NEWSCountry MileAdd TopicPhotos: The ageless Dolly Parton through the yearsOne of 12 children, Dolly Parton was raised in Sevierville, at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains.Image From Chasing Rainbows MuseumDolly Parton as a student at Sevier County High School where she graduated in 1964.Pigeon Forge Public LibraryDolly Parton's senior photo in the 1964 Sevier County High School yearbook.Sevier County High School YearbookDolly Parton in a 1967 photo.SubmittedMusician Dolly Parton in a 1970 photo.ContributedDolly Parton in a 1971 photo.ContributedA publicity photo of Dolly Parton from 1972 for RCA Records and Top Billing.Contributed1973 photograph of Dolly Parton.ContributedDolly Parton, 1974.ContributedIn this Feb. 19, 1977 file photo, Les Paul, right, and Chet Atkins, left, are presented Grammies by Dolly Parton and Freddie Fender, second from right, at 19th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Paul, 94, the guitarist and inventor who changed the course of music with the electric guitar and multitrack recording and had a string of hits, died, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009 in White Plains, N.Y., according to Gibson Guitar. (AP Photo/George Brich, file)APLee Parton (left) father of Dolly Parton (center) and Dolly's mother, Avie Lee Parton in a Oct 14, 1977 photograph. KNS staffKnoxville News SentinelDolly Parton in a 1978 publicity still for RCA records.Contributed1979 CBS handout photo of Dolly Parton and Carol Burnett to promote the special, "Dolly and Carol in Nashville" that aired on February 14, 1979.SubmittedDolly Parton, left, Lily Tomlin, center, and Jan Fonda arrive at New York's Sutton Theater, Sunday, Dec. 14, 1980 for the premiere of the movie, "9 To 5". The three star in the film which was shown on Sunday for the benefit of working women, the National Association of Officer workers. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)APJim Nabors, Dolly Parton, and Burt Reynolds, left to right, during the gala premier in Austin Texas, on Sunday, July 11, 1982, of the movie 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas', starring Parton and Reynolds. (AP Photo/TWP)APCountry music entertainers Dolly Parton and Roy Acuff exchange a joke outside the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Monday, Oct. 11, 1983, where the Country Music Association Awards show is being televised. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)APDolly Parton (right) starred with Sylvester Stallone in the 1984 movie "Rhinestone." 20th Century FoxContributedDolly Parton in May of 1986 for the Tennessee Homecoming.News SentinelCrowds and lights follow Dolly Parton after a press conference at Dollywood on Oct. 7, 1987. (NEWS SENTINEL ARCHIVE)News SentinelHost Dolly Parton, second from right, performs with the Hank Williams Jr., center, and other stars at the end of the nationally televised 22nd annual CMA Awards show at the Grand Ole Opry House Oct 10, 1988. Callie Shell/ The TennesseanThe TennesseanDolly Parton in 1989 in New York to promote her hosting of Saturday Night Live.SubmittedDolly Parton (left) starred with Daryl Hannah in the 1989 film "Steel Magnolias." Tri-Star PicturesContributedDolly Parton opens Dollywood for a new season April 27, 1990.MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINELEntertainer Bob Hope and Dolly Parton share a moment on stage at the season opening of Dollywood on April 27, 1991. (NEWS SENTINEL ARCHIVE)News SentinelAdding more projects to her film resume, Dolly Parton starred in the 1992 film "Straight Talk," working with James Woods. Hollywood PicturesContributedSpraying herself with her new perfume, naturally called "Dolly," Dolly Parton introduces her new line of cosmetics on November 11, 1993, at Dollywood.Paul Efird/News SentinelDolly Parton and The Nashville Network host Ralph Emery in a TNN publicity still from 1994.ContributedDolly Parton climbs into a 1955 Chevrolet convertible at the season opening of Dollywood on April 21, 1995. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)News SentinelDolly Parton marks the season opening of Dollywood on April 20, 1996. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)Michael Patrick/News SentinelChildren from Gatlinburg Presbyterian Church listen on June 13, 1997 as Dolly Parton reads aloud to them as part of her Imagination Station program, an effort to provide children with one book to read each month. Paul Efird/Knoxville News SentinelNews SentinelDolly Parton and "The E-Team - Elvises of the Sky" ham it up at the grand opening of Dollywood's 13th season in 1998. (NEWS SENTINEL ARCHIVE)News SentinelDolly Parton announces the new $20 million Dolly's Splash Country water park during a ceremony in 2000. The park will cover nearly 35 acres adjacent to Dollywood when completed. (PAUL EFIRD/NEWS SENTINEL)Paul Efird, Paul Efird/News SentinelDolly Parton sings with the Stavropolye Cossacks State Dance group April 6, 2001, at Dollywood. Dolly was opening the Festival of Nations which features hundreds of performers from countries including Kenya, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Ireland, Trinidad, the Czech Republic and Russia. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)Michael Patrick, Knoxville News-SentinelDolly Parton shows off a blanket given to her by Neal McCaleb, left, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, and Cherokee Nation Chief Chadwick Smith on Dec. 13, 2002, at Dollywood. The occasion was an announcement of the expansion of the Imagination Library to American Indian pre-schoolers. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL)Saul Young/News SentinelDolly Parton serves dessert to reporters during media day on April 4, 2003, at Dollywood. Parton announced the opening of the Festival of Nations. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)Michael PatrickDolly Parton laughs as she get Gov. Phil Bredesen to sing along with her on "Old McDonald" during the launch of Imagination Library Friday, June 18, 2004, at Dollywood. IMichael Patrick/News SentinelDolly Parton performs before a packed house on Sept. 23, 2005, at Dollywood. (NEWS SENTINEL ARCHIVE)News SentinelDolly Parton appears in a tiger cage to kick off her annual KidsFest June 19, 2006, at Dollywood. The festival featured "Big Cats and Magic" starring Merlin award winning illusionists the Fercos Brothers.News SentinelDolly Parton kicks off the 2007 season with an appearance at the new Festival of Nations Celebrate Ireland production Friday at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge. (NEWS SENTINEL ARCHIVE)News SentinelDolly Parton performs Porter Wagoner songs Saturday, April 12, 2008, at Dollywood during a tribute to the late country music star. (NEWS SENTINEL ARCHIVE)News SentinelDolly Parton sits for an interview at Dollywood Thursday, May 7, 2009. (NEWS SENTINEL ARCHIVE)News SentinelDolly Parton shows off the Dolly new Parton Center for Women's Services at LeConte Medical Center on Feb. 12, 2010, in Pigeon Forge.News SentinelDolly Parton kicks off her "Better Day" tour at Thompson-Boling Arena on Sunday, July 17, 2011. The show proceeds will benefit Dolly's Imagination Library childhood literacy program.Saul Young/News SentinelDolly Parton poses with News Sentinel reporter Terry Morrow at Dollywood Friday, Mar. 23, 2012.Michael Patrick/News SentinelDolly Parton talks about her career and dreams for Dollywood at her 2013 season preview March 22, 2013.Michael Patrick / News SentinelDolly Parton performs at Thompson-Boling Arena in a show to benefit her Imagination Library and the Robert F. Thomas Foundation on Wednesday, May 28, 2014.Saul Young/News SentinelFILE -- In this June 29, 2014 file photo, U.S singer Dolly Parton performs at Glastonbury music festival, in England. NBC is in business with famed musician, Parton. The network has closed a deal for a series of TV movies based on her songs, stories and "inspired life," NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt said Friday, Jan. 16, 2015.APDolly Parton is seen performing in concert at the Ryman Auditorium on Friday, July 31, 2015 in Nashville, Tenn.APDolly Parton performs at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge as part of her "Pure & Simple" tour on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016.BRIANNA PACIORKA/NEWS SENTINELDolly Parton talks to media and fans Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, about her upcoming harvest and Christmas events.Michael Patrick / News SentinelDolly Parton was at Dollywood to help launch their "Season of Showstoppers" with a special preview for media and season passholders Friday, Mar. 16, 2018.Michael Patrick/News SentinelDolly Parton speaks with the News Sentinel at her new Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show in Pigeon Forge on Friday, June 7, 2019.Brianna Paciorka/News SentinelDolly Parton gives an exclusive interview to the News Sentinel in her suite at Dollywood’s DreamMore resort, Wednesday, May 12, 2021.Caitie McMekin/News SentinelDolly Parton makes a face as a giant bubble is put over her during an opening day event at Dollywood on Friday, March 11, 2022. Friday's visit was Parton's first public visit to the park since 2019.Brianna Paciorka/News SentinelDolly Parton performs Rocky Top in Neyland Stadium during a football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.Caitie McMekin/News SentinelFeatured Weekly Ad