A “Rich” Childhood

Dolly Parton’s childhood was a blend of love, music, and hard work, set against the rugged beauty of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains. Raised in a small, one-room cabin with 11 siblings, Dolly’s family had little money but rich traditions.

Her mother, Avie Lee, sang Appalachian ballads that inspired Dolly’s early musical dreams, while her father, Robert Lee, worked tirelessly to provide for his large family. Despite the poverty, Dolly’s imagination flourished, finding joy in the simplest things—like creating her first guitar from an old mandolin.