Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on January 19, 1946, one of 12 children of Robert Lee Parton, a tobacco farmer, and Avie Lee Parton (née Owens). Dolly grew up on a run-down farm in Locust Ridge, TN. At 12, she was appearing on Knoxville TV and, at 13, she was already recording on a small label and appearing at the Grand Ole Opry. After graduating from high school in Sevier County, Tennessee, in 1964, she moved to Nashville to launch her career as a country singer. She fell in love with Carl Dean, who ran an asphalt-paving business; they got married on May 30, 1966 (and they are still together). The next year, Dolly's singing caught the attention of Porter Wagoner. He hired Dolly to appear on his program, The Porter Wagoner Show. Dolly stayed with the show for 7 years, their duets became famous, and she appeared with his group at the Grand Ole Opry; she also toured and sold records. By the time her hit "Joshua" reached #1 in 1970, her fame had overshadowed Porter's, and she struck out on her own, though still recording duets with him. She left him for good to become a solo artist in 1974. Dolly gained immense popularity as a singer/songwriter. Dolly won numerous Country Music Association awards (1968, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1976). This petite (5'0") beauty was a natural for television and, by the mid-1970s, Dolly was appearing frequently on TV specials and talk shows. Dolly then got her own show, aptly titled Dolly. In 1977, Dolly got her first Grammy award: Best Female Country Vocal Performance, for her song "Here You Come Again". Dolly's movie debut was in Nine to Five, where she got an Oscar nomination for writing the title tune, and also Grammy awards 2 and 3, Best Country Song, and Best Female Country Vocal Performance for _"Nine to Five". Dolly got more fame for appearing in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and in Rhinestone with the song "Tennessee Homesick Blues". She is the head of Dolly Parton Enterprises, a $100 million media empire, and, in 1986, she founded Dollywood, a theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, celebrating her Smokey Mountain upbringing. She appeared as herself in the Dolly TV series. In 1988, she won another Grammy award: Best Country Performance Duo or Group with Vocals, for "Trio". Dolly was in the acclaimed picture Steel Magnolias with Julia Roberts, and went on to appear in 15 movies and TV-movies for the 1990s, and of course garnered more Country Music Association awards. In 2000, Dolly received her 5th Grammy award: Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. She also released a Bluegrass Album. Dolly is known for beautiful songs such as "Coat of Many Colors" and "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You". Dolly said in an interview, "My music is what took me everywhere I've been and everywhere I will go. It's my greatest love. I can't abandon it. I'll always keep making records".
One of 12 children; grew up in a 1-room cabin in Tennessee. Owner/namesake of Smokey Mountain area theme park, "Dollywood", located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA. Since the early 90s, she has been trying to get CBS to run her sitcoms. Initially, in 1994, "Heavens To Betsy" was made, starring Dolly and Constance Shulman. That sitcom was scrapped, and the story was re-vamped for the Movie of the Week, Unlikely Angel. Last time she was in interview, she said her new sitcom had her cast as a "caterer to the stars." When Drew Barrymore spoke about her film, Home Fries, prior to its release, she revealed that her character was a huge fan of Dolly Parton. She said that several of Parton's songs would appear in the film, and that they spent a two-day shoot at Dollywood. When the film was finally released, the only reference to Dolly Parton was on the walls of Drew's bedroom, which are covered with posters and pictures of Dolly. Reportedly has her breasts insured for $600,000. Dolly's classic song "Jolene" was covered by Sherrie Krenn (aka Sherrie Austin) on her third album "Followin' A Feelin". [2001] Her late father Robert was one of 15 children, and her mother Avie (Owens) was one of 10 children. The world's first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep, was named after Parton. Was a candidate for the hosting duties on Family Feud before Louie Anderson was hired. Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. Sister-in-law of Richard Dennison. Various tabloids have reported that her breast implants - which she has never disputed having - have increased her measurements to anywhere from 38CC to a high mark of 48DD The children's television series Sesame Street introduced a character in homage to Dolly Parton. She had purple skin and blonde hair and went by the name of Polly Darton. She and her husband, Carl Dean, raised five of her younger brothers and sisters. Distant cousin of screenwriter Richard O'Sullivan. Wears size 5 1/2 shoes. Measurements: 40DD-20-36 (definitive self-described figure in 1994), 48DD-25-38 (self-described in March 1993),42-19-34 (by her designer in 1990), 44-26-38 (in Italy's "Novella 2000" in 1985), salesperson at Frederick's Of Hollywood in 1985 confided she purchases black push-up bras in size 36DD, 42-26- 39 (reported in "Parade" Feb. 8, 1981), "The Book Of People" in 1981 reported 39- 25-39, 44-28 1/2-38 1/2 (reported in 1980), 46E-27-39 (at her heaviest 150#+ in late 1970s), 38-26-36 (according to the "Nashville Banner" in 1972), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) Her song "Jolene" was also covered by Olivia Newton-John. Ms. Newton- John sang it at a taped concert in the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah. Ranked #34 on VH1's Greatest Women of Rock N Roll Her Oscar nominated song "9 To 5" from Nine to Five was ranked #78 while her song writing contribution, "I Will Always Love You", from The Bodyguard came in at #65 on The American Film Institute's list of AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs. Her iconic hit song, "I Will Always Love You", was voted the No. 1 song on Country Music Television's '100 Greatest Love Songs of Country Music (2004) (TV)_'. Covered Collective Soul's "Shine." In her version she turns it into a bluegrass song instead of an alternative rock ballard. Is partly of Irish decent. Created her song Nine to Five, whilst on set of the film of the same name by tapping her nails. She was unable to have children of her own because of an allergic reaction she experienced to birth control pills when she was younger. Ranked #4 on the 40 Greatest Women in Country Music, #3 Loretta Lynn, #2 Tammy Wynette, and #1 Patsy Cline. Her Duet Islands in the Stream with fellow country singer Kenny Rogers was ranked the #1 duet of all time on CMT 100 greatest country duets of all time. Was named 4th Sexiest Woman in CMT list of the 20 sexiest women in Country Music Dolly Parton was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2005. Purchased her hometown radio stations in Sevierville, Tennessee in 1991. She owned and operated WSEV 930 AM and WDLY 105.5 FM, the FM station billed as 'Dolly's Station', until 2000 when she sold both radio stations. Stating at that time that she and her business partners had built up the audiences for both stations and could not take the stations to "the next level". Dolly first appeared on WSEV-AM when she as 10 years old. While owning the radio stations, WDLY-FM was broadcast every operating day from Dolly's Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The small section of the park dedicated to the radio broadcast was known as 'Radio Square'. In 2006 she was awarded the Lindy Boggs Award from The Stennis Center for Public Service. She becomes the first nonpolitical recipient. In 1978 she became one of the few celebrities to have their own pinball machine. Manufactured by Bally Manufacturing Company. The "Dolly" pinball machine played Dolly's #1 single "Here You Come Again" while the pinball machine was active. This item is a highly sought after piece of Dolly Parton memorabilia. Recorded the song "My Tennessee Hills" with folk icon Janis Ian for Ian's 2004 album "Billie's Bones". In 1993 she was honored with the Country Music Association's very first "Country Music Honors" Award. As of 2006, she is still the sole recipient of this honor. She has earned 5 BMI Million-Air (or more) Performance Awards and numerous BMI Songwriter Citations of Achievement. Her classic hit song "I Will Always Love You" is currently certified with a Six Million-Air award, meaning it has been played on radio and television over six million times. She was also honored with the prestigious BMI Icon Award in 2003. In 1986 she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1987 she was among the women honored by Ms. Magazine as "Woman of the Year". A bronze sculpture of her sits on the courthouse lawn in Sevierville, Tennessee, USA. Sevierville is her hometown. She has a star on Nashville's Starwalk for Grammy Award Winners. She also has a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, which represents her accomplishments in the field of recording arts. Inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on February 4, 1969. Among 120 celebrities and movie industry executives to receive invitations for membership into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on July 5, 2006. The Academy only allows for 30 new members each year, but in 2006 invited more people for membership in order to replace previous members who passed away or were retiring. Other celebrities receiving invitations include Jake Gyllenhaal, Werner Herzog, Felicity Huffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Terrence Howard, Heath Ledger, and Dakota Fanning. Dolly, Steven Spielberg, Smokey Robinson, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and conductor Zubin Mehta were awarded Kennedy Center Honors in 2006. There's a Dolly Parton look-alike contest in Gilley's bar in Urban Cowboy. Co-wrote the song "I Didn't Hear The Thunder (But I Sure Did Feel The Rain)" with late country legend Tammy Wynette. Sang with Solomon Burke on his 2006 CD "Nashville". The two did a duet on the Dolly written track "Tomorrow is Forever". The song was originally recorded by Parton and Porter Wagoner in 1969 and reached #9 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart. Became WIVK Radio's 2006 Americana Highway HEMI Award Hall of Fame Inductee during the 1st Annual HEMI Awards. Winners in all categories were announced September 24, 2006. Sister of Willadeene Parton, Randy Parton and Stella Parton. Her theme park 'Dollywood' in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is the most popular tourist attraction in the state according to the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. In September 2002 she was named Tennessee's official ambassador for film and music by Gov. Don Sundquist. Her job is to promote the state to industry executives in Hollywood and raise awareness of Tennessee's capability to produce television, film, and recording projects (soundtracks) for Hollywood productions. Lost a Dolly Parton Look-Alike Contest. On December 31, 2006, Parton was named by the Tennessean newspaper as 2006 Tennessean of the Year for her work with children's literacy. The newspaper has been naming a Tennessean of the Year since 1994. Dolly's 2007 greatest hits compilation album "The Very Best of Dolly Parton", released in Europe as part of the promotional campaign for her 2007 European Tour, debut at #9 on the U.K. Pop Chart. This becomes the first album in Dolly's career to break the top 10 Pop Albums Chart in the U.K. The CD also debuted at #1 on the U.K. Country Albums Chart. Had such a miserable time during filming of Straight Talk, that she effectively retired from big screen acting. All her work since has been television work or appearances as herself. On March 25, 2007 she was entered into London's Wembley Square of Fame with the unveiling of a plaque of her handprints. The presentation was made before her sold-out concert that night at the Wembley Arena. Selected by the Songwriters Hall of Fame as the 2007 recipient of the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award. Awarded the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award from the Academy of Country Music in 2007. This lifetime achievement award is presented to the pioneers of country music who have made lasting contributions to the genre. Honored with a lifetime membership to Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council, a chapter of Girl Scouts of America, on June 15, 2007. Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001. (not to be confused with the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame). Godmother of Miley Ray Cyrus. On August 1, 2007 it was announced she would be starting her own record label, Dolly Records. She is the only artist signed to the label. This is Parton's second record label launch. In 1994 she and producer Steve Buckingham launched Blue Eye Records which Dolly was also the only artist on the roster. The Blue Eye Records imprint appeared on every Parton solo CD from 1994-2006. Dolly Records first release will be Parton's February 2008 CD, "Backwoods Barbie". Dolly personally finances her recordings and then leases the finished albums to other labels for distribution. For her Dolly Records label, she will also take on the responsibility of marketing her CD releases personally and major label partners will only handle distribution of the projects. In November 2007 the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution honored Dolly with the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service in recognition of her civic work in regard to children's literacy. Her cousin is adult actress and model Julia Parton, formally known as Nina Alexander. In 2006, she donated $500,000 to Fort Sanders Medical Center. Met her future husband, Carl Dean, at a laundromat.