Dolly Parton, the legendary country music icon, shared a fascinating tale from her childhood in Tennessee. You probably haven’t heard this before.
Dolly Parton’s reputation as a positive, talented, and charitable individual has spanned decades. It’s remarkable that this 77-year-old superstar emerged from one of the humblest beginnings we have ever heard before
Despite her fame, Dolly Parton has always remained down-to-earth. The singer-songwriter is renowned for her business savvy, electrifying vocals, and philanthropic endeavors. Her dedication and kindness have propelled her to immense success in the music, film, and television industries.
However, it was Dolly’s humble upbringing in a large family that inspired her to achieve greatness. Born as Dolly Rebecca Parton on January 19, 1946, she spent her early years in a one-bedroom cabin on Locust Ridge near the Great Smoky Mountains in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Dolly’s father, Robert Lee Parton, was a sharecropper who worked in construction to support his family. Lacking education, he never learned to read or write.Growing up as one of 11 siblings, Dolly faced numerous obstacles. However, music was a constant presence in her life from an early age.
Dolly Parton’s mother, Avie Lee Owens, was a performer who passed down her singing talents to her daughter. The Owens family often sang together, and Avie Lee taught Dolly and her siblings a diverse range of music, from church hymns to old Elizabethan ballads that had been passed down for generations.
Parton’s grandfather, Jake Robert Owens, was not only a minister but also the composer of the hymn “Singing His Praise.” In addition, her uncle, Sam Owens, who was a musician and songwriter, recognized Dolly’s potential and future career path from a young age.
As a result, Dolly eventually received a guitar from her uncle, and it wasn’t long before she began to write her own songs.
Parton reminisced about how music permeated her entire family, saying, “Music played a significant role in our family. Everyone on my mother’s side was musically inclined and played an instrument. As for me, I took music seriously and frequently strummed away on any available instrument, be it left lying around or brought by my family. However, the guitar always held a special place in my heart.”
Dolly Parton had eleven siblings, including Stella Mae, Cassie Nan, twins Freida Estelle and Rachel Ann, Willadeene, David Wilburn, Coy Denver, Bobby Lee, Robert, and Larry, who tragically passed away as a newborn. Robert passed away in 2021 after battling cancer.
Growing up, as the fourth oldest of twelve siblings, Parton frequently assisted her parents in caring for her younger brothers and sisters in their modest abode. The family shared a single bedroom and living room, and they lacked both electricity and running water.
Today, the family’s log cabin still stands, and Parton remains vocal about her modest upbringing there. Her childhood experiences have instilled in her a deep sense of empathy for the less fortunate and have greatly influenced her philanthropic endeavors
During a 2016 interview with The Guardian, Parton spoke about her rural upbringing and shared her reflections on what it was like to grow up in such an environment. Despite acknowledging that everything was not always perfect, she chose to focus on the positive aspects of her childhood, saying, “I prefer to remember the best of times.”
Parton fondly reminisced about singing at church, playing games with her siblings, and even doing household chores that she disliked just to be helpful. She also spoke of the endless laughter that filled their home. Although her siblings were musically inclined and often sang together, Parton revealed that they refused to be her “backup” singers when she wanted to take center stage.
Overall, Parton’s childhood memories are filled with warmth, love, and a strong sense of family, which have undoubtedly influenced her successful career and her philanthropic efforts to give back to her community
Although their home was often chaotic, the love and closeness that the family shared made it all worthwhile for the country music icon.
Given the small size of their cabin, the family frequently took advantage of the outdoors, using it as a place to play games and cook. Despite their challenging living conditions, Parton noted that her parents would always remind their children how fortunate they were to have a roof over their heads and food to eat. She fondly remembers saying, “We were poor but I never felt poor.”
Parton disclosed to journalist Lawrence Grobel that it was not until she turned eight years old that she saw a toilet and other basic bathroom amenities at her aunt’s house, which fascinated her. Despite their humble beginnings, Parton’s upbringing instilled in her a strong sense of gratitude and appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.
The family lacked running water and proper sanitation facilities, which made it difficult for them to bathe regularly. In order to wash themselves, they had to resort to using homemade soap and going to the nearby river. However, this posed its own set of challenges as the homemade soap would often wash away, and the river water was often dirty. Dolly Parton described their river baths as being similar to using a bathtub, as they would leave a ring around the Little Pigeon River.
During the winter months, it was too cold to use the river, so the family would conserve a small amount of water to use sparingly. Parton mentioned that they would bathe once a week, regardless of whether they felt the need to or not. However, as she grew older, bathing became increasingly important to her. As a high school student, she would try to wash up almost every night, observing how the younger children behaved.
Parton also shared an anecdote about how she and her siblings slept together, and the younger children would often wet the bed, which would result in her getting wet too. Despite this, she did not express disgust, and instead saw it as a source of warmth during the winter months.
Dolly Parton is committed to helping those who are less fortunate than herself, drawing inspiration from her own upbringing. Her philanthropic efforts are centered around her family, and she gives away millions of dollars every year to support causes that are important to her.
Parton’s love for her family is a driving force behind her charitable endeavors. She stated that family is the most important thing in her life and that it plays a crucial role in everything she does. Despite her immense wealth, she never forgets where she came from and remains grounded in her roots.
Parton’s net worth was estimated at $375 million in 2022, and much of her fortune comes from her ownership of Dollywood, a popular theme park, and her song rights. However, she does not hoard her wealth and instead uses it to support a variety of causes, including animal welfare and childhood literacy.
Parton also performs at charity events and uses her platform to raise awareness about important issues. She believes that everyone has the power to make a difference, no matter how big or small, and she is a shining example of this philosophy in action.
Dolly Parton’s ability to maintain her faith and stay grounded in her humble beginnings as she achieved fame is truly impressive. Her understanding of poverty from a young age has enabled her to make a significant impact on the world through her philanthropic efforts.
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