10 Wild and Wonderful Stories From Dolly Parton’s Legendary Life

By Jess Catcher Updated: January 19, 2019

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dolly parton

Whether you’re listening to one of her hit songs or watching her act in films like Steel Magnolias, Dolly Parton has given her fans so many amazing gifts with her talent over the years. It’s practically impossible not to smile even just thinking about the larger-than-life superstar, who turns 73 on January 19, 2019. Of course, Dolly has also racked up more than a few stories in her life, all of which range from heartwarming to almost unbelievable. Even as a child growing up in Tennessee, Dolly seemed to always be on one adventure or another. Although she does like to keep much of her personal life private, the country queen has thankfully shared some of those incredible stories with the rest of us.

If you think you already know all there is to know about Dolly, you might find yourself surprised by one or two of the tales listed below. Take a look to learn more about her music, family, friends, and other tidbits we’ve been able to gather up about the one and only Dolly Parton.

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When Someone Left a Baby on Dolly's Doorstep

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In a resurfaced interview with The Windy City Times back in 2011, the beloved icon recalled the wild story from her early years of fame. It only came to light after the interviewer asked Dolly what the craziest thing was that a fan had ever asked of her.

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When Dolly Lost a Look-Alike Contest

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In an interview while promoting her memoir, Dream More ($11.80, Amazon), the country legend shared a hilarious anecdote about the time she entered a look-alike contest as herself — and lost.

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When Dolly Nearly Lost Her Toes

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While speaking with Dr. Oz on his talk show in 2017, Dolly casually told the shocking story of how she nearly lost a few of her toes when she was around six or seven years old.

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When Dolly Almost Crashed Her Car

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Over the years, Dolly has probably heard dozens of covers of her hit song, "I Will Always Love You," but it's Whitney Houston's powerful rendition that topped them all. In fact, Houston's expressive vocals and emotional performance were so otherworldly, they almost made the queen of country crash her car.

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When Dolly Met the Real "Jolene"

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As it turns out, Dolly herself was equally struck when she heard the name back in the late 1960s. But instead of belonging to a woman who might steal Dolly's man, the name actually belonged to an eight-year-old girl.

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When Dolly Shared Her Family's Banana Pudding Recipe

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According to Dolly, one of their neighbors owned a store near their Tennessee home and would always let her mama know when bananas were getting soft so her family could buy them for a cheaper price.

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When Dolly Got Jane Fonda More Than Tipsy

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According to Jane, "We went on her tour bus and one of the first stops was at her cousin's still in the Ozarks because she wanted me to know what really good white lightning was.”

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When Dolly and Burt Were Like Brother and Sister

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"Burt and I had our little arguments and little spats," Dolly admitted. "But we were so honest with each other, in the same way Kenny Rogers and I are. We held no secrets from each other, we couldn’t fool each other."

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When Dolly Wouldn't Let Elvis Cover Her Song

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Apparently, it was a rule for the King to have at least half of the publishing rights to any song he recorded. Because Dolly would have had to relinquish control, she decided to pass on having Elvis record a cover of "I Will Always Love You."

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When Dolly Shared Her Dumplin's Recipe

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Dolly not only shared her amazing music for the Netflix film Dumplin', she also dished out her favorite recipe for chicken and dumplins! According to her, it's the perfect meal to whip up and enjoy while watching the movie.

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