Fox, 9 to 5 (1980)
32. She Was Naive
Dolly Parton turned up on set for 9 to 5 with little clue about how they made films. Her first shock came when she found out that they didn’t film the story in chronological order. This made her co-stars break out in laughter at her expense. Parton also thought she had to memorize not just her lines, but all the lines in the script…which she did.
But the next joke would be on Fonda.
33. She Had A Real Life Jolene Moment
One on-set story has Fonda making eyes at a mystery man who had wandered onto the set. When Fonda called dibs on him, Parton had to admit that the man was actually her husband. This misunderstanding mortified Fonda, who’d almost made herself a real-life “Jolene”. It was one of the few times Parton’s media-shy husband actually came to see his wife at work.
Once 9 to 5 was in the can, all Parton could do was wait to see the response.
34. She Stood Out
9 to 5 received only fair to middling reviews (at first—it later became a classic), but the big surprise was how well received Dolly Parton was as an actor. Roger Ebert called Parton “a natural-born movie star”, and Gene Siskel said she was “thoroughly engaging”. Parton had done the impossible. She’d worked alongside veteran actors and stood out.
Making 9 to 5 was a cast and crew lovefest. Sadly, Parton’s next film would be its polar opposite.
20th Century Fox, 9 to 5 (1980)
35. It Was A Nightmare
Up next was a musical where Parton co-starred with Burt Reynolds. This film was fraught with problems. So many people got the axe that someone created a bumper sticker that read, “Honk if you’ve been fired". According to Reynolds, it was Parton herself who was responsible for firing two directors.
Parton could only hope the finished product would be worth the pain.
36. She Got Nominated
Despite the difficulties on set, the film was actually a big hit at the box office. It even kicked ET the Extra-Terrestrial out of the top spot. But critics were not as kind as audiences. It did give Parton a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy, which she did not win.
In her next film, she wouldn’t be as lucky.
DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby, U.S. Air Force. (Released), Wikimedia Commons
37. She Hit The Bottom
Parton’s next role would be opposite Sylvester Stallone in Rhinestone. Sadly, it was another failed film for Parton. Stallone called it one of the films he wished he’d never made. Optimistic Parton said that her work on the soundtrack was some of her best. The Golden Raspberry Awards dishonored the film with nine humiliating nominations, including one for worst musical score.
Clearly, if she wanted to continue her film career, Parton was going to have to do something different.
Mel Melcon, Los Angeles Times, Wikimedia Commons
38. She Rubbed Shoulders With Greatness
For her next film, Parton would surround herself with big talent to make sure she had a hit. Steel Magnolias had Parton rubbing shoulders with great actors like Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, and Olympia Dukakis. Parton would have to bring her A-game to compete with these legends of the silver screen.
But who she really had to worry about was the director.
Tri-Star Pictures, Steel Magnolias (1989)
39. She Wouldn’t Take His Insults
The director of Steel Magnolias, Herbert Ross, was not one to mince words. After Dolly Parton had a particularly bad scene, he rudely asked her if she could act. Parton, likely horrified, still had time for a comeback. She replied, "No, but it's your job to make me look like I can"! Ross later made Julia Roberts cry, but the kind-hearted Parton stood up for her.
Hopefully, this cruel director could actually make a decent film. Parton’s career depended on it.
Tri-Star Pictures, Steel Magnolias (1989)
40. She Broke The Trend
Steel Magnolias was not a critical darling, but it did well at the box office. It was a respectable fourth slot on its opening weekend. It seemed that Parton had broken her streak of movie failures. Sadly, her next film—Straight Talk, with James Woods—did nothing to further Parton’s career.
After so many ups and downs, Parton was growing tired of the movie industry.
41. She Did TV
It seemed that Dolly Parton was becoming disillusioned with making movies, but she still wanted to act. To fix this, she turned to projects where the stakes were maybe a little lower. She turned to TV and made four made-for-television movies. Sadly, these were all rather forgettable.
Luckily, she still had her singing career.
Foto de Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby, USAF, Wikimedia Commons
42. She Missed Out
In 1986, Peter Gabriel was looking for a female voice to accompany him on his song “Don’t Give Up”. His first choice was Parton, but her reply was likely, “Peter who”? Unfortunately, it was a big mistake on her part. Gabriel went on to settle for his second choice, Kate Bush. But with Bush, the song became a top ten UK hit.
But music wasn't everything to Parton. She had her family to worry about.
43. She Raised Them Herself
While Parton and Dean have never had their children, they certainly have done their fair share of parenting. The couple raised five of Parton’s younger siblings. Parton says she never had children, because of a reaction she had to birth control pills. Parton’s nurturing spirit was big enough to save a community.
44. She Gave Back To Her Hometown
When Dolly Parton was at the height of her popularity, she bought a theme park close to where she grew up. Her plan was to make it big and successful, but also to give jobs to the people in the area. Dollywood opened in 1986, and currently has 4,000 employees, 50 rides and attractions, and hosts almost 4 million guests every year.
As if Parton wasn’t famous enough—the world of science also wanted to use her name.
Brian Stansberry (photographer), Wikimedia Commons
45. They Named A Sheep After Her
In 1996, scientists were researching cloning, and as an experiment, they cloned a sheep. As it turned out, they’d taken the cell from a sheep's mammary gland. When it came time to name the cloned baby sheep, the scientists naturally thought of two of the most famous mammary glands in America. That’s why the cloned sheep got the name “Dolly”.
But this wasn’t the only inspiration that came from Parton’s chest.
Toni Barros from Sao Paulo, Brasil, Wikimedia Commons
46. Her Name Gets Tossed Around
There’s a bridge in Mobile, Alabama, whose rounded arches some think resemble Parton's exaggerated physique. While the bridge’s official name is the General WK Wilson Jr Bridge, most just call it “the Dolly Parton Bridge”. There’s also a US tank that also uses her name. It’s called the “Super Dolly Parton” because of its thick frontal armor.
Obviously, Parton has a big chest. Many people want to know if they are real or fake.
formulanone from Huntsville, United States, Wikimedia Commons
47. She’s Real Where It Counts
Early in her career, Dolly Parton decided to get implants. This is not something she hides. In addition to this, she has also proudly shared that she’d had other procedures, like facelifts and eyelid surgery. The one thing she does insist is real? Her heart.
Something else that she’s claimed is real was her elusive husband. But where’s the proof?
Curtis Hilbun, Wikimedia Commons
48. He’s A Mystery
Dolly Parton has been friends with singer/actor Reba McEntire for a long time. As a result, interviewers though that they could use McEntire as a clever “in” to get information about Parton’s reclusive husband Carl Dean. However, when asked about Dean, McEntire simply stated that in all the decades that the two women had been friends, she’d never met him.
As it turns out, Parton’s relationship with her husband is a little unusual.
Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
49. She’s A Flirt
Dolly Parton had at times called her relationship with her husband “open”. But her meaning of the term is a little more innocent than other people’s. She said that while she was still married, she flirted with men, and her husband flirted with women. But it never went further than that. In fact, she said that she would have killed him if it did.
Sadly, Parton’s decades-old marriage to Dean eventually came to an end.
Movieguide®, Wikimedia Commons
50. She Lost Her Love
On March 3, 2025, Dolly Parton made a heartbreaking announcement. She said that her husband Dean, had passed on at the age of 82. The two had just missed their 60th anniversary by two months. And then, while mourning her husband’s passing, Parton was the victim of a bizarre betrayal.
Kris Harris King, Wikimedia Commons
51. She’s Feeling Fine
Her sister Frieda took to social media asking for “prayers” for Dolly and her so-called “failing health”. On top of things, an altered photo showing Reba at Parton’s hospital bedside circulated. Fans were shocked—until Parton made a video clearing things up.
She told her fans that she’d let her health slip while mourning the loss of her husband, but that she was once again fit as a fiddle. Parton said: “I'm not ready to die yet”! Long live the Queen of Country!
Rui Vieira - PA Images, Getty Images
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Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
