Young Dolly Parton Grew up in a One-Room Cabin With Her Family of 14 and Bathed in the Nearby River.
Dolly Parton grew up in a shack with 11 siblings and faced difficulties, including limited access to regular baths. Her father, although illiterate, provided support to her and their family.
Despite achieving fame and fortune, Dolly Parton has retained her humility throughout her successful career as a musician, businesswoman, and philanthropist. Her journey from a challenging upbringing has given her a deep understanding of poverty, and she has become a significant figure in Hollywood. Despite her considerable accomplishments, she remains grounded and connected to her modest origins.
The renowned music superstar, whose birth name is Dolly Rebecca Parton, was born on January 19, 1946, in Sevierville, Tennessee, on Locust Ridge. Her birthplace was a one-bedroom cabin, and she grew up alongside 11 siblings.
Her father, Robert Lee Parton, worked as a sharecropper and, due to a lack of access to education, he couldn’t read or write. To supplement his income, he also worked in construction.
Despite their modest living conditions, Dolly Parton’s family had a deep connection to music. Raised in a musically-oriented household, they frequently sang together and found joy through music.
Dolly’s mother, Avie Lee Owens, who was a performer herself, taught her daughter how to sing. She introduced Dolly to various types of music, including church songs and Elizabethan ballads that had been part of their family heritage for generations.
Dolly’s grandfather, Jake Robert Owens, was a minister and the composer of the hymn “Singing His Praise.” Some of Dolly’s siblings developed an interest in music, and a few of them performed in the family band.
Dolly also had an uncle named Sam Owens, who was a musician and singer-songwriter in his own right. He recognized Dolly’s musical talent from a very young age and was the first to believe she had the potential to become a famous musician.
Dolly Parton’s siblings include Stella Mae, Cassie Nan, twins Freida Estelle and Rachel Ann, Willadeene, David Wilburn, Coy Denver, Bobby Lee, Robert, and Larry. Sadly, Robert passed away in 2021 after battling cancer, and Larry passed away as an infant.
As the fourth child among her 12 siblings, Dolly frequently assisted her parents in caring for her younger brothers and sisters. The entire family lived together under the same modest roof.
During that time, their log cabin consisted of only one bedroom and one living room, lacking modern amenities like running water and electricity. Remarkably, the property still stands to this day.
Dolly Parton has consistently been open about her humble beginnings and how her early life experiences shaped her perspective on life. Growing up in a large family with limited resources, she understands the struggles of poverty firsthand.
In a 2016 interview with The Guardian, Parton fondly recollected her childhood in the rural Tennessee mountains, emphasizing the positive memories that brought her joy. She stated:
“Of course, not everything was perfect, but I prefer to remember the best of times.”
She cherished the days spent with her siblings, singing at church, and even the less enjoyable chores she had to do. Parton also reflected on the immense laughter she shared with her family.
Parton mentioned how her brothers and sisters were always singing, and she would frequently try to persuade them to be her backup singers as she pretended to be the lead singer on stage, although they were usually disinterested.
Their small cabin, as she remembered, was consistently bustling with her siblings, resulting in a fair amount of teasing and squabbling. Nevertheless, despite the commotion, they remained a tight-knit family.
Parton added that they spent a significant amount of time outdoors because the cabin was too cramped to accommodate them comfortably. The outdoor space served as an extension for sharing meals, engaging in entertainment, and playing games.
Parton emphasized that her family was consistently grateful for having food on the table and a roof over their heads. While they may not have had everything they wanted, her parents always stressed that there were other families enduring even greater hardships. She explained:
“We were poor, but I never felt poor.”
Despite their modest beginnings, Parton’s unwavering passion and musical talent would ultimately propel her to become one of the most successful and cherished country music artists of all time.
Childhood in Poverty Although she has cherished memories of her childhood, Parton acknowledged that growing up in poverty meant enduring challenging conditions. She practically lived in a cabin with her family of 14 and had limited access to basic necessities.
Dolly Parton once revealed in a Playboy magazine interview with journalist Lawrence Grobel in March 1978 that she was just eight years old when she first encountered a toilet and bathroom in her aunt’s house, and it fascinated her.
Recalling their innocence and ignorance at the time, Parton shared that she and her siblings were actually afraid to use the toilet, believing it might suck them in. She described it as a “really weird” experience.