From rags to riches, country music legend Dolly Parton has had a colorful life. Her many talents as a singer, songwriter, wife, and businesswoman are just some reasons she has always been a force to be reckoned with. From her humble beginnings in rural Tennessee to her many accolades in music, film, and other industries, Dolly Parton has proved time and time again that she is more than just a pretty face.

Let’s Start at the Beginning

Born on January 19, 1946, in Sevier County, Tennessee, Dolly Parton came into the world ready and eager to make a difference. The fourth of twelve children, she was a shining new light in Avie Lee Caroline and Robert Lee Parton Sr’s world.

The Parton family’s humble home in Locust Ridge, among the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, was a stronghold. Small in structure, this one-bedroom cabin might not have been much, but it was all the Parton family needed. A replica of the second family home, a small two-bedroom house, is on display at Dollywood for visitors to immerse themselves in the Dolly experience.