Dolly Parton Had a Talent That Porter Wagoner Said “God Gives to Very, Very Few People”

If you ever put pen to paper to write creatively, then you know it is incredibly difficult. It is a hobby and or profession that is outlined by critical introspection, boundless empathy, and at its core, a practice that tests one’s self-perception. It is a craft that can be taught, but some parts of it cannot. And often, the most important facets are the unteachable ones. Hence, folks often believe the best writers in the world have a god-given talent. One writer who falls into that perception is Dolly Parton.

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While Dolly Parton’s big hair, colorful personality, and commercial brand are the epitome of her public likeness, there is one thing about Parton that goes overshadowed amid the blaring lights. That is her poetically profound writing talent. In her most poignant and nuanced songs, Parton acts as a journalist, poet, psychologist, and sociologist all in one, and as a result, reveals very universal truths. This is the part of the craft that can’t be taught, and why Porter Wagoner thought she had a god-given talent for the written word.

Dolly Parton Has an Abnormal Capacity To Empathize With Others

Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner had one of the most documented feuds in entertainment history. Rarely did Wagoner mince his negative views about Parton. However, he also never minced his kind words about her either. Consequently, he always paid Parton the credit she deserved, and he did so about her songwriting in the book Smart Blonde: The Life of Dolly Parton.

Concerning Parton’s writing talents, Wagoner told author Stephen Miller, “She can imagine these experiences in such great detail that she can write songs about them, great songs.” “This capacity to understand or feel, I think, is something that God gives to very, very few people,” added Wagoner.

Parton attested by telling the New York Times, “Writing’s just as natural to me as getting up and cooking breakfast. I ain’t never far away from a pencil and paper or a tape recorder. I write every day, even when I’m on a plane, in the tub, or on the bus. It burns in me. Songwriting is my way of channeling my feelings and my thoughts.”

A few of the many Dolly Parton songs that shed light on her innate talent include “Coat Of Many Colors”, “She Never Met A Man(She Didn’t Like)”, and “If I Lose My Mind”.

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