Born in 1946 in the Tennessee highlands, Dolly Parton grew up in poverty as one of twelve siblings. Despite her challenging beginnings, neighbors claimed their situation was not unique. Parton attributes her success to her parents’ traits: her father’s business skills and her mother’s creativity and spirituality.
Discovered in church as a child, Parton pursued music with determination, supported by her mother’s inventive outfits, though her father disapproved.
Parton rose to country music stardom, creating an amusement park, engaging in philanthropy, and amassing a vast musical catalog. At 77, she continues to write songs and enjoys a loving marriage with Carl Dean, whom she married in 1966.