Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Partonis an American singer, songwriter, actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian, known primarily for her work in country music. Parton is the most honored female country performer of all time. Achieving 25 RIAA certified gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards, she has had 25 songs reach No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts, a record for a female artist. She has 41 career top 10 country albums, a record for any artist, and she has 110 career charted singles over...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionCountry Singer
Date of Birth19 January 1946
CitySevierville, TN
CountryUnited States of America
I still have my first paycheck. It was just, I think, a dollar or two that I got when I started as a songwriter with BMI, and I had some songs there that I had through the company, and in the mail I got this big old check for, like, a dollar and a half or something. Somebody had recorded one of my songs.
I think he's one of the greatest songwriters of all time, ... Bob Dylan , Neil Young, Merle Haggard , Hank Williams. All of them are different styles, but those are the songs that make the times. They're the songs that last through time.
For me, these songs are not really political, but more a sign of the times, ... I see them as songs of hope, songs with strong messages, songs that take on a new relevance today.
I was surprised to be nominated. I didn't expect to win, but of course it would have been great. There were only three songs, and I had as good a chance as anybody else. At least the guys that did win (rap group Three 6 Mafia for the song 'It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp' from the movie 'Hustle and Flow') are from Memphis.
If I had to give up performing, it wouldn't bother me too much. But I couldn't live without my writing. I put all my feelings, my very soul, into my writing. I tell the world in my songs things I wouldn't even tell my husband.
I just write all the time. In my whole life I've never had what I've heard people talk about writer's block. I've never had that. Life is like a song to me. I just hear everything in music, so I have never once thought "Well, I'm never gonna be able to write again." I've got thousands of songs.
A lot of my heartbreak songs are inspired by things my sisters are going through, or friends.
I say, 'Yeah, Taylor Swift.' I think she is a smart, beautiful girl. I think she's making all the right moves. She's got a good head on her shoulders. She's surrounded with wonderful people. Her songs are great. She keeps herself anchored. She knows who she is, and she's living and standing by that.
A lot of people don't realise I came out of the Smoky Mountains with a load of songs.
If I should stay I would only be in your way So I'll go, but I know I'll think of you each step of the way And I will always love you I will always love you Bitter sweet Memories That's all I am taking with me Good-bye. Please don't cry We both know that I'm not What you need But I will always love you I will always love you.
Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams...all of them are different styles, but those are the songs that make the times...they're the songs that last through time.
I've never been the big recording star I'd love to be some day. I've had lots of hits off and on through the years but I've never had the success of other artists - one hit after another back-to-back-to-back and big hits, where every song is going to be number one. I'm not greedy or nothing. I just want everything. Is there something wrong with that?
I feel fortunate that I've had a lot of songs recorded by other people, because I take my songwriting very seriously. It's only those people that have followed me over the years and really know my work that know how serious I am about all of it - including the way I look. You can't take my high heels from me, you can't have my long fingernails, you can't take all this hair from me, because it's part of this thing that I've become. I wouldn't want to give any of it up. Do I have to be ugly to be a songwriter? This is the way I am, and it's what I choose to be.
Of course, 'I Will Always Love You' is the biggest song so far in my career. I'm famous for several, but that one has been recorded by more people and made me more money, I think, than all of them. But that song did come from a true and deep place in my heart.