“Nobody Could Have Thought of the Extent It Became”: Dolly Parton Discusses Her Relationship With Fame and Songwriting

Dolly Parton might be one of the most famous artists in country music history. Her talents as a singer and songwriter are highly regarded within the genre. However, her star power doesn’t stop there. She’s a brilliant businesswoman, a philanthropist, an author, an actress, and so much more. People across the United States see her face or read her name nearly every time they visit a grocery store thanks to her many brand deals. However, the East Tennessee native doesn’t let the recognition go to her head.

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Parton will grace the cover of Southern Living magazine for its January/February issue. During her interview with the publication, she talked about her upbringing, songwriting, and her relationship with superstardom.

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Dolly Parton Doesn’t Think of Herself as a Star

Dolly Parton has been a star for longer than most of those who love her have been alive. However, she remains humble. “I think I’m a star to everybody but me,” she told Southern Living. “I always wanted to be famous but nobody could have thought of the extent it became,” she added.

To say that Parton came from humble beginnings would be an understatement. Lake many people in the Smoky Mountain region at the time, she grew up in a large family with very little money. However, she often mentions that they felt richer than someone with a swollen bank account because they had one another, faith, and love. Now, she has it all.

“I’ll see a whole wall of my pictures somewhere, and I’ll wonder, ‘How did that happen?’ It’s more a joy than a surprise, Parton explained.

Parton Build Her Fame on Her Wits

While Dolly Parton is much more than a singer/songwriter today, that’s where she started. During her conversation with Southern Living, she revealed that she started making up songs before she could read or write and began writing them down as soon as she knew how. As a result, she was a skilled songsmith by the time she made her way to Nashville. Decades later, she’s still constantly creating.

“I walk around with a song in my head and in my heart,” Parton said. Sometimes, she gets so engrossed in the creative pursuit that she loses track of what she’s doing. “I’ll go into a closet and wonder, ‘Now, what in the hell did I come in here for?’” she revealed. “There’s nothing that makes me happier than writing a song.”

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