Dolly Parton built her entire professional image on the concept of not judging a book by its cover. Her persona rests on the knowledge that she’s far deeper, savvier, and more generous than her bedazzled, glitz-and-glam aesthetic might suggest. There’s a reason people call her the de facto Queen of Appalachia. Underneath the sky-high hair and designer clothes, Parton is a country girl from the Tennessee mountains who has always prioritized hard work and integrity.
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This tireless work ethic and cunning business acumen led to Parton earning the nickname “The Iron Butterfly,” which dates back to her “Jolene” days in the 1970s. This moniker is a reference to the fact that although Parton looks like a ditzy bundle of sequins and sunshine, she’s actually a highly adept businesswoman. She moved to Nashville in the late 1950s with little more than her Martin guitar and a dream to become a songwriter, and she turned that dream into something far larger than the diminutive singer from Severville.
Who else could accomplish such a feat (while still maintaining a refreshing, humble optimism) but the Iron Butterfly?
Dolly Parton Has Welcomed Her Oxymoron Nickname
An iron butterfly sounds a lot like a lead balloon (or lead zeppelin, as Keith Moon reportedly described the up-and-coming heavy rock band from the U.K.), as in something that isn’t likely to go over well. Dolly Parton played on misogynistic stereotypes about women that suggest they can’t be physically attractive and competent, sexual and wholesome. The country music icon combined all of these attributes into one seemingly impossible but wholly Dolly concept.
In her fashion book, Behind the Seams, Parton references her “iron butterfly” nickname, saying, “I’m not offended by that, because I am a strong person” (via Louder Sound).
And indeed, it would take a strong person to juggle all of the professional endeavors Parton manages to keep in the air. In addition to a prolific discography, Parton has also worked in film, multiple philanthropies, the resort industry, stage productions, jewelry and apparel, alcohol production, museums, hotels, and restaurants. Part of what makes this busy lifestyle possible is Parton’s firm boundaries on the softer sides of life, much like an iron butterfly.
Speaking to Uncut in January 2014, Parton said, “My life is good. I’ve managed that really well. When I’m home, I’m really home. When I’m with my husband, I’m totally with him. I manage. It’s like you have to, because this is what I do. I’ve dreamed myself into a corner, so I have to be responsible for all of the things I’ve dreamed and I’ve seen come true. I’ve been blessed that my dreams come true. But there’s a big responsibility. It’s wearing. Sometimes you just physically and emotionally can’t hardly keep up.”
Photo by Harry Langdon/Getty Images
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