Dolly in 1951

This little bean was about to turn 6. Imagine telling her about all the 6-year olds she'd someday help by giving them free books.

1960

She's 14 here, and doesn't she look like Yvonne Strahovski?

1965

And then, ENTER THE SKYSCRAPER. Dolly Parton does not mess around with her hair. I think that coif is taller than the length of her face.

1966

This one obviously lacks the height but makes up for it in dramatic side-swoop.

1960s

Is this what constitutes a rebellious phase when you're Dolly Parton?

Early 1970s

But now she's back on her iconic track.

1973, with Porter Wagoner

Dolly started out on Porter's show and eventually they sang duets that charted; he went to bat for her with RCA and apparently was a real ally in making sure her solo career took off.

1974

I like to imagine that Dolly is using the neck of that guitar to keep Burt a comfortable distance away.

1970s

But of COURSE there's a photo of Dolly snuggling a kitten.

1977 American Music Awards

I really wish I had a full shot of this outfit. I believe it was pale pink.

Late 1970s

I never think of Dolly as a jeans and baggy shirt gal, but maybe this was before she'd really landed on her brand.

1977

It seems hard enough to play guitar precisely with those nails, but look at the diamond spiderweb on her hand.

1977

This is Dolly with, per the caption, "Candy Bergen." I would like a seat at THAT cocktail table.

1977

SHE HATH RISEN.

1978

I gather she did a TV special with Cher? Dolly looks so icy here. I assume this is her patient listening face. My patient listening face looks like Impatient Murder Face.

1978

I love this.

1978

And yes OF COURSE there is more than one photo of Dolly cuddling a kitten. Apparently it belonged to the photographer, and was named after her.

1978

Maybe we blame this whole thing on the photographer?

1978

That's better. This is her Bob Mackie butterfly dress, which I believe IS actually black and which she may have worn on the Carol Burnett Show. She is a damn delight.

1979

Here she is being ebullient on her tour of Japan.

1978

Okay, so we've had Dolly with Candice Bergen, Cher, and now Carol Burnett? We haven't even gotten to 9 to 5 yet, and it's already a murderer's row of fantastic broads.

Amusingly, Informative Caption called her "Carol Channing." NOPE.

1980

Speaking of 9 to 5, here are our heroes. Dolly's dress is pink, and we did a post for the movie's birthday here.

I do love this movie.

1981

SHE HATH RISEN AGAIN. (I would not object to Dolly and Moira Rose doing a special together.)

1982

This is from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. And it DOES look nice.

1983

Oh, how I do not miss thick hose. This is obviouslyt not my favorite outfit of Dolly's, but I love the glow on Kenny Rogers's face when he watches her sing.

1983

Yes! TWIRL, Dolly. (I assume she did.)

1984

This is a promotional still for her movie Rhinestone, a play on My Fair Lady where she makes a bet that she can turn anyone into a country singer and she gets stuck trying to do it with Sylvester Stallone. It did not do well. But at least that's a more BELIEVABLE hurdle than, say, Rachael Leigh Cook being deemed hideous because she wears glasses.

1984

That is a MEGA SLIT there on Dolly.

1987, with third baseman Mike Pagliarulo

Psst, Dolly, you would look EVEN BETTER in Dodgers gear.

1987

Ms Magazine picked Dolly, Sharon Gless, Tyne Daly, and Sen. Barbara Mikulski as its women of the year. I approve this message.

1987

Apparently, when Columbia Records signed Dolly, they threw a party that involved having several New York Giants lift her up. As one does.

1988

This is always the hair I picture first when I think of Dolly.

The Steel Magnolias Crew

This movie is so good. I plan to be either Shirley MacLaine's character or Olympia Dukakis's when I am their age, which, honestly, might be soon, I don't even know anymore after finding out the Golden Girls were the same age as the Sex and the City ladies are now. I definitely need to get to work on it though. I can hear Olympia saying, "HERE. TAKE A WHACK AT 'OUISA," as if I were watching it live.

1993

Good golly, Miss Dolly. She looks like she's about to climb into a cannon and get shot out of it toward her own vow renewal.

2000

HEAR ME OUT: Dolly the Sheep, who was created from cells of a mammary gland (true story), was named after Dolly Parton. So: Dolly the Sheep was at the forefront of science (cloning) and Dolly the Parton was at the forefront of science (Moderna vaccine). They're CONNECTED.

2001

Damn RIGHT she's in the Songwriters' Hall of Fame.

2002

Dolly loves knickers. Not the slang for underpants; actual knickerbocker length pants.

2005

Dolly ALSO loves pants that are ventilated below the knees. And, apparently, Best Buy.

2003

Now with wings!

2006

What did I tell you about cropped pants? She's dialed in.

2006

Not to nitpick, but for her Kennedy Center night, I do miss a little bit of the wig volume. I'M SORRY, DOLLY. I still love you.

2006

I believe she was here as a nominee this year, for "Travelin' Thru," which is in Transamerica. She looks fabulous, as expected.

2006

Someone please get Dakota Fanning a copy of this photo.

2007

I would love to open my door and see this. Maybe I'll make it as a cardboard cutout.

2009

Someone explain to me why Dolly Parton hasn't been written into any Matrix sequels.

2009

"What? I like to let my shins breathe!"

2009

"See? I didn't invest in all these panty hose for you not to see that I'm wearing them."

2010

I kind of want to know her foot care regimen, because Dolly has been in heels for her entire life and I don't think I remember how to walk in them, much less repair my feet after a few hours in them.

2011

This all feels right.

2014

It's so good. It's like classic Dolly mixed with classic Brenda Walsh.

2014

I wish I had this much energy... ever.

I really was not kidding about the shin ventilation. (She has worn these pants a LOT over the years. She clearly cherishes them.)

2016

TRULY, truly, I was not kidding. She loves to air those out.

2016

It's a coat of many colors, just like her song says.

2018

Have a holly, Dolly Christmas. It's the best time of the year.

2019

Happy birthday, Dolly. I hope it's as resplendent as you are, if that's even possible.

2021

Someone decorated their house in Dolly's honor at Mardi Gras last year, and I hope they left it/leave it like this forever.

Happy Birthday, Dolly Parton

She deserves a humdinger.