Dolly Parton is easily one of the most well-known names in country music, or of any genre, for that matter. A member of the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame, Parton has spent almost six decades — an unfathomable amount of time for any artist, in any genre — as part of the country music landscape. And somewhere along the way, Parton became a global superstar, a fact that is entirely lost on Parton.
“I think I’m a star to everybody but me,” Parton tells Southern Living. “I always wanted to be famous, but nobody could have thought of the extent it became. I’ll see a whole wall of my pictures somewhere, and I’ll wonder ‘How did that happen?’ It’s more a joy than a surprise.”
Parton grew up as one of 12 children in the mountains of East Tennessee, a humble beginning for what would turn into an inspiring success story, which would also include her Dollywood theme park, success as an actress, creating her own business empire, writing books and so much more.
But the money, the wealth, the ability buy whatever she wants, means little if anything to Parton.
“I had to get rich, to live like I’m poor again,” she reflects.
Parton could have retired decades ago, living off of the fruits of her labor. But it’s music that still, even after all these years, compels Parton to keep working.
“I walk around with a song in my head and in my heart,” Parton says. “I’ll go into a closet and wonder, ‘Now, what in the hell did I come in here for?’ There’s nothing that makes me happier than writing a song.”
Through her entire career, Parton has been married to Carl Dean, who has been her advocate, supporter and cheerleader since before her debut Hello, I’m Dolly record was released in 1967.
“He’s quiet and I’m loud, and we’re funny,” Parton reveals on Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast (via People). “Oh, he’s hilarious. And I think one of the things that’s made it last so long through the years is that we love each other [and] we respect each other, but we have a lot of fun.”
Dean went to one industry event with Parton, very early in her career, and then decided he would stay home and let her have her moment, cheering her on behind the scenes. Their lengthy marriage works, perhaps in part because it’s all out of the spotlight.
“He has a good sense of humor, as do I, and I think that has been a big key to us,” Partont tells Closer. “Because we’ve had a lot of fun, and when things get really bad, we somehow manage to find the humor in it, and that kind of lifts the load. But I think we’re also good friends. We have a lot of respect for each other, and we just take each other as we are.
“We don’t try to change each other and make a big deal out of all the little things that some people do,” she continues. “We just have a great life, and we’re different enough so when we are together, we have things to talk about, because he’s interested in what I do, but that’s not his world, and I’m interested in what he does, but that’s not my world. But together, it’s our world. We make our world work with all the things we do, and we’re just very close.”
All of Parton’s music and numerous business ventures can be found at DollyParton.com.