Many people know Dolly Parton, the famous singer. She’s been a star for a long time and doesn’t plan to stop. When she was 18, she decided she wanted to be a star, and she made that dream come true.
Dolly’s childhood was tough because she grew up in a big family with not much money. Even though they didn’t have a lot, Dolly always wanted to look good. She got inspired by someone in her town.
But trying to look good didn’t go well with her grandfather. Dolly shared that he physically hurt her because of how she looked. Despite these challenges, Dolly stayed connected to music, which has always been a big part of her life.
She was born on January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. Growing up with 11 siblings, money was tight. However, her family loved music. Her mom sang and played guitar, and Dolly performed in church, learning more about music.
Music was a big deal for her family, and her uncles helped her take the next step. One of them gave her a guitar, and she started writing her own songs. By age 10, she performed on TV and radio in Knoxville, Tennessee. At 13, she made her debut on a national country radio station, Grand Ole Opry, making about $20 a week.
Dolly always loved fashion, and she often surprises her fans with her amazing looks and outfits. Despite facing challenges, she continues to do what she loves—making music.
When Dolly Parton was young, she really liked dressing up and making sure she looked good. She got the idea from a local woman who dressed in a flashy way. This woman wore tight skirts, high heels, and had fancy accessories. Dolly thought she was beautiful and would look for her whenever she went out, hoping to see something cool she was wearing.
But not everyone liked Dolly looking different and glamorous, especially her father, grandfather, and a preacher. Her father didn’t do anything about it, but sadly, her grandfather physically hurt her because of how she looked.
Dolly was sensitive and didn’t like being disciplined, but she was determined to be herself. Even though it cost her, she went for what she wanted. Years later, in 2011, she wrote a song called “The Sacrifice” about this experience. The song talks about how she was willing to pay a price for her dreams and believes it was worth it for her.
Dolly Parton always did things her own way. Even when her record label wanted to control parts of her private life, she stayed true to herself.
“I’ve always been true to myself,” Dolly said. That’s what her mom used to tell her: be true to yourself. She believes in doing things her way, in a way that aligns with her beliefs. It gives her strength because she can say, “I can stand by this, I can live by this.”
While she cared about what people thought, it never stopped her from being herself. Dolly finished high school, being the first in her family to do so. In 1964, at 18, she decided to focus completely on her music career. She left home and went to Nashville, the heart of country music.
“I had a dream and a talent, I thought. And I really believed it was going to happen.”
In Nashville, Dolly became a star quickly. She worked with Porter Wagoner on The Porter Wagoner Show, and people loved their performances. She signed a contract with RCA Records, and in 1971, she got her first No. 1 country hit with “Joshua.” More hits followed, including the famous “Jolene.”
The song “Jolene” may only have 200 words, but it became a huge hit in the 20th century. Dolly Parton reached the top spot, No. 1, on the music charts. The song even got nominated for two Grammy Awards in the Best Female Country Vocal Performance category, for both the studio and live versions.
What’s more, “Jolene” earned the 217th spot on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” in 2004.
Dolly Parton is a prolific songwriter, having written over 3,000 songs. Some of her other famous songs include “I Will Always Love You,” “The Seeker,” “Love Is Like a Butterfly,” and “All I Can Do.” She received numerous awards and became a worldwide superstar.
In 1977, she won her first Grammy with “Here You Come Again,” and more hits followed. In the 1980s, Dolly expanded into movies, starring in the hit comedy “9 to 5” alongside Jane Fonda. She even opened her own amusement park, Dollywood, in 1986.
Dolly has sold over 100 million albums, topped the country chart 25 times, and won eight Grammy Awards. Despite all her success, she keeps creating new music, saying, “Almost every day I come up with a few song titles or a sweet melody.” She feels young at heart, claiming to be 35 in spirit and mind, even though she’s achieved so much in her career.
Dolly Parton, the famous singer, found the love of her life more than 55 years ago. In 1964, when Dolly was 18, she met Carl Dean outside a laundromat in Nashville, Tennessee. Carl was 21, and right away, he felt there was something special about her.
“When I first saw her, I thought, ‘I’m gonna marry that girl,’” Carl said. “And my second thought was, ‘Lord, she’s good lookin.’ That was the day my life began. I wouldn’t trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth.”
Dolly remembered that he hollered at her from his pickup truck, but when he asked her out, she said no. Instead, she invited him over while she was babysitting her nephew a few days later. That marked the beginning of a love story that has lasted.
In May 1966, Dolly and Carl got married in a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia. Even though her record label wanted them to wait because of her music career, they didn’t want to. They chose Georgia for the wedding to keep it private, with only Dolly, Carl, and her mother attending.
Dolly and Carl have been in love for a very long time. However, he doesn’t join her on the red carpet at award shows or charity events, except for one time when she received her first songwriting award at the age of 20.
After that event, as Dolly recalled, they got in their car and headed home. Carl turned to her and said, “Dolly, I want you to have everything you want, and I’m happy for you, but don’t you ever ask me to go to another one of them dang things again!”
In 2016, they celebrated their 50th anniversary, and to make it special, they renewed their vows. Dolly said it was a sweet and special moment for them. Despite being in the spotlight, they’ve kept their love strong and private.
“We didn’t feel any pressure at all. We had our own little ceremony in a small chapel on our property. After that, we went in our little RV down to Ringgold, Georgia, and spent the night where we got married 50 years ago. We took some beautiful pictures, got all dressed up, and had a lot of fun, really.”
“We’ve always been good buddies. We have a lot of fun and a lot of respect for each other. It was his first marriage and mine, and we never thought we’d ever want to do that again. Why bother?”
Dolly Parton has been in the entertainment business for her whole life, and it has been great to have the support of her one true love through it all. Nowadays, they can pretty much do whatever they want, and we truly think they deserve it all.
But there’s one thing that Carl and Dolly decided against – having children. Dolly had a simple reason for not wanting kids: her career.
Now, Dolly Parton is 77 years old, but we hope to see her perform and make albums for many more years.
“You’re too old to dress like a 20-year-old,” an online user stated about Cher’s revealing outfits in her 70s.
Cher’s journey from the unknown to establishing her distinct place as a multitalented icon is nothing short of exciting. In addition to redefining music and ruling the world of music for nearly six decades, she has challenged the norms and expectations, building a persona unlike any other.
From being fun and full of surprises to exuberating boldness and brilliance—Cher’s journey to success has been both unconventional and exceptional. Moreover, she has used fashion as a form of self-expression, unapologetically conveying her somewhat complex personal style.
Despite her age, the “After All” singer’s revealing style has remained unchanged. Her choice of seemingly inappropriate outfits has kept her in the spotlight for years. At the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, she rocked a body-baring, heart-shaped pasties outfit made from beaded threads.
Cher topped her look with a platinum wig, looking snug and happy in her bold beaded dress. Interestingly, everyone adored her style, and she also bagged the Icon Award, which later gave her a chance to share an emotional acceptance speech.
While reflecting on her journey in the music arena for over 50 years at the time, Cher echoed what her mom told her when she was a young girl:
“You’re not going to be the smartest, you’re not going to be the prettiest, you’re not going to be the most talented, but you’re going to be special.’”
Taking the conversation further, the “If I Could Turn Back Time” star noted how her style statement throughout her career had been unique, despite being dubbed outrageous, distinct, and against the rule books.
To anyone wondering how she pulled off such a revealing dress for her age, the then-71-year-old responded, “I can do a five-minute plank.”
Despite going strong in her 70s, Cher has received immense criticism for her looks. In 2019, a user called the songstress “too old to dress like a [20-year-old].”
In 2014, a second user slammed her for looking ugly in her purple dress, saying she needed to wear something longer. “Cher looks like an ugly Ozzy,” commented another user.
She has reportedly been dubbed as the poster girl for cosmetic procedures.
Besides being criticized, the “Moonstruck” alum has also received supportive comments from fans. “THIS is cher! she looks her age, beautiful and happy. there’s nothing wrong with looking like you’ve lived [sic],” stated one user on Twitter.
When Cher posted her mother’s picture on social media in June 2022, many drew similarities between the two women. She is beautiful. She is beautiful at her age now!” wrote a fan. Another netizen commended the pop star, adding, “Looks beautiful for any age and she is already doing her job fabulously.”
For Cher, the world of glitz and glam has also pressured her to remain young and relevant in her field. She has reportedly been dubbed as the poster girl for cosmetic procedures.
When asked if she normalized the trend, the singer immediately pointed out how she had seen girls as young as 18 want to change their appearance. She said she didn’t comprehend why people held her responsible for something which had been trending for a long time.
“If you’re no good at what you do, people don’t care what you look like,” answered Cher when asked if cosmetic treatments had prolonged her career. She noted how people didn’t pay money to look at someone and attached much more importance to someone’s performance.
Despite admitting to feeling exhausted and drained, the “Burlesque” alum said her voice had never been better. She also stated how she had worked diligently to build her body strength, adding that even 20-year-old girls couldn’t do what she did.
While commenting on an American tabloid newspaper constantly suggesting she was on the brink of death, Cher appeared shocked and confused. During her response to the somewhat queer question, she said she was unsure why they thought she was dying when she had never felt that way.
Cher is also excellent at monitoring her diet and is a fan of healthy eating except for her love for chocolate. She also credits working out and exercising to her gorgeous appearance and agelessness.
So, how does the “All or Nothing” singer maintain her lovely figure while adding more years to her life? She once shared how she works twice as hard and loves being in the gym as much as possible. Cher said she was a tomboy in her youth and loved playing sports.
Owing to her sporty attitude, Cher also learned to surf and said she loved embarking on adventures. The Oscar-winning diva has a few simple beauty tips which have helped her remain an elegant beauty over the years.
Her secrets to staying fit, active, healthy, and of course, ageless include saying no to drinking, smoking, and drugs. In addition to understanding the importance of mindful eating and adopting a vegetarian diet, Cher confessed she rarely drank and never did drugs.
Cher once rated Cruise among her top five lovers, and the duo’s relationship amassed immense popularity back in the day, despite the “Jerry Maguire” actor being 16 years her junior.
The “Baby Don’t Go” star explained how she had always considered drinking and drugs unhealthy. While she admitted to smoking cigarettes for some time, she quickly bounced back and steered clear of anything that contradicted her taste.
Being the superstar she is, Cher’s health continues to worry her fans from time to time, mainly in the wake of her advancing age. In 2021, she had to cancel some of her concerts after contracting a mysterious illness.
Heeding her doctor’s advice, Cher, then 75, took some time to rest and recover and kept her loyal fan base updated about her health through regular social media updates.
Known for entertaining the audience, staying relevant, and serving style goals despite her age, the Emmy-winning star was shattered to cancel some of her shows. During her “Dressed To Kill” tour, she was said to have fallen ill with a severe virus affecting her kidneys and voice box.
At the time, Cher had to cancel her mega show’s second half because she appeared too unwell to perform. However, despite her health scares, she has managed to stay fit and healthy, determined to keep her fans entertained with her mesmerizing performances.
Cher’s age has never deterred her from chasing her dreams. In addition to reveling in continued success and fame, she had had an exciting love life. In November 2022, the “Love and Understanding” singer went public with her relationship to Alexander “AE” Edwards, 40 years her junior.
When photos of the hot duo circulated on social media, many fans warned Cher about her then-boyfriend’s past. But sources reported that the Grammy-winning musician was unswayed by the online chatter, and she couldn’t care less about the skepticism surrounding her relationship.
Despite the undue media and public scrutiny, Cher seemed to enjoy the attention, reportedly adding that she and her then-beau shared something extraordinary, making her feel sexy and full of life.
The same source shared that Cher had always had a thing for younger men, and her relationship with Edwards was no different than her previous connections. But what made it stand out from the “Bang Bang” star’s prior romances was how it made her feel and her confidence to take it public.
In December 2022, Cher posted a picture of her pear-shaped diamond ring on Twitter, triggering the romance rumor mill. The “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” alum wrote how she wished her late mom, Georgia Holt, could witness her happiness and gorgeous ring.
She mentioned how her mother loved diamonds and would have been ecstatic to share her daughter’s happiness. Later, Cher said she had posted the ring’s photo because she wished to flaunt her then-boyfriend’s fabulous nails.
The pop star’s romance with Edwards isn’t the only one that gained widespread media attention. In the past, she’s dated Hollywood A-listers, including Richie Sambora, Elvis Presley, Tom Cruise, and several others.
Cher once rated Cruise among her top five lovers, and the duo’s relationship amassed immense popularity back in the day, despite the “Jerry Maguire” actor being 16 years her junior.
She has been married twice: she wed Sonny Bono in 1964, and they divorced in 1975. They share a son, Chaz Bono. Unfortunately, Sonny died in 1998. Later, in 1975, she tied the knot with Gregg Allman, but the duo divorced three years later. Allman passed away in 2017, and the duo share a son, Elijah.
Despite the rumors that Cher and Edwards were engaged, sources close to the couple confirmed that they had gone their separate ways after just six months of dating. It was also revealed that the pair were never engaged, and Cher’s ring was merely a gift from her ex-lover.
Regardless, the duo was said to be incredibly close, and Edwards’ son loved spending time at Cher’s Malibu residence. Their romance and brief relationship were believed to be real and special, and despite their decision to call it quits, they were said to be on friendly terms.
Although Cher has been slammed off and on for her revealing style, she continues to exuberate class and confidence while showing off her slim figure, proving that age is just a number!
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