CMT Blog: Archive

As a writer, I'm always intrigued by seemingly endless feature stories. I long for those 4,500-word assignments where I can really tell an artist's entire story without an editor chopping very crucial paragraphs out of the piece. But I know that not everyone has the time to devote to stories like that, even when they are about Dolly Parton.

So for those of you who have a lot of love for Parton, but not a lot of time to spend with the latest New York magazine, I am providing you with the Top 10 highlights from what may be the longest story on Dolly Parton that isn't an actual book.

1. She brings Moon Pies and Goo Goo Clusters to recording sessions.

2. She has hundreds of outfits custom-made each year for several million dollars. And they are kept not in a closet but in a 24,000-square-foot, humidity-controlled warehouse.

3. When it came time to write songs for the new production of 9 to 5: The Musical, Parton said, "I was just dumb enough to say yes." In the end, she had written about 40 songs, 16 of which made it to the show.

4. She said no to Elvis Presley when he wanted to record "I Will Always Love You" if she'd sell him half the rights.

5. In the recording studio, Parton is often dissatisfied, trying to get a "gorgeouser" take.

6. She talks to God, just not in church.

7. The Aunt Granny's restaurant in the Dollywood theme park really does serve fried baloney.

8. Parton herself doesn't ride the rides at Dollywood because she suffers from motion sickness.

9. She has named her boobs "Shock" and "Awe."

10. While she's made more money than most of us could ever imagine, Parton's generosity is even more unthinkable. She says it's a good thing she earns what she does, "Because nobody can ever make enough money for as many poor relatives as I've got. Somebody's got a sick kid, or somebody needs an operation, somebody ain't got this, somebody ain't got that."