Growing Up Dolly; An Homage to a Rockstar
The cover of Dolly Parton’s latest album Photo: Courtesy Big Machine Label Group
AUTHOR: ARTSY CHOW ROAMER
GROWING UP DOLLY
AN HOMAGE TO A ROCKSTAR
While some people might have laughed at Dolly Parton over the years for a variety of things from her admittedly big hair, personal endowments, long lacquered nails and cosmetic preferences; do not count me among them for she has gotten the last laugh on us all.
On January 19th, the EGOT earning (nominated for all four major awards) legendary musical artist released her forty-ninth album. Aptly titled Rockstar, this already gold album offers thirteen of Dolly’s original tracks, twenty-one covers with other musical greats and an additional nine tracks in celebration of her 78th birthday.
The cover photo says everything Dolly would want you to know about her style from the signature long locks of layered blond hair, red lipstick, long lashes and black gloves to the bedazzled see-through corseted dress that shows an incredible amount of shapely legs and bosom, staying true to a style she modeled on the prettiest lady-of-the-night that lived in her home town.
This post we will look at all the reasons why Dolly Parton continues to change and grow in a career that has lasted over sixty years while refusing to sacrifice her signature style, business acumen, sense of humor and down-to-earth good people charm. In her own words, “cuddle up, cozy down” and take a read.
Dolly's introduction to the new album at the CMA's
The views around the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee where Dolly was born
A TIN-ROOFED CABIN IN THE MOUNTAINS
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born in 1946 in Tennessee just a few minutes away from Gatlinburg in the Smoky Mountains where she would grow up with eleven siblings in a tin-roofed cabin in Locust Ridge. With no running water or electricity, the walls were lined with newspaper for insulation and adorned with religious art.
It still stands today along with a prettied up replica of it in her theme park Dollywood. It was built by her brother and designed by her mother with many of the original pieces from the home. While the family was extremely poor, there was a lot of love, humor and musical talent to help alleviate some of the tribulations of that life.
Dolly’s mother, Avie Lee Parton, sang, played the guitar and was very supportive of her fourth child’s talent and dreams as she performed barefoot on the front porch for the family. Her sweet, high, instantly recognizable voice was always melodic and stood out over the other singers in church. The songs she writes come from the heart, her religious upbringing and the life-lessons learned from her childhood in East Tennessee.
MOVING ON UP TO NASHVILLE
She was singing, writing and playing her own songs at age ten and would debut at the Grand Ole Opry at thirteen showing she was a rising star. Her curly blonde hair, green eyes and faint freckles would only hint at the beauty she would become.
As a child, I can remember watching her sing on the Cas Walker Farm and Family Hour. It was a local radio show in Knoxville, Tennessee that later moved to TV running through 1979. Walker hired Parton as a child and she would perform on the show into her teens before moving to Nashville in 1964 to begin searching for a record label on Music Row.
1967 saw the release of her debut album with Momentum Records titled, Hello, I’m Dolly, which made it to number eleven on the country music charts. Songs like Dumb Blonde, Your Ole Handy Man, and The Company You Keep were thought to be the best of the recordings.
Three more followed in the sixties with RCA in 1968 and 1969 netting her a 22, 15 and 6 on the country music charts with The Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad) thought to be the best of the three. Dolly would stay with RCA to continue her run of yearly releases in the ‘70’s to great success.
MY TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN HOME
My Tennessee Mountain Home is said to be the musical autobiography of the childhood of Dolly Parton which began with a reading of the first letter Dolly wrote home to her parents after moving to Nashville. Songs like I Remember, Old Black Kettle and Back Home vividly describe her life and family during those years while Music Row highlights the move to Music City and the help she got from people like Chet Atkins.
Some of her best songs would come out of this unbelievably productive and creative ten-year span bringing us works like Joshua, Coat of Many Colors, I Will Always Love You and Jolene. But the four albums that came in 1977-1979 would finally net her three number ones and a number four on the country charts for her best success to that date with popular songs like Here You Come Again, Two Doors Down and Heartbreaker.
THAT PORTER THING
Those successful years would also draw the attention of Porter Wagoner. He first invited Dolly to be on his show in 1967. “Mr. Grand Ole Opry”, was known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits, blonde pompadour and guitar strumming while showcasing country music.
Dolly felt she could relate to his “sense of humor, good ole boy charm and flashy smile” not to mention his “bright shiny costumes and blonde helmet”. Their chemistry on-screen was instant and they quickly began building an eager fanbase that propelled the show to number one in American syndication.
Porter Wagoner was known for his flashy suits and blonde helmet Photo: Courtesy Grand Ole Opry
All good things must come to an end and for Dolly, who had much bigger dreams and talent, that time came in 1974 when she and Don Warden both left Porter’s show at the same time. She, to continue building her solo career, and Don, to become “Mr. Everything” to Dolly as her manager for five decades.
On the album Jolene, Dolly would include a ballad she wrote for Porter hoping to ease the hurt and difficulty she knew he would be going through. That little tune would become a much bigger deal when Whitney Houston released her version of it in 1992 as a part of the score for the film, The Bodyguard.
I Will Always Love You would become a blockbuster number one hit making Dolly a cool ten million dollars. That hopefully helped make up for the million dollars she had to scrape together to settle with Porter for the lawsuit he filed against her in 1979 as he felt she owed her success to him.
Whitney's version of Dolly's song was a blockbuster hit
THE MOVIES
Dolly would release eight more albums in the ‘80’s with the first titled 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs. You might have thought her own work ethic was the inspiration for one of her biggest hits written for the movie of the same name.
But it actually was inspired by a group of secretaries working in the early ‘70’s in Boston called 9to5 and Dolly wanted to document that and shine a light on the fate of the American working woman. She wrote it while filming the movie, 9 to 5 which was her first starring role with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman.
Photo Left: 20th Century Fox Film Corp.
Photo Right: Robin Platzer/Getty Images
The comedy is about three working gals who want to overthrow their horrible boss. Dolly knew it had to be a catchy rhythmic tune for the theme and came up with the lyrics while playing that well known beat on her acrylic nails. Dolly’s portrayal of Doralee showed she was a natural on screen with quick wit and a good sense of comedic timing. The movie and the song garnered a whole slew of nominations from the Academy, People’s Choice and Grammy’s which netted her three wins. It also gave her the opportunity to score the musical for the Broadway version which won a Tony in 2009.
Her next two film rolls were a mixed bag on reviews. Best Little Whorehouse in Texas gained her nominations for two Golden Globes while Rhinestone got her two top ten hits. Written for, but unused, as the theme song for Dolly’s fourth film Steel Magnolias, Eagle When She Flies is a soaring feminist anthem. Dolly’s portrayal of Truvy the beauty shop owner was both funny and tender.
THE MUSIC
There are so many highlights in Dolly’s career from the ‘60’s through now. She has tried and succeeded in almost every music genre imaginable. Busy Signal in ‘65 proved a viable pop star was in the making. Baby I’m Burnin’ would give Dolly her first bona fide dance hit in ‘79 played often in Studio 54 where she would sit with the likes of Andy Warhol and Calvin Klein.
Dolly's version of a classic from Prince
Trio and Trio II proved near perfection in harmonizing with Emmy Lou Harris and Linda Ronstadt producing stunners from start to finish in the gold standard of mountain country music. Ricky Scaggs lent a producer’s hand to Dolly in ‘89 on White Limozeen with the foot stompin’ Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That? which was the perfect vehicle for Dolly’s sass and personality making the irresistable lyrics come to life with “your big ideas and little behind”. Don’t even get me started on the pop duet supernova that Island in the Streams would become selling over 2 million albums in the US alone and a permanent Kenny/Dolly bond.
The Grass is Blue, Little Sparrow and Halos and Horns released in ‘99, ‘01 and ‘02 respectively showed Dolly’s style and voice translated very well to the bluegrass genre. The title cover LIttle Sparrow opens with a chilling harmony-laced a cappela intro that will raise goosebumps on you.
AND THEN THERE’S ROCKSTAR
Nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Dolly’s first inclination was to turn down the honor since her work ethic told her that was not the kind of work she had ever done. But two little birds whispered in her ear….why not? In Dolly’s usual way she decided if she was going to be there, she would earn it. If her reclusive husband, Carl Dean and godchild Miley Cyrus thought she could then she would.
And there you have it. The rockstar that was always there was finally born in full in this latest album. Dolly called on such greats as Paul McCartney and Ringo for Let it Be, Sting for Every Breath You Take, Steven Tyler for I Want You Back, Stevie Nicks for What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done for You, Chris Stapleton for Night Moves, Lynyrd Skynyrd for Free Bird, Elton John for Don’t Let the Sun go Down on Me, and a whole buttload more. Not to mention her own versions of such classics as Stairway to Heaven, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Sweet Dreams and Hit Me with Your Best Shot. You’ll find a complete list here for this awesome gold rock smash hit! Welcome to the hall of fame my queen.
Gotta a future so bright she gotta wear shades…
CONCLUSION
This barely starts to scratch the surface on the career of this legendary entertainer. There is nothing left for her to try that she has not conquered from music, books, TV, stage and screen to themepark and hotel owner, Dolly’s world includes it all.
But do you want to know the best thing about her? Her heart. Pure and simple. None of this has ever gone to her head as they say in the South. She is one of the most charitable, sweet, fun-loving, accepting, positive and smart human beings you will ever meet.
She has never forgotten where she came from, changed her signature style or accent to hide it or been ashamed of the cosmetic work she has had done over the years. She never takes herself too seriously and is endlessly quick-witted when questioned about most any of it. In short, this lady is who I want to be when I grow up. I leave you with the quote which shows Dolly is true in her faith and enjoy the two covers of one her most famous songs in the videos below:
“ I think people just know I’m a very open and accepting person. And in any religion we’re supposed to be that — we’re supposed to be kind... we’re not supposed to pass judgment.”
A cappella version of an already famous song with Dolly
A new country queen's version of the same Dolly song
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Cheers,
ArtsyChowRoamer
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TO MY READERS: This blog was updated with additional pics, info and upgraded content on 1/12/21
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