Dolly Parton has revealed that she was "whipped" by her grandfather for copying the flamboyant style of the local "town tramp" as a child. The country music legend opened up to the Guardian, confessing that she modelled her iconic look on the woman.
Parton described the "town tramp" as "flamboyant", with "bright red lipstick, long red fingernails", high heeled shoes with "little floating plastic goldfish in the heels of them", short skirts and low cut tops. She added: "I just thought she was beautiful."
Preacher grandfather's disapproval
Her grandfather, who served as a preacher, disapproved of Dolly's daring new style and would physically punish her for her fashion choices. Despite being "whipped" by him, the young singer was "willing to pay for it".
She explained: "I'm very sensitive, I didn't like being disciplined. It hurt my feelings so bad to be scolded or whipped, or whatever." This did not deter the star, who confessed there was a "part of her that was willing" and she simply "went for it" because she "wanted it bad enough", reports the Daily Star.
Defying local criticism
According to Dolly, locals would speak badly of the "town tramp" and claim she wasn't "anything but trash," to which Parton responded: "Well, that's what I want to be when I grow up."
Dolly viewed the woman as an escape from conventional expectations. Parton "did not want" an ordinary existence as it wasn't "not what she felt God had in mind for her".
The performer explained that "somebody has to entertain the people" and that she can "write a song as if she had a house full of kids and a cheating husband," despite never having "never had those things". She added: "But I know what it's like. I've seen it, been around it. There's no thing in this world that's foreign to me, that I don't get or understand."
Style defended against industry pressure
Dolly is now recognised for her flamboyant, rhinestone-encrusted ensembles and voluminous blonde curls, but this wasn't always to her advantage. Despite being unmistakably unique, record executives reportedly pleaded with the star to alter her appearance.
Industry bigwigs viewed Dolly's style as a joke, but the 'Islands in the Stream' singer has reassured fans that "her look comes from a very serious place".
