Biography of Dolly Parton

It's difficult to find a country performer (except, of course, for Elvis Presley) who has moved from country roots to international fame more successfully than Dolly Parton. Her autobiographical single "Coat of Many Colors" shows the poverty of growing up one of 12 children on a run-down farm in Locust Ridge, TN. At 12 years old she was appearing on Knoxville television; at 13 she was recording on a small label and appearing on the Grand Ole Opry; at present she has to her credit hit albums, hit singles, hit movies, and a TV variety show.Her 1967 hit "Dumb Blonde" (and she's not) caught Porter Wagoner's ear, and he hired Parton to appear on his television show, where their duet numbers became famous. By the time her "Joshua" reached #1 in 1970, Parton's fame had overshadowed the boss's, and she had struck out on her own, though still recording duets with him. Between those duets and her recent one with Ricky Van Shelton came a lot of stardom.Parton's debut on the silver screen was in the 1980 hit 9 to 5 with co-stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda; Parton's 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs album was released with the film. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas brought further fame, or notoriety, two years later; in 1984 she and Sylvester Stallone starred (and in fact sang a duet) in Rhinestone. "Tennessee Homesick Blues," from the film's soundtrack, earned Parton another Grammy nomination. Since then she has appeared in Steel Magnolias as a small-town gossipy beautician, and in Wild Texas Wind, a made-for-TV thriller-melodrama co-starring Ray Benson, leader of Asleep at the Wheel, a Western-swing band.The critics have told us that she can act, but can Parton sing? Yes, and very well, in spite of her reputation created by her movies, her cheesecake image, and her many forays into pop music. She can still be pure country when she wants, all tinsel aside. Try listening to "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene," "But You Know I Love You," and "Tennessee Homesick Blues." Parton is a woman of considerable talents, country singing chief among them. ~ David Vinopal