Dolly Parton’s Remarkable Musical Journey: The Nurturing Role of Family
Dolly Parton stands as one of the most prolific, talented, and beloved musicians in history. Over the course of her decades-long career, the “Queen of Country” has released over 3000 songs, sold over 100 million albums worldwide, and won countless awards, including 11 Grammys. She’s been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and most recently, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Behind Dolly’s stratospheric success and vivacious persona lies a humble upbringing in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Born in 1946 as one of 12 children, Dolly grew up in a small cabin in Locust Ridge. Her family lived in poverty, without electricity or plumbing. But what the Partons lacked in material comforts, they made up for with their tight-knit bonds, faith, stories, music, and encouragement of one another’s talents. This nurturing family environment played a pivotal role in shaping young Dolly’s musical spirit.
Early Exposure to Music
Music was woven into the fabric of everyday life for the Partons. Dolly’s mother, Avie Lee Owens, had a “beautiful singing voice” and often led the family in gospel songs as they did housework. Her father, Robert Lee Parton, was also musically gifted. Dolly’s 11 siblings showed talent as well. “Everybody in my family sings,” Dolly has said. She grew up surrounded by instruments – guitar, fiddle, banjo, harmonica, piano – and the joyful sound of kin singing and playing music on the porch.
This early exposure to music, especially the hymns and folk songs of the Smoky Mountains, made a profound impression on Dolly. In her memoir Songteller, she wrote: “I was absorbing the things I would eventually be writing about…Just sitting around listening to Momma sing and watching Daddy play guitar provided grist for the mill.” The daily sight and sound of music kindled young Dolly’s passion for performing.
Encouragement and Support
Recognizing their young daughter’s musical promise, Dolly’s parents, particularly her mother, offered steadfast encouragement and support. Though times were hard, they scraped together $17 to buy Dolly her first guitar when she was eight years old. Dolly taught herself to play chords after school. She’d sing and play guitar for her family in the evenings, and they nurtured her talent. “My momma and daddy told me that I could do anything in this world if I wanted it bad enough,” Dolly has shared.
Seeing how much their praise motivated Dolly, her parents found opportunities for her to perform at church and school. The positive response Dolly received from these early audiences fueled her confidence and ambition. “My mother was so proud of me,” Dolly has said. “That just made me work harder.” Her family’s belief in her talents convinced Dolly to dream big, even in the face of poverty and limited opportunities for women.
Faith and Inspiration
Music and faith were tightly braided together in the Parton family. As evangelical Christians, they drew inspiration from biblical stories and hymns. Dolly’s uncle was a preacher, and the family attended the Church of God, where Dolly first started singing publicly. She has credited the church for teaching her about songwriting: “I learned to tell stories in song from all those sermons!” Gospel music profoundly shaped Dolly’s songwriting style and lyrical sensibilities.
Dolly’s faith also provided a moral compass for her career. She strove to share uplifting, positive messages through songs like “Coat of Many Colors,” based on her mother’s sewing a coat from rags for young Dolly. And despite achieving fame and fortune, Dolly has stayed true to her humble, compassionate upbringing, donating to educational and health causes. “I credit my family’s faith for the fact that I’m not only still around but I’m not nuts,” she has said.
Audience and Cheerleaders
A performer needs an audience, and Dolly had a built-in one from the start with her tight-knit family. Her parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents provided a safe, loving space for her to showcase her talents as a young girl. Their applause and encouragement gave her the confidence she needed to pursue music professionally. “I had a captive audience with my mom and dad and all my brothers and sisters,” Dolly told NPR. “I would just force them to listen to me.”
Her uncle Bill Owens also became an important mentor and cheerleader. He ran a country radio station, which Dolly visited frequently as a child. When she was 10, Bill arranged for Dolly to perform on a local TV station. This marked her first television appearance, a pivotal moment on her path to stardom.
Throughout Dolly’s rise to fame, her family remained her most loyal fans and support system. Though she left home as a teenager to pursue her dreams in Nashville, she stayed close to her roots. She even convinced her younger brother Randy to move to Nashville and join her band. The Partons were always Dolly’s sanctuary in an often cutthroat music industry. Their unwavering love and belief in her kept her grounded and gave her the strength to believe in herself.
The Bedrock for Dolly’s Success
When tracing Dolly Parton’s unparalleled success back to its origins, it’s clear her close-knit Smoky Mountain family provided the nurturing foundation upon which she built her career. Their shared love of music, stories, and faith created an environment where Dolly’s talents could blossom. Through songs and encouragement, they fostered her ambition and gave her the confidence to step into the spotlight and share her gift with the world.
Dolly has never forgotten her family’s invaluable role in her path to stardom. Though she’s earned worldwide recognition, she takes the most pride in making her family proud. “They’re proud that I came from this mountain background and made something of myself,” she has said. “I’m proud that I’m Dolly Parton, and I’m proud that I’m from the Smoky Mountains. I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world.”