Dolly Parton

Hello there, my name is Dolly Parton, and I've got a story to tell that's as colorful as the coat my mama made for me. I was born on January 19th, 1946, in a tiny one-room cabin nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Being the fourth of twelve children, our little home was always filled with noise, laughter, and activity. We may not have had much money, but we were incredibly rich in love and music. My mama, Avie Lee, had a beautiful voice and would sing the old folk songs that had been passed down through generations. In the evenings, I would huddle around our little radio, listening to the stars of the Grand Ole Opry and dreaming that one day my voice would travel through those airwaves too. My Uncle Bill Owens recognized my passion early on. He believed in my dreams and encouraged me by getting me my first real guitar when I was just a little girl. With that guitar in my hands, I began to write my own songs, pouring my life, my family, and the beauty of the mountains around me into melodies and lyrics.

My dreams were far too big to stay contained in our little mountain home. My musical journey began to take shape when I started singing on local radio shows in Knoxville, Tennessee, at just ten years old. A few years later, in 1959, something truly magical happened: at thirteen years old, I was invited to sing on the Grand Ole Opry stage for the very first time. Standing in that famous circle of wood, I knew I was on the right path. The day after I graduated from high school in 1964, I packed my life into a single suitcase and boarded a bus to Nashville, the heart of country music. It was a bold move, but I was determined. On my very first day in the big city, I met a handsome man named Carl Dean outside a laundromat. Two years later, in 1966, we were married. The path to stardom wasn't easy; for a while, I focused on writing songs for other singers. But I never gave up on my own voice. In 1967, I finally had my first big hit song, 'Dumb Blonde,' which sent a clear message that I was a serious artist with a lot to say.

That song opened a door I had only dreamed of. In 1967, the famous country star Porter Wagoner invited me to join his popular television show as the 'girl singer.' For the next seven years, Porter and I became a celebrated duo. We sang duets, recorded albums, and traveled all across the country, performing for thousands of fans. Being on 'The Porter Wagoner Show' made me a household name and taught me so much about the music business and performing. However, as time went on, I felt a growing need to step out on my own. I had my own songs to sing and my own unique story to tell the world. Making the decision to leave the show in 1974 was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do. Porter was my mentor and my friend, and I wanted him to understand how much he meant to me. To explain my feelings, I wrote a song for him called 'I Will Always Love You.' It was my personal way of saying thank you for everything and goodbye as I started a new chapter. That song has since had an incredible life of its own, reminding me of the power that comes from writing honestly from the heart.

After leaving Porter's show, my career soared to heights I had never imagined. My music began to reach new audiences, and I successfully crossed over from country to pop music with hits like 'Here You Come Again' in 1977, which became a number one hit. My world expanded beyond music when Hollywood came calling. In 1980, I starred in my first movie, '9 to 5,' alongside the talented actresses Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The film was a huge success, and I even wrote the theme song for it. That song, '9 to 5,' became an anthem for working people everywhere and earned me an Academy Award nomination. But no matter how many stages I stood on or how many places I traveled, my heart always remained in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. To honor my roots and give back to the community that raised me, I opened my own theme park, Dollywood, in 1986. I wanted to bring jobs, joy, and entertainment to the people and the place I call home.

Looking back, one of my proudest achievements has nothing to do with a gold record or a movie role. My daddy was one of the smartest people I've ever known, but he was never able to learn how to read or write, and I saw how that limited him throughout his life. His experience inspired me to start a very special project to help children develop a love for reading. In 1995, I founded the Imagination Library. It's a program that mails a free, high-quality book every month to children from the time they are born until they begin school. To date, we have mailed over 200 million books to children all around the world. I am still writing songs, still singing, and still dreaming up new ways to make the world a little bit brighter. My story is a reminder that it doesn't matter where you come from or how much you have. It's the size of your dreams and the goodness in your heart that truly count.