Singer Dolly Parton might be worth $600 million, but this wasn’t always the case. The singer grew up “dirt poor” in rural Tennessee, where she shared a bed with three of her 11 brothers and sisters.
Parton’s family might not have had much money, but they did have plenty of love. And one year, Parton and her siblings saved up every penny to buy one incredible gift for their mother during those hard times.
Dolly Parton grew up in a one-room home
Parton’s current living situation is far from the way she was raised. The country singer grew up in rural Tennessee. She is one of 12 children, all of whom were raised in a one-room home. Parton’s clothes and toys were handmade, since her parents couldn’t afford to purchase the items for her.
Parton’s father was a sharecropper, and her mother stayed home to raise the couple’s large family. Parton once revealed that, when she was younger, her siblings would often wet the bed while they were all sleeping in it. Though most people would be disgusted, Parton once highlighted a silver lining to the bed wetters: The urine was warm on cold winter nights.
“That was almost a pleasure to get peed on because it was so cold,” Parton once revealed in an interview, according to Wide Open Country.
Dolly Parton and her siblings saved every penny to spend on their mother
Parton’s family didn’t have much. When her parents were married, her father couldn’t even afford wedding rings for him and his wife. However, the wedding band was something Parton’s mother had always wanted. And a heartwarming story about the kids coming together shows just how close Parton’s family was.
“My mom and dad got married when they were very young,” Parton once revealed to Fox 17 Nashville. “They didn’t have the money to buy a ring.” Parton said that her parents “had a house full of kids,” which prevented them from spending money on themselves. One Christmas, Parton’s father had the idea of everyone pooling their money to purchase her mother a wedding band rather than spending gifts on each other.
“We were all for it, so we got to make a game out of that. Daddy said well I’m going to hide the ring and whoever finds the ring on Christmas when we give it to Mom, then they’ll get the special prize.” Parton said the prize was a box of chocolates large enough for the whole family, so regardless of who found the ring, everyone was able to celebrate. “Mama loved her ring, so that will always be special.”
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Dolly Parton credits 1 person for all of her success
Parton has become a household name; her fame has stretched far beyond the Nashville city limits. But Parton has one important person to thank for bringing her career to new heights: Her uncle, Bill Owens.
Parton’s uncle is the one who helped her earn some of her first roles. He taught her to play the guitar, and the two often wrote music together. Owens even helped Parton secure a performance at the Grand Ole Opry.
When her uncle died in April 2021, Parton penned a loving eulogy to him on her website.
FAQs
What did Dolly buy her parents? ›
Although Parton describes her childhood financial situation as “dirt poor,” she often shares that her family had plenty of love for one another. When the artist finally started making money as a musician, she gifted her parents cars for Christmas — her father's car being especially sentimental.
What did Dolly Parton's mom tell her? ›When Dolly Parton was young, her mother gave her a piece of advice: “Always keep something back for you.” Those six words have helped the 76-year-old country music superstar maintain success through six decades of showbusiness, Parton told Apple Music Country's “The Kelleigh Bannen Show” on Tuesday.
What is a good quote from Dolly Parton? ›“If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one.” “You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try.” “I'm not going to limit myself just because people won't accept the fact that I can do something else.” “We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”
How did Dolly Parton make all her money? ›Parton made her fortune through an entertainment empire that she built with years of hard work. She has created more than 40 top-10 country albums and won nine Grammy awards — a testament to the popularity of her music. Her movies have also been popular at the box office.
Did Dolly ever have a child? ›Country legend Dolly Parton is beloved by listeners of all ages, but despite her large family and her strong bond with kids, she and husband Carl Dean have never had children of their own. And according to Parton, that's the way it was meant to be.
Why did Dolly Parton choose not to have children? ›“I didn't have children because I believed that God didn't mean for me to have kids so everybody's kids could be mine, so I could do things like Imagination Library because if I hadn't had the freedom to work, I wouldn't have done all the things I've done,” Parton said on Today.
Does Dolly Parton have tattoos? ›The 76-year-old revealed to PEOPLE, "I do have some tattoos, that's true. But they're tasteful. I'm not a tattoo girl." Dolly admitted she's gotten ink to help cover up her scars from procedures and previous surgeries.
What are Dolly Parton's beauty secrets? ›Dolly Parton shared the simple skincare practice that keeps her skin healthy and glowing. She doesn't believe expensive products or fancy serums are necessary to have good skin, but sun protection is. “I don't have a lot of the same problems that women my age do 'cause I never baked myself in the sun.”
Why does Dolly Parton always have her arms covered? ›Parton confessed to Vanity Fair: "Most of the tattoos, when I first started, I was covering up some scars that I had, 'cause I have a tendency to have keloid scar tissue. "I have a tendency where if I have any kind of scars anywhere, then they kind of have a purple tinge that I can never get rid of.
Did Dolly buy her mom a house? ›Dolly Parton ...~
Dolly's parent's house. Her mama always wanted a house with a red roof top. Dolly's siblings turned their share of this inheritance over to their sister Dolly.
Did Dolly Parton buy her family home? ›
Since 1999, Dolly has lived in the same home in Brentwood, Nashville, and she purchased it for $400,000 (£283,100). She shares it with her husband, Carl Dean, and according to the Kiwi Report, it features its own tennis court, swimming pool, chapel and a farm.
What did Dolly Parton do with the money? ›Over the years, Parton has donated money to a number of charitable causes, including education, Covid research and animal preservation.
Did Bezos give Dolly Parton money? ›Dolly Parton has famously used her success to help others, especially in areas of literacy and education. She just got a huge boost in those efforts: a $100 million gift from billionaire Jeff Bezos. "Did you say a hundred million?!" Parton said after Bezos announced the gift over the weekend.