Skip to Content

10 Fun Dolly Parton Facts That You Probably Didn't Know

The Queen of Country has some secret tattoos!

By
dolly parton fun facts

Dolly Parton, aka the Queen of Country, has stolen the show (and our hearts) more times than we can count throughout the last few decades. She's a singer (responsible for many popular country songs we all love), a television and movie star, a philanthropist, a theme park owner, and so much more. (Plus, she's one of Ree Drummond's idols!) One look at Dolly throughout the years is enough to realize just how much she does. Still, there's so much to the mega-star that you probably didn't know! She has her quirks just like the rest of us, which is what makes these fun facts about Dolly all the more relatable.

Some of these facts will absolutely surprise you! For instance, there’s no way you'll ever guess the amount of wigs the singer owns! While other tidbits will warm your heart. Do you know how long Dolly and her husband have been married?! Either way, this list will act as a pleasant surprise and a new set of reasons to love the already admired star. Take a read through these fun facts about Dolly, and let us know in the comments what surprised you the most!

1

Dolly has a few secret tattoos.

dolly parton fun facts
NBC//Getty Images

It's true! If you didn't know this, it's because she hasn't given them much of a public appearance. Dolly usually wears long sleeve shirts and dresses, which pretty much covers them up. But the singer confirmed the "secret" in an interview on TODAY: "I do have a few little tattoos, but they were mostly done to cover scars because I'm so fair," Dolly said.

2

Dolly is an honorary godmother to Miley Cyrus.

dolly parton fun facts
Emma McIntyre//Getty Images

In fact, Dolly and Miley's dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, go way back! Billy released a popular country song, "Achy Breaky Heart," in the early '90s which landed him a spot as an opener for Dolly when she went on tour that year. The two became so close that Billy ended up asking Dolly to be Miley's godmother.

"I'm her honorary godmother. I've known her since she was a baby," Parton told ABC. "And when she was born, he said, 'You just have to be her godmother,' and I said, 'I accept.'"

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Dolly and her husband have been married for over 50 years.

dolly parton fun facts
Tom Hill//Getty Images

Talk about a lasting romance! Dolly and her husband Carl Dean tied the knot back in 1966, and the two have been in love ever since!

"We've been together most of our lives," Parton told People in 2018. "I always joke and laugh when people ask me what's the key to my long marriage and lasting love. I always say 'Stay gone!' and there's a lot of truth to that."

4

Dolly has musical siblings.

dolly parton fun facts
Betty Galella//Getty Images

Dolly actually grew up with 11 (!!!) siblings. Two of them sadly passed away, including Floyd Parton, one of Dolly's brothers who co-wrote many of her songs throughout her career. Many of her other siblings, however, are still around and perform with Dolly from time to time!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

Dolly has three Guinness World Records.

dolly parton fun facts
Ethan Miller//Getty Images

She's a true record breaker! The singer holds three Guinness World Records: One for "Most Decades With a Top 20 Hit on the US Hot Country Songs Chart," one for "Most Hits on US Hot Country Songs Chart By a Female Artist," and one for "Most No. 1 Hits on the US Hot Country Songs Chart by a Female Artist."

6

Dolly sleeps in her makeup!

dolly parton fun facts
Terry Wyatt//Getty Images

She's gotta be camera ready at all times! Dolly does take her makeup off, just in the mornings (only to reapply it soon after). "You never know if you're going to wreck the bus, you never know if you're going to be somewhere in a hotel and there's going to be a fire," she once said. "So I leave my makeup on at night and clean my face in the morning."

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Dolly's first ever crush was Johnny Cash.

dolly parton fun facts
Chris Walter//Getty Images

She told Nightline all about her experience at Nashville's Grand Ole' Opry, where she saw Johnny Cash perform for the first time when she was a teenager. I guess you can say it was love at first site! (For Dolly, at least!)

8

Dolly wrote her two hits "I Will Always Love You" and "Jolene" at the same time.

dolly parton fun facts
Stephen Lovekin//Getty Images

It was a good few days of writing, according to Dolly! After looking through old cassette tapes, Dolly saw that the two songs were on the same one, coming right after each other. They ended up on the same album, too!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

She's really, really good at interviews.

dolly parton fun facts
NBC//Getty Images

One quick search on the internet, and you'll find *hundreds* of videos of her on different talk shows, giving us so many of the iconic moments she's known for.

10

Dolly has over 300 wigs! (Apparently.)

dolly parton wigs
NBC//Getty Images

Dolly's hair is as iconic as her voice! And at a red carpet event for her series, Heartstrings, the star was asked the burning question: How many wigs does she own? "Well, I wear one about every day," she told Out, "so I must have at least 365."

Headshot of Josiah Soto
Josiah Soto
Digital Content Producer

Josiah is the Digital Content Producer for the commerce team at Popular Mechanics, Best Products, Runner’s World, and Bicycling Magazine. He also writes for “BIO Buys”—a column on Biography.com—giving readers the lowdown on what products their favorite celebs are using. In another life, Josiah was an editor at ThePioneerWoman.com, where he sharpened his expertise on all things lifestyle, food-news, and entertainment. Outside work related matters, he’s a fan of Studio Ghibli films, unimportant reality TV drama, and melancholy Lorde songs. 

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below