For more than six decades, Dolly Parton has been one of the most recognizable women in American music. The rhinestones, towering wigs, high heels and bright colors became part of an image known around the world. But behind that unforgettable appearance was a woman who remained deeply connected to her Tennessee roots, her faith, her family and the simple values she learned as a child. In an intimate conversation with Nora O’Donnell, Dolly opened up about the story behind her famous look, the spirituality that continues to guide her, the clothes that hold some of her most precious memories, and why she has never felt the need to become anyone other than herself.
The conversation came as Dolly was promoting Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, a book that looks back at the clothes, wigs, hairstyles and unforgettable fashion moments that accompanied her career. Dolly explained that she never set out to become a fashion icon. She simply developed her own personality and dressed according to how she wanted to feel. Her early inspiration came from a glamorous woman in her hometown who wore big hair, red lipstick, long fingernails, high heels and short skirts. While other people judged the woman harshly, young Dolly saw something completely different. She thought the woman was beautiful. Dolly remembered that she wanted to look like her when she grew up, joking that she loved the idea of looking “cheap and trashy.” Her famous sense of humor eventually turned that childhood inspiration into one of her most recognizable philosophies: it may cost a lot to look cheap.
But beneath the humor was something much more important—confidence. Dolly said she has always been comfortable with who she is. She knew she had talent, knew what she could do, and never wanted to pretend to be somebody else. That confidence was not simply about appearance. She credited her spiritual upbringing as an important part of it. Growing up in the church, with a grandfather who was a preacher, Dolly learned to believe that God loved her regardless of what happened. That belief gave her a sense of grounding that remained with her throughout the enormous changes in her life.
For Dolly, spirituality was not about complicated rituals or strict rules. She described it as something you live rather than something you simply practice. She spoke about the idea that the Kingdom of Heaven is within, and that people can draw wisdom from something greater than themselves, whether they call it God, higher wisdom or a higher knowing. Her message was remarkably simple: spirituality should be reflected in the way you live, the way you treat people and the intentions of your heart. She never believed faith meant a person could not have fun or enjoy life.
Her clothing, meanwhile, became a visual diary of that life. Dolly recalled several outfits that carried special meaning, including the dress she wore when she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1969. For a young girl from the Smoky Mountains, becoming an Opry member represented the fulfillment of a childhood dream. She also spoke lovingly about the little coat of many colors associated with her famous song, explaining that the story had grown into a symbol of family, acceptance and everything that mattered to her. Another unforgettable dress had wing-like details that moved when she raised her arms during a performance of the spiritual song “He’s Alive.” Dolly remembered becoming so emotionally caught up in the music that she felt as though the spirit had come over her and she might simply fly away.
Even the famous heels were part of Dolly’s personal philosophy. She has loved high heels since she was young, partly because she is petite, but also because they became part of the way she presents herself to the world. She explained that many of her shoes are custom-made, with the shape and arch designed specifically for her feet. And surprisingly, Dolly admitted that she sometimes wears heels even around the house. Her reasoning was characteristically Dolly: she is short, she likes looking good, and she never knows who might come to the door.
Yet perhaps the most revealing part of the interview came when Dolly discussed what people do not see. She has often been described as mysterious, even though she insists that she tells people everything they need to know. The distinction, she explained, is that she does not necessarily volunteer everything she knows unless someone asks. There should always be something left for yourself. That philosophy also explains why she remains such a fascinating public figure after decades in the spotlight. Dolly has shared an extraordinary amount of her life with the world, while still keeping a private part of herself untouched.
She also wanted her book to recognize the people who helped create the Dolly Parton image. Behind every elaborate dress, hairstyle and pair of shoes were designers, hairstylists, makeup artists, tailors and countless other professionals whose work often went unnoticed. Dolly wanted their contributions remembered because she understood that an iconic appearance does not happen simply because someone walks onto a stage. Hours of craftsmanship, creativity and preparation go into creating the finished image.
And then there was music—the part of Dolly’s life she could never imagine giving up. She spoke about her decision to make Rockstar, explaining that rock and roll had been part of her life for years because her husband, Carl Dean, loved the genre. After she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Dolly decided that perhaps the timing was finally right to make the rock album she had imagined for so long. She saw it as something she could earn rather than simply accept.
When asked about songwriting, Dolly dismissed the idea that she was a genius. Instead, she described songwriting as something that simply runs through her. Titles, lines and melodies come naturally, and she keeps something nearby to write them down. She joked that she has thousands of songs but only a few truly great ones. Yet when asked which song meant the most to her personally, she immediately returned to “Coat of Many Colors.” For Dolly, it was never merely a song about an old coat. It was about her mother, family, bullying, acceptance, diversity and the values that shaped her life.
That same desire to make the world a little better has followed Dolly far beyond music. She spoke proudly about her support for medical research and her $1 million donation toward COVID-19 vaccine research, explaining that she simply felt compelled to help when the world was facing such a frightening crisis. She also spoke with particular pride about the Imagination Library, the literacy program that sends books to children from an early age. Giving children the opportunity to discover books and learn to love reading became one of the accomplishments closest to her heart.
Perhaps that is the most revealing portrait of Dolly Parton: the woman behind the rhinestones was never really defined by the rhinestones. The wigs, heels, glitter and bright colors were the outer layer. Underneath them was a woman who believed in family, faith, hard work, generosity and staying true to yourself. She became famous for looking larger than life, but her deepest beliefs remained surprisingly simple.
And even after decades of success, Dolly still spoke about the future with the excitement of someone just getting started. She dreamed of creating cosmetics and wigs, making more movies, bringing her life story to Broadway and continuing to write songs for as long as she could. She did not know exactly what the next dream would be, but she knew there would always be another one.
The rhinestones may have made Dolly Parton sparkle, but it was her faith, her heart and her refusal to become anyone else that made her shine.
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