Dolly Parton’s Life Began with a Sack of Cornmeal — And a Whole Lot of Love
Long before the rhinestones, global fame, and chart-topping hits, Dolly Parton’s story began in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee—with nothing more than a sack of cornmeal and a family full of heart.
Born in January 1946 as the fourth of twelve children, Dolly entered the world in a one-room cabin in Locust Ridge. Her family was so poor that her father, Robert Lee Parton, famously paid the doctor who delivered her with a sack of home-ground cornmeal instead of money. It wasn’t wealth that welcomed Dolly into the world—it was grit, resourcefulness, and unconditional love.
“We were poor, but we didn’t know it,” Dolly has often said. “We had love, we had laughter, and we had music.”
And much of that foundation came from her father.
Robert Lee Parton wasn’t a man of fancy words or formal education. A hard-working farmer and laborer, he didn’t always understand Dolly’s dreams of glittering stages and big-city lights—but he never tried to stop her. In fact, he cheered her on in his own quiet way, often saying little but doing much.
Years later, when a statue of Dolly was unveiled in their hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee, Robert Lee was so proud—and so humble—that he would sneak down after dark to polish it, wiping off the dust and bird droppings with his own hands. No headlines. No attention. Just a father still watching over his daughter in the only way he knew how.
“My daddy loved that statue more than anyone,” Dolly recalled in a touching interview. “He used to go down to the courthouse at night and clean the pigeon poop off it. Didn’t want me looking dirty.”
His legacy lives on—not only in the stories Dolly tells, but in the woman she’s become. From her charitable work with children’s literacy, to her unwavering connection to her roots, Robert Lee Parton’s values echo in every part of his daughter’s life. Faith. Family. Hard work. And kindness.
Dolly Parton may be a global superstar, but her heart still beats in rhythm with the Smoky Mountains—and with the memory of a man who gave everything he had, including a sack of cornmeal, to bring her into the world.