Dolly Parton

By: Liv Moranne

Dolly Parton, born in 1946 in rural Tennessee, was a rising country music star in 1969—already known for her dazzling voice, quick wit, and signature blend of glamour and down-home charm. Raised in a large, poor Appalachian family, Dolly’s background gave her a deep well of authenticity that shone through in her songwriting, which mixed heartache, humour, and sharp emotional insight. By 1969, she had joined The Porter Wagoner Show as his singing partner, gaining national television exposure and beginning to step out from his shadow to build her own career. Though she played up the “blonde bombshell” look—with big hair, bold fashion, and a warm, bubbly persona—Dolly was and is fiercely intelligent, business-savvy, and self-aware, often disarming critics with humour and charm.

In this moment, she was still on the cusp of solo superstardom but already beloved for her authenticity, generosity, and sheer talent. Beneath the rhinestones and jokes was a deeply driven artist with an iron will and a heart as big as her voice.