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— CH. 1 · A CABIN ON THE LITTLE PIGEON RIVER —

Dolly Parton

~7 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
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  • Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on the 19th of January 1946, inside a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee. She entered the world as the fourth child of twelve born to Avie Lee Caroline and Robert Lee Parton Sr., known locally as Lee. Her father worked as a sharecropper before tending his own small tobacco farm and taking construction jobs to supplement their income. Despite being illiterate, her father managed business affairs with surprising acumen while her mother cared for their large family through eleven pregnancies over twenty years. Parton attributes her musical abilities directly to her mother, who kept house despite poor health and entertained children with Smoky Mountain folklore and ancient ballads from Welsh ancestors. The family moved to a two-room cabin up on nearby Locust Ridge where most of her cherished youth memories occurred. A replica of that original cabin now stands at Dollywood theme park today. Years after selling the farm, Parton bought it back in the late 1980s with help from her brother Bobby. She has described her family as dirt poor yet well-fed during those early years.

  • Parton began performing as a child by singing on local radio and television programs throughout East Tennessee. By age ten she appeared on The Cas Walker Show on both WIVK Radio and WBIR-TV in Knoxville. At thirteen she recorded the single Puppy Love on Goldband Records and made her first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry. There she met Johnny Cash who encouraged her to follow her own instincts regarding her career path. Her initial success arrived as a songwriter when she signed with Combine Publishing shortly after moving to Nashville. Alongside uncle Bill Owens she wrote several charting singles including two Top 10 hits for Bill Phillips: Put It Off Until Tomorrow and The Company You Keep in 1966. She also wrote Skeeter Davis's number 11 hit Fuel to the Flame which reached stores in 1967. Her songs were recorded by many other artists during this period including Kitty Wells and Hank Williams Jr. At nineteen she signed with Monument Records where producers initially pitched her as bubblegum pop singer instead of country artist.

  • In 1967 musician and country music entertainer Porter Wagoner invited Parton to join The Porter Wagoner Show offering her a regular spot on his weekly syndicated television program. Much of Wagoner's audience was initially unhappy that Parton had replaced previous performer Norma Jean sometimes chanting loudly for Norma Jean from the audience. With Wagoner's assistance however Parton was eventually accepted into their touring group. RCA decided to protect their investment by releasing her first single as a duet with Wagoner titled The Last Thing on My Mind. That song released in late 1967 reached the country Top 10 in January 1968 launching a six-year streak of virtually uninterrupted Top 10 singles for the pair. For the next two years none of her solo efforts were as successful as her duets with Wagoner. The duo was named Vocal Group of the Year in 1968 by the Country Music Association but Parton's solo records were continually ignored. By 1970 both Parton and Wagoner had grown frustrated by her lack of solo chart success. Wagoner persuaded Parton to record Jimmie Rodgers' Mule Skinner Blues which shot to number three followed closely by her first number one single Joshua in February 1971.

  • Between 1974 and 1980 Parton had a series of country hits with eight singles reaching number one. Her influence on pop culture is reflected by many performers covering her songs including mainstream crossover artists such as Olivia Newton-John Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. In 1976 she began working closely with Sandy Gallin who served as her personal manager for the next twenty-five years. With her 1976 album All I Can Do Parton began taking more active role in production aiming music in a mainstream pop direction. Her first entirely self-produced effort New Harvest First Gathering highlighted pop sensibilities containing covers of My Girl and Higher and Higher. Though well received neither it nor its single Light of a Clear Blue Morning made much impression on pop charts. After that disappointing crossover performance Parton turned to high-profile pop producer Gary Klein for her next album. The result 1977's Here You Come Again became her first million-seller topping country albums chart while reaching number 20 on pop chart. The Barry Mann-Cynthia Weil-penned title track topped country singles chart and became Parton's first Top 10 single on pop chart at number three.

  • Parton invested much of her earnings into business ventures in her native East Tennessee notably Pigeon Forge. She co-owns The Dollywood Company which operates theme park Dollywood formerly Silver Dollar City plus dinner theater Dolly Parton's Stampede waterpark Dollywood's Splash Country and Dream More Resort Spa all located in Pigeon Forge. Dollywood ranks as the 24th most popular theme park in United States drawing three million visitors per year. The Dolly Parton's Stampede business maintains venues in Branson Missouri and Myrtle Beach South Carolina though Orlando Florida location closed January 2008 after land sold to developer. Starting June 2011 Myrtle Beach location became Pirates Voyage Fun Feast and Adventure where Parton appeared for opening making the 3rd of June 2011 official Dolly Parton Day. On the 19th of January 2012 Gaylord Opryland and Dollywood announced plans to open $50 million water and snow park family destination in Nashville open all year. On the 29th of September 2012 Parton officially withdrew support for Nashville park due to restructuring of Gaylord Entertainment Company after merger with Marriott International. In June 2015 Dollywood Company purchased Lumberjack Feud Dinner Show in Pigeon Forge owned by Rob Scheer until close of 2015 season.

  • Since mid-1980s Parton has supported many charitable efforts particularly area of literacy primarily through her Dollywood Foundation. Her literacy program Dolly Parton's Imagination Library founded in honor of father who never learned read or write mails one book per month to each enrolled child from birth until entering kindergarten. Over 1600 local communities provide Imagination Library to almost 850,000 children each month across U.S. Canada UK Australia and Republic of Ireland. In February 2018 she donated her 100 millionth free book copy of Coat of Many Colors to Library of Congress Washington DC honored on account charity sending out 100 millionth book. In December 2006 Parton pledged $500,000 toward proposed $90 million hospital cancer center constructed in Sevierville named Robert F. Thomas physician who delivered her. She announced benefit concert raising additional funds for project playing to about 8,000 people. That same year Parton and Emmylou Harris allowed use music in PETA ad campaign encouraging pet owners keep dogs indoors rather than chained outside. In response to 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires Parton participated telethon raising money victims held Nashville December 9 hosting own telethon December 13 reportedly raised around $9 million.

  • Dolly Parton arrived in Nashville Saturday morning day after graduating from Sevier County High School. After starting laundry inside Wishy Washy Laundromat Parton got cold drink walked outside Carl Thomas Dean pulled up along sidewalk where Parton standing mentioning sunburn risk due shirt style. They began conversation then married two years later Ringgold Georgia the 30th of May 1966. Although Parton does not use Dean's surname professionally passport reads Dolly Parton Dean sometimes using Dean signing contracts. Dean ran asphalt road driveway-paving business Nashville decades shunning publicity rarely accompanying wife public events. According to Parton he only saw perform once yet would often visit Dollywood by himself tour park unrecognized. Dean and Parton moved into long-term home on 75 acres Brentwood Tennessee 1972 retaining prior Antioch home several years. Since 2010s many clickbait articles claim Dean and Parton purchased Brentwood home 1999 incorrect. Parton's uncle Dot Watson and Dean constructed home 1970 1971 brothers Denver Randy worked structure adding guesthouse years later. Dean and Parton lived together over 52 years until Dean's death the 3rd of March 2025 age 82. While never having children they helped raise several younger siblings leading nieces nephews refer them Uncle Peepaw Aunt Granny moniker lending name one Dollywood restaurants.

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Common questions

When and where was Dolly Parton born?

Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on the 19th of January 1946 inside a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center Tennessee. She entered the world as the fourth child of twelve born to Avie Lee Caroline and Robert Lee Parton Sr.

How did Dolly Parton start her music career?

Parton began performing as a child by singing on local radio and television programs throughout East Tennessee. By age ten she appeared on The Cas Walker Show on both WIVK Radio and WBIR-TV in Knoxville and recorded the single Puppy Love on Goldband Records at thirteen.

What major partnership helped launch Dolly Parton's solo success?

In 1967 musician Porter Wagoner invited Parton to join The Porter Wagoner Show offering her a regular spot on his weekly syndicated television program. RCA released their first duet titled The Last Thing on My Mind which reached the country Top 10 in January 1968 launching a six-year streak of virtually uninterrupted Top 10 singles for the pair.

Where is Dollywood theme park located and how many visitors does it draw annually?

Dolly Parton co-owns The Dollywood Company which operates theme park Dollywood plus dinner theater Dolly Parton's Stampede waterpark Dollywood's Splash Country and Dream More Resort Spa all located in Pigeon Forge Tennessee. Dollywood ranks as the 24th most popular theme park in United States drawing three million visitors per year.

When did Dolly Parton marry Carl Thomas Dean and where was the ceremony held?

Parton met Carl Thomas Dean after graduating from Sevier County High School and they married two years later in Ringgold Georgia the 30th of May 1966. They lived together over 52 years until Dean's death the 3rd of March 2025 age 82.

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