Ages ago I became aware of Dolly Parton when I read that she said, “Listen, it takes a lot of time and money to look this cheap!” I practically fell on the floor laughing and, of course, loved her at once for having the nerve to poke fun at her much-talked-about image.

Then recently I came upon an article in Elle magazine of November 2019 that sported a one-word headline, “Icon.” The writer, Veronique Hyland deftly explores Parton’s background and her career – right up to the present day. I’ve focused on the parts that really interest me.

AS OF JANUARY 19th she turned 74 and she’s still out there rockin’ – I think that’s great! I’ve read many times that Parton was born in the family home that’s situated on Tennessee’s Locust Ridge in the Great Smoky Mountains. By the way, Tennessee is bordered by eight states. She’s the fourth of 12 children who were raised in a two-room cabin with no running water or electricity.

BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP her. Parton began by appearing on TV at the age of 10. Then she married Carl Dean at 20. The two met in 1964 outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat on the very first day Parton moved to Nashville shortly after her high school graduation. A year later Porter Wagoner invited her to appear on his hit syndicated TV show. She was there until 1974 when she was 28 and itching to move on and make her dreams come true.

A BOMBSHELL EXTERIOR and a sharp businesswoman all rolled into one. That’s a good description of Parton. In the ‘70s she wrote “I Will Always Love You,” and Elvis wanted to record it. But his manager, Colonel Tom Parker wanted half the publishing rights and Parton said, “No.” Moving on, in 1980 she appeared in the movie 9 to 5 and nine years later she played the role of Truvy Jones in Steel Magnolias.

“I WRITE IT. I SING IT. I LIVE IT,” says Parton. “If I’m not a good example of a woman in power, I don’t know who is.” Beyond her more public Hollywood successes she also has a production company that’s responsible for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Father of the Bride movies.

LET’S NOT FORGET DOLLYWOOD the theme park jointly owned by Parton (since 1986) and Herschend Family Entertainment. It’s located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and has been described as a “very country” park that offers “something for everyone” e.g., thrilling rides, musical shows and the Dollywood Express, a steam train that goes up into the mountains.

And boy! Can you eat in Dollywood! You’ll love their country cooking. Be sure to try the cinnamon bread: they sell roughly 350 loaves of bread per hour! Or, stop at the Front Porch Café for meatloaf that a Food & Wine magazine reviewer described as “by far the best I’ve had in years.”

SO LOOK WHO’S LOVIN’ DOLLY NOW! At the 2019 Grammys, admirers including Musgraves, Katy Perry and Parton’s goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, performed with her. They’re just some of the young artists who are very much for their talented “Dolly.”

“It’s a very humbling, but warm and wonderful, experience for me to get up there and do a whole set with all those young, talented girls. I’m proud to be their Aunt Dolly or their mama. I’ll definitely be their Dolly Mama,” she says with a big laugh.

Like we said earlier: she’s still rockin’ and still fun. CLICK HERE to listen to Parton and her huge hit “Jolene” that was written in 1973 and is now popular with Generation Z music lovers. 

Shaun Nelson-Henrick