Millions of People Know Her Name But Very Few Know What She Went Through

1. Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, into a family of 12 children. She grew up in a tiny one-room cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains, where money was scarce and life was a daily struggle. Her family had very little, but they had something Dolly would carry with her for the rest of her life: music, faith, family, and determination.See more…

2. Dolly discovered her love for music when she was still a little girl. She began singing in church and writing songs at a very young age. Her mother encouraged her musical talent, while her father worked hard to provide for the enormous family. Dolly would later say that growing up poor taught her lessons that money never could.

3. After graduating from high school in 1964, Dolly made one of the biggest decisions of her young life. She moved to Nashville with a dream of becoming a songwriter and recording artist. She had little money and no guarantee of success. What she did have was confidence in her talent and an extraordinary determination to make something of herself.

4. Her early years in Nashville were far from easy. The music industry was competitive, and Dolly was often judged by her appearance. Her big blonde hair, glamorous clothes, makeup, and distinctive personality caused some people to underestimate her. But Dolly refused to let other people’s opinions define her.

5. Her major breakthrough came when she joined Porter Wagoner’s television show in the 1960s. Their partnership became extremely successful, but eventually Dolly wanted to establish herself as a solo artist. Leaving the partnership was emotionally difficult and created tension between them. Instead of responding with anger, Dolly turned her feelings into music.

6. She wrote “I Will Always Love You” as she prepared to leave Porter Wagoner. The song became one of the most important compositions of her career. Years later, Whitney Houston recorded her own version for The Bodyguard, turning Dolly’s song into a worldwide phenomenon and introducing it to an entirely new generation.

7. During the 1970s, Dolly became one of country music’s biggest stars. Songs such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “Here You Come Again,” and many others established her as an exceptional songwriter and performer. Her songs often told stories about ordinary people, heartbreak, poverty, family, love, and hope.