Dolly Parton, the country singer who died earlier this week at the age of 80 following a private battle with cancer, never forgot the ramshackle childhood home she shared with her 11 siblings. Despite her millionaire status, she kept fond memories of the one-bedroom cabin in East Tennessee's Smoky Mountains, where she grew up with six brothers and five sisters.
The shack had no electricity or running water, and everything they owned was made by hand. Dolly recalled how they all chipped in to make beddings, curtains and clothes. As the daughter of a field labourer and a homemaker, this was the life she was handed.
A replica at Dollywood
Dolly was worth millions when she died, but she never forgot her childhood home, building a replica of it at her Tennessee theme park, Dollywood. The replica includes a woodburning stove, kitchen table and basic cooking accessories. Newsprint and floral papered walls kept the cool air out and the hot air in, and the replica furnishings come from Dolly's home in Sevier County, which she purchased in the 1980s and then renovated.
The exact replica was built by Dolly's brother Bobby and has had the stamp of approval from her mother. The home boasts “original treasures” from the Parton family.
Memories of poverty and love
Dolly recalled her childhood in the track “Coat of Many Colours.” She explained how she went to school in an outfit her mother had stitched from quilts and curtains and was laughed at by her classmates. She told Rolling Stone: “We didn’t have anything. mama used to sew all of our quilts and curtains for the windows, remake our clothes, and make clothes out of feed sacks or scraps.”
She added: “I went to school thinking I looked like Joseph. I was upset with my mom, and I was crying because I felt she had told me a fib. Mama said, ‘I don’t want to ever hear you say that we’re poor. We are rich in kindness and love and understanding.’”
A sign and a legacy
At the replica in Dollywood, a sign outside the cabin reads: “These mountains and my childhood home have a special place in my heart. They inspire my music and my life. I hope being here does the same for you! Dolly.”
Eugene Naughton, Dollywood Parks & Resorts President, said: “The greatest privilege of my life has been helping Dolly bring her dreams to life at Dollywood. Dolly's heart was as vast as the mountains she cherished, and her compassion knew no bounds. She inspired generations to dream boldly and love deeply. While we grieve her loss, we are honoured and committed to carry her light forward. Her legacy will continue to shine in every melody sung, every smile shared and every dream kindled within these gates.”
