Country music legend Dolly Parton, who died at age 80 after a battle with cancer, was remembered in a 2006 interview for her sharp wit, enduring image, and profound generosity. The interview, conducted when Parton was 60, offered a glimpse into the personal philosophy of the artist known for her distinctive style and philanthropic work.
Parton, born into poverty in a one-room cabin in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee as one of 12 children, developed an early aversion to gaining weight, often eating small portions. "My boobs just look big as they’re hanging on an itty bitty person!" she quipped, referencing her famed physique. At the time of the interview, her measurements were 40-20-36, and she dismissed rumors of surgically removed ribs, stating that small waists ran in her family. Despite her carefully crafted public persona, Parton was not outwardly vain, reflecting dispassionately on her appearance and noting her dislike for harsh lighting.
Her personal life was marked by a deep devotion to her husband, Carl Dean, whom she met at 18. To maintain their relationship, she ensured they rarely spent more than two weeks apart. Their marriage thrived, in part, because Dean was not involved in the music business, content to hear about her career secondhand. Dean died in March of the previous year, and it was noted that Parton had focused on caring for him during his illness, potentially neglecting her own early symptoms.
Parton clarified that the inspiration for her 1974 hit "Jolene" was not a real person but a pretty name she conceived after a bank teller looked at her husband. She maintained a curiously old-fashioned approach to her marriage and her appearance, believing in always looking presentable for her husband, even at home. "I think, I wouldn’t even look that bad at home!" she remarked.
Reports of a rivalry with Whitney Houston, who covered Parton's "I Will Always Love You" for the film The Bodyguard, were also dispelled. Parton received substantial royalties from Houston's rendition, amounting to $6 million and continuing to grow, expressing immense gratitude for the singer's "spectacular job."
Parton attributed her timeless looks to good skin, admitting to some cosmetic procedures but emphasizing that good skin cannot be medically manufactured. She avoided smoking and alcohol, recognizing their drying effects, and stated, "I’ll never be at an age where I don’t care how I look."
Regarding her signature blonde wig, Parton revealed her natural hair was longer and typically shoulder-length. She also discussed her extensive career, which included over 100 million record sales, 11 Grammy awards, and 25 number-one hits. Despite her wealth, retirement was not an option as she supported more than 100 relatives on her payroll. Though she never had children, she raised five of her siblings. A partial hysterectomy in 1984, at age 38, was noted as the only period she experienced significant depression.
Her background instilled a sense of resilience, enabling her to face potential poverty without fear. "I grew up knowing how to raise a garden, how to plan food; I would know how to survive," she said. Parton felt a responsibility to continue working to support her large family, viewing it as a joy rather than a burden. "I feel like I have to go to work every day because I have a very large family to support. I can’t be selfish and say, ‘Oh, I’m taking my money and I’m going to retire’ 'cause I could never do that."
Parton also established Dollywood, an amusement park that revitalized its region, and her Dollywood Foundation provides student scholarships. The foundation also ensures every child born in her home county receives a book monthly from birth to age five. She expressed a desire to be "sharing and giving," stating, "They [the Foundation] can have half of anything I got, I’m there for them."
As the interview concluded, Parton shared her hopes for longevity, "I hope I live to be a hundred. As long as I’ve got my health and an audience, I’ll be out there doing it ’til I fall over."
