Dolly Parton: A Life Beyond Music, Film, and Business

Dolly Parton, the iconic country music star, is celebrated for her multifaceted career and philanthropy. Born in a small cabin without electricity in Sevierville, Tennessee, she was the fourth of twelve children. She moved to Nashville in 1964 at age 18 to pursue a music career, releasing her debut album 'Hello, I'm Dolly' in 1967. Parton married Carl Dean, whom she met at a laundromat, and has been married to him for decades. She is known for hits like '9 to 5', 'Jolene', and 'I Will Always Love You', the latter originally written to part ways with mentor Porter Wagoner in 1974. Parton has over 40 albums and has written more than 3,000 songs. She also acted in films such as '9 to 5' (1980) and 'Steel Magnolias' (1989), earning an Oscar nomination for the former's title song. Parton donated $1 million to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine research. Her Imagination Library has distributed over 165 million books to children worldwide. She founded Dollywood, a theme park that opened in 1986 and attracts 4 million visitors annually. Parton has been open about her life, including struggles with depression and her views on various topics. She has also co-authored a novel with James Patterson titled 'Run, Rose, Run'. Parton's enduring appeal spans diverse audiences, as noted by Fran Lebowitz: 'Even people who hate each other agree on their love for Dolly Parton.'