On this day in 1966, Dolly Parton released “Dumb Blonde” which became her first charting single. The song came after nearly a decade of Parton sporadically releasing singles that failed to reach even the lowest rungs of the country charts.
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Parton was far removed from her debut single when she released “Dumb Blonde” in 1966. She released her first single, “Puppy Love” in 1959. She followed that release with six more non-album singles which failed to chart. Then, she released “The Little Things” in 1966 as the lead single from her debut album. Like her previous releases, it missed the chart. Then, she released “Dumb Blonde.”
[RELATED: On This Day in 1971, Dolly Parton Released Her Autobiographical Hit “Coat of Many Colors”]
Penned by powerhouse songwriter Curly Putman, “Dumb Blonde” peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The rest of the decade would see Parton landing several more top 40 and top 20 singles on the chart. However, she wouldn’t find herself in the upper reaches of the chart until 1970.
Dolly Parton Didn’t Write “Dumb Blonde” But It Fits Her Like a Glove
Today, decades after she got her start in the music world, fans know that Dolly Parton is incredibly intelligent. Behind her feminine “aw shucks” Southern charm lurks a razor-sharp mind. She’s proven herself to be a prolific and successful songwriter, a savvy businesswoman, and a master of advertising. In short, she’s the opposite of the “dumb blonde” stereotype.
“Dumb Blonde” is a breakup song about a woman whose man insulted her intelligence by cheating, lying, and believing that she wouldn’t find out because he believes she’s an airhead due to her hair color. Instead, she reveals that she knows what he’s been up to and has moved on to someone better.
The verses contain the repeated lines Just because I’m blonde don’t think I’m dumb. / ‘Cause this dumb blonde ain’t nobody’s fool which drive home the the song’s meaning. At the same time, those lines could have been Parton’s tagline. Her blonde hair and thick Appalachian accent have led many people to underestimate her over the years to their detriment. Nearly six decades later, she’s still proving that she ain’t nobody’s fool.
Featured Image by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns
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