Dolly Parton’s Younger Years: Photos of the Country Icon Then & Now

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January 19, 2024 8:55AM EST

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Dolly Parton is 78! Celebrate the Country Queen’s birthday and career in photos here.

Now that’s what I call an icon! Dolly Parton is a singer, actress, and philanthropist who has been a country music icon for 7 decades. The songstress was born January 19, 1946 in Pittman Center, Tennessee, and started performing as a child, first singing on local radio and television programs like The Cas Walker Show on WIVK Radio and WBIR-TV in Knoxville, TN when she was just ten years old.

Dolly started recording music when she was 13 and released her debut album, Hello, Dolly, in 1967. The prolific songwriter has composed over 3000 songs, dozens of which have topped Billboard country music charts, including “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You”. She has 11 Grammys, has appeared in hit films, and in 1999, Dolly was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In May 2022, it was revealed she would be getting inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The queen has had plenty of great moments over the years. Dolly Parton’s legendary teased tresses look great as she signs autographs in this photo from the 80s.

Want to see Dolly Parton over the years? Scroll through the gallery to see her best moments through the decades!

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Dolly Parton in ‘Nine to Five’

Dolly Parton in ‘Nine to Five’ — Dolly Parton looks amazing in the 1980 film Nine to Five. She showed off a curly-haired shorter ‘do and wore a powder blue ensemble. Dolly epically climbed the music ladder as a girl who came from nothing and transformed into a record-breaking artist, who undoubtedly paved the way for other females in the genre.

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Dolly Parton in ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’

Dolly Parton in ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ — Dolly Parton looks radiant in red in this portrait for the film, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. It came out in 1982.

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Dolly Parton Smiles in ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’

Dolly Parton Smiles in ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ — Dolly continued to turn heads in the classic The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. This scene showed her driving a car.

While the film was a hit, Dolly said things were tense behind the scenes. “Best Little Whorehouse near killed me,” Dolly wrote in 1984’s Ladies’ Home Journal in the book Dolly on Dolly.

“That was a tough picture to do. There was constant bickering, and I tried to please everyone. Whorehouse was a bloodbath.”

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Dolly Parton in ‘Rhinestone’

Dolly Parton in ‘Rhinestone’ — Dolly Parton looks like a glorious cowgirl in this photo for her 1984 film, Rhinestone. She wore a red and black plaid top, jeans, and a classic cowboy hat. She began acting a lot more frequently in the 80s after establishing her career as a musician.

Dolly released her debut studio album, Hello Dolly, in 1967 and it brought her two top 40 hits, including “Dumb Blonde”, which talked about how despite the spunky artist’s light-colored locks, she was “nobody’s fool”.

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Dolly Parton With Sylvester Stallone

Dolly Parton With Sylvester Stallone — Dolly Parton gets flirty with Sylvester Stallone as they pose in front of a cab for Rhinestone.

The film was a bit of a flop. Dolly admitted Sly wasn’t the best country crooner in her 2020 book Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life In Lyrics.

“Well, it’s true that Sylvester Stallone cannot sing country music,” she wrote. “But I’ll tell you what he can sing: old ’50s rock ‘n’ roll songs. That’s what he sang on the set, and it sounded good.”

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Dolly Parton With Richard Farnsworth

Dolly Parton With Richard Farnsworth — Dolly Parton poses with Richard Farnsworth in Rhinestone. One epic moment in time!

In addition to acting, and releasing more solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Dolly is the owner of a Tennessee theme park called Dollywood.

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Dolly Parton Covers ‘TV Guide’

Dolly Parton Covers ‘TV Guide’ — Dolly Parton poses on the cover of TV Guide for its October 17-23, 1987 issue. She wore a red suit and held her guitar in the iconic holiday pic.

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Dolly Parton in ‘Steel Magnolias’

Dolly Parton in ‘Steel Magnolias’ — Dolly Parton appears with Sam Shepard in the 1989 film, Steel Magnolias. It was one of her most memorable acting roles.

Dolly remembered clashing with director Herbert Ross in her book, Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business. “He didn’t particularly like me or Julia Roberts at the start, and was very hard on us,” she wrote. “He told me I couldn’t act. This was not news to me, and I told him so.”

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Dolly Parton in ‘Straight Talk’

Dolly Parton in ‘Straight Talk’ — Dolly Parton holds a microphone in the 1992 film Straight Talk. She wore a stylish blazer and skirt for the scene.

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Dolly Parton Smiles in ‘Straight Talk’

Dolly Parton Smiles in ‘Straight Talk’ — Dolly Parton sparkles in Straight Talk. She flashed her incredible smile with diamonds decorating her neck.

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Dolly Parton on ‘TV Guide’ in 1993

Dolly Parton on ‘TV Guide’ in 1993 — Dolly Parton on another cover of TV Guide for its November 27 – December 3, 1993 issue. She glittered in a gold dress with sequins.

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Dolly Parton on ‘The Today Show’ in 2002

Dolly Parton on ‘The Today Show’ in 2002 — Dolly Parton made quite the impression when she performed on the Today Show in New York on July 5, 2002. She wore a pretty sheer top and showed off her guitar skills.

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Dolly Parton in 2006

Dolly Parton in 2006 — Dolly Parton dazzles in double denim while going to LA hotspot Mr. Chow’s in 2006. People nearby wanted autographs as she walked by.

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Dolly Parton at the 2006 Oscars

Dolly Parton at the 2006 Oscars — Dolly Parton is pretty in pink at the 2006 Oscars. She posed on the red carpet with her signature blonde hair and perfect smile.

Throughout Dolly’s tremendous career, which includes having 25 songs reach the number one spot on the Billboard country music charts, she has not only transformed herself musically, but also fashionably. Fans have been obsessed with her red carpet looks for decades!

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Dolly Parton at the Opening of ’33 Variations’

Dolly Parton at the Opening of ’33 Variations’ — Dolly Parton attends the opening for 33 Variations at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York City in 2009. She wore a stylish sheer zip-up top and black bottoms.

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Dolly Parton in ‘Joyful Noise’

Dolly Parton in ‘Joyful Noise’ — Dolly Parton is a sight to see in red for her 2012 film Joyful Noise. She showed off her talent in the special feature.

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Dolly Parton at Dollywood Celebrates ‘Festival of Nations’

Dolly Parton at Dollywood Celebrates ‘Festival of Nations’ — Dolly Parton and Drumstruck celebrated Dollywood’s 34th Grand Opening Season with the Festival of Nations at Dollywood on March 16, 2019. The blonde beauty wore a pink outfit and butterfly accessories in her hair. Butterflies have become one of the star’s symbols over the years.

She told W Magazine in Oct. 2021, “Butterflies don’t sting, they don’t bite, and they are so beautiful. And I just kind of related to them with my own personality. I claimed them as my little symbol.”

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Dolly Parton at the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards

Dolly Parton at the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards — Dolly Parton strikes a pose on the red carpet of the 2019 Grammy Awards. She chose to wear a red sparkly dress for the event.

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Dolly Parton at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards

Dolly Parton at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards — Dolly Parton stands on stage during the 2019 CMA Awards. It took place in Nashville, TN.

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Dolly Parton at the 2019 CMA Awards

Dolly Parton at the 2019 CMA Awards — Dolly Parton served as one of the hosts of the 2019 CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena. She went through multiple outfits throughout the event.

The following year, she wowed music fans at the awards show with a rendition of her dear friend and sometimes musical partner, Kenny Rogers’ song “Sweet Music Man”.

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Dolly Parton on ‘Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings’

Dolly Parton on ‘Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings’ — Dolly Parton wore a gorgeous blue while appearing in Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings in 2019. It was an anthology series that showcased the inspirations behind some of Dolly’s most beloved songs.

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Dolly Parton at the Premiere of ‘Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings’

Dolly Parton at the Premiere of ‘Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings’ — Just like a rhinestone! Dolly looks like a 10 during the premiere of her show Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings on Oct. 29, 2019.

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Dolly Parton at a 2021 Benefit Concert

Dolly Parton at a 2021 Benefit Concert — Dolly Parton is pretty in pink as she performs at the 1st Annual Kiss Breast Cancer Goodbye Benefit Concert in Nashville, Tennessee on Oct. 24, 2021. Dolly’s contributed her talents to many good causes.

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Dolly Parton at the 2019 CMA Awards

Dolly Parton at the 2019 CMA Awards — Dolly Parton wows in a glittering white beaded frock during the 53rd Annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tennessee on Nov. 13, 2019. Her smile was almost as big as her hair.

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Dolly Parton at the 2019 CMA Awards

Dolly Parton at the 2019 CMA Awards — Dolly Parton glows in a champagne gown during the 53rd Annual CMA Awards, Arrivals in Nashville on Nov. 13, 2019. Her blonde tresses were piled atop here head elegantly.

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Dolly Parton at the 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards

Dolly Parton at the 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards — Dolly Parton is the center of attention at the 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on Mar. 7 of that year. Her bronze and silver dress had plenty of shiny black fringe too.

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Dolly Parton at the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony

Dolly Parton at the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony — Dolly Parton dazzled in a black dress with studs and chains during the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in LA on Nov. 5. She wore peep-toe pumps and had her blonde hair in tousled curls.

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Dolly Parton Plays The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Dolly Parton Plays The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — Everyone was having fun when Dolly Parton performed during the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Nov. 5, 2022. She traded her gown for a patent leather, zip-down jumpsuit which matched her crystal-embellished guitar.

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