Dolly Parton is one of the few artists who has become a modern classic. The Tennessee native has become a legend, and even though she has been singing and performing for most of her life, she still loves putting on shows for her countless fans.

Dolly Parton has always been recognized for the stunning theatrical costumes and extravagant makeup that she wears when she performs. She has also explained, in the past, why she is never seen in public without her “public look” before.

We are fortunate to have done some research and come across some photographs of her without as much makeup on as usual. And wow, do they demonstrate what a genuine and natural beauty she is…

Dolly Parton is a fantastic country music performer, and here is all you need to know about her!

She was born on January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. She was one of 12 children and grew up in Locust Ridge, which is near the Great Smoky Mountains. They were not very wealthy. As you might guess, money was a problem.

Early years of Dolly Parton
But music started to strengthen her family’s bond. Parton gained more musical knowledge through performing in church as a young child. Her mother sang and played the guitar.

Parton recalled, “Music was such a big part of our entire family.  Everyone in my mother’s family was musical. They were all musicians of some kind. Naturally, I took music very seriously and was always playing along on whoever’s instrument was lying about or whenever my relatives would visit. But I’ve always been a guitar fan.

In the end, Dolly’s uncle gave her a guitar. Soon after, she began to write her own music.

She began performing at the age of 10 on local Knoxville, Tennessee television and radio stations. Then, at the age of 13, she made her radio debut on Grand Ole Opry, a major country radio station, earning around $20 a week.

For the Partons, music and family go hand in hand. In reality, her relatives were the ones that encouraged her to advance in her musical career.

Moved to Nashville
Parton was the first person in her family to graduate from high school and get a diploma. But in 1964, when she was 18 years old, she made the decision to devote herself totally to her singing career. Dolly then headed to Nashville, the center of the country music industry.

She said, “I had a dream. And I believed I had a talent. Moreover, I had a strong sense that it will happen.”

Dolly rose to fame in Nashville quite fast. On The Porter Wagoner Show, she collaborated with Porter Wagoner, and the duo quickly became well-known. Parton and Wagoner collaborated on a number of country hits, and she soon signed a deal with RCA Records. Joshua, Parton’s first No. 1 country single from 1971, was followed by a series of other hits. ” Jolene” was, of course, one of them.

Parton came up with the idea in the late 1960s, when she would often sign autographs for fans after her TV shows. Parton said, “One night, I was on stage, and there was this gorgeous young girl; she was about 8 at the time.

“And she had this gorgeous red hair, this wonderful skin, and these lovely green eyes, and she was looking up at me, holding, you know, for an autograph.  I said to her, ‘Well, you have to be the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen.  So, may I ask you your name?’  And she said the name Jolene. And I repeated, ‘Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. ‘ I like how it turned out. That could easily be turned into a song. I have an idea for a song, and I’m going to write it.”

Meanwhile, the lyrics were inspired by a bank teller who expressed interest in Parton’s husband.

Parton said. “The woman had a serious crush on my husband. And since she gave him so much attention, he just enjoyed going to the bank. I used to say, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank,’ as a inside joke between us. ‘I don’t think we have that much money.’  In other words, it’s an innocent song in every way, despite the fact that it sounds terrible.

There are just 200 words in the song Jolene. But it ended up becoming one of the 20th century’s greatest hits. The song by Dolly Parton reached at No. 1 on the charts and received two Grammy Award nominations for Best Female Country Vocal Performance (both studio and live versions).

In addition, Jolene was given the position of No. 217 on the list of “the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” that was published in 2004 by Rolling Stone magazine.

Here You Come Again helped her win her first Grammy in 1977, and more hits soon followed.

Dolly expanded her audience in the 1980s by entering the film industry.

She co-starred with Jane Fonda in the 1980 comedy hit 9 to 5 and provided music for the film’s soundtrack. She continued to make appearances in movies after that, and in 1986 she even launched Dollywood, an entertainment park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Dolly claims to have produced over 3,000 songs over her lifetime. She also won an astounding eight Grammy Awards, 25 times at the top of the country chart, and sold over 100 million albums. And she doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

Parton told BBC in 2016: “Almost every day I come up with a couple song titles or a nice melody.”

“In some ways, I’m 16. I’m still a romantic at heart. In contrast, my soul and mind are both 35. When I was 35, my life was at its best; I was successful, happy, and everything in between. So, I made the decision that I’m going to claim that number and always be that in my state of mind.”

Dolly and Carl Dean first crossed paths in Nashville, Tennessee in 1964 outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat. Dolly was 18 years old at the time, and Carl was 21. Right instantly, Carl was able to see that there was something special about the young woman.

Dolly and Carl exchanged vows in a secret ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia, in May 1966. Her record label advised them to put off getting married so she could focus on her career instead. But Dean and Dolly did not want to wait, so they made the executive decision to be married in Georgia rather than in Tennessee so that the local press in Tennessee would not write about it. Dolly, Carl, and Dolly’s mother were the only people that showed up to the event.

But during award presentations or charity functions, Carl Dean never makes an appearance with his wife on the red carpet.

When his wife won her first songwriting award at age 20, he once did it. However, that was it.

“I don’t even remember what we were driving at the time, but after dinner, we stepped back outside, and they handed us our car, so we got in it and drove home,” Parton recalled once. “‘ Dolly, I want you to have whatever you want, and I’m happy for you, but don’t you ever ask me to go to another one of those stupid things again’, Carl said as he turned to face me.”

Dolly has spent her whole life in show business, so having her one true love’s support has been helpful. 

However, Carl and Dolly made the decision not to have children. Why? To put it simply, it wasn’t a good fit.

Parton said she loves to be “street ready” in an interview with RuPaul for Marie Claire in 2020. This means for her to get her hair and makeup done in advance in case of an emergency.

The country queen said, “I have to always be ready – street-ready, I always say.  I have to keep my hair done and my makeup on.”

Parton continued by saying, “If it’s going to earthquake, and if we have an earthquake, I’m not rushing out on the street looking like you look now.  If I become ill or whatever, I have to always be prepared to call an ambulance.

Dolly Parton said that, while always wanting to look polished with her hair and makeup, she has no trouble embracing her natural beauty and body.

“I’m totally comfortable in my own skin. I’m satisfied with my image, and I dress for me more than I dress for anyone else,” Parton stated. “I’m not trying to change who I am.”

Dolly Parton is a stunning woman, even when she isn’t covered in a heavy coat of makeup, and we like seeing photos of her in her natural look.

Watch her interview below, and please SHARE this post on Facebook.