Dolly Parton | Dumb Blonde Podcast

You guys are going to be pleasantly. surprised. So, with this podcast, you. know, Dolly had she's a workhorse like I. am. And before she had done the podcast, she had already been done three other. things. The podcast was the last of her. things of the day. >> And we got aotted 45 minutes with her. And her and I just started talking and. like she had some of the most incredible. answers. And like, you know, when Dolly. speaks, you don't cut her off. So, I. didn't get to finish the entire. interview, but Dolly had so much fun.

that they're bringing me back for a part. two. >> It was incredible and I can't I'm just. so grateful and so thankful. Bunny XO. Vegas. >> Bunny XO blonde podcast and Bunny Bunn.

Is this thing on? Hello babies. Welcome. back to another episode of Dumb Blonde. Today is so special to me because I. started this podcast 6 years ago. And. when I named this podcast, I named it. after a specific song um that was tongue. and cheek, but also was an oxymoron to. my life, but also a woman who I have. admired and literally just patterned my. entire life after. Um the iconic, the.

queen of not just country, but the queen. of everything, Miss Dolly Parton is here. today. Well, hello. Now, we should put. an S on the dumb blonde. I'm telling. you, there are two of us here today. >> Will you be my co-host? >> I'll be your co-host. >> I would love for you to be my. >> You love that. I would love it. [laughter]. >> I would love for you to be my co-host. >> A bunny and a squirrel. >> I love it. [laughter] I love it so much. Both are fast though. Very, very. slippery suckers, right? >> Yeah. Very, very, very. >> Um, this has been something that I have. pretty much manifested since I started.

this podcast. Everybody has always asked. me, "Who is your dream guest?" And. there's two of you. Dolly Parton and. Joyce Meyers are the two people that I. have said that I have wanted since the. beginning and sitting here with you. today is such an honor and I just want. to say thank you for making time for me. today. >> Well, I'm happy to do it. We love you. >> Oh, I love you, too. And my husband. loves you, too. >> Well, we love your [laughter] husband. very much, but anytime I see you, I see. him and vice versa. So, yeah, we we love. you both. You make a great couple, but. you're great on your own and you're no. dumb blonde. I can tell you that.

>> Thank you. And neither one of us are. though, right? Isn't that just. >> I don't know about me, but I know. [laughter] you're okay. >> Well, I mean, the testimony to your life. is pretty much shows how brilliant of a. woman you are. And I kind of want to. dive into that with you. Um, starting. with I want to paint a picture for my. viewers at home. For some people who. might not even know your backstory, I'd. like to start um, you know, with your. childhood and where you grew up and. stuff like that. If you could tell me a. little bit about that. >> Well, I grew up in the Great Smoky. Mountains of East Tennessee, way up in.

the hills. Actually, I was actually born. in a little cabin on the Little Pigeon. River. My dad was a sharecropper for a. while and then eventually we moved over. to the little place we call Locust Ridge. where you hear me talk a lot about my. Tennessee mountain home. But there's 12. of us in all. Mama had 12 kids and uh. six boys and six girls. We were pretty. even and we were just country people. just trying to scratch a living out of. out of dirt up there in the hills. But I.

I was blessed to have a good mom and dad. and they managed pretty good to work. with nothing to try to, you know, to. raise a house full of kids. And none of. us wound up in jail. None of us had to. get married. >> No. [laughter]. >> So all in all, I think they did a pretty. good job. But we were just a lot of. folks in our area were poor. That's just. the way it was in in that area. But it's. been one of the greatest things really. that I've carried with me all my. memories of my childhood and it's made. me appreciate life and people more than.

if I had been brought up a different way. I think. >> Yes, ma'am. I always feel like um harder. childhoods make for um great adulthoods. It like sets you up for just a lifetime. of you know knowing that you have to. work for what you want and going after. your dreams. And you I feel like you. dream a little bit bigger too. >> I think you do. I think you also kind of. can relate, you know, to to things more. and you also because if you like us, you. stay so close together as a family in. order to try to make it. And I think.

that in itself gives you a strength that. you wouldn't have had you not had, you. know, to know what it's like to work. together. >> Yes, ma'am. >> You know, to make things work and to. keep a family together. >> Yes, ma'am. Absolutely. Um, a lot of. your songs are deeply personal and some. of them reference your father's tough. love and you've also spoken about your. mom's faith, how she was, you know, extremely religious. Do you feel that. the tough love approach and her.

religious views is kind of what made you. so independent or like dare I say. rebellious? >> Oh, I don't think I'm rebellious as much. as I'm just strong. And uh I get my work. ethic from my dad and I get my my. spirituality. and u you know just my my faith you I. mean my faith but also just my. creativity from my mom's side of the. family because they were all musical. Now dad's people worked hard and uh dad. was not a tough dad. He was strong.

though. He was kind of like that. We. knew we knew we better watch out. >> He wasn't one to play with. >> No, he wasn't [laughter] going to beat. us to death or anything like that. But. we weren't afraid of mama. You know, we'd get by with anything with her. But. she would she would say, you know, you. couldn't push her over the edge. She'd. say, "Okay, now that's enough." Right. [laughter]. >> But my dad, we But I think that that was. a good combination with mom's faith and. uh and with dad's um strength that it.

made us really all pretty well balanced. kids. I think. >> I love that. I love that a lot. The. respect that you have for your parents. still after all these years is admirable. also. >> Yeah. Well, I loved my family. I still. do. I I stay as close as I can to them. Certainly if I don't see them as often. as I'd love to, but they're always in my. heart and I always carry home with me. wherever I go. And I write so many songs. in order. Well, it comes natural to me, but I often do it just to keep all that. straight and keep that still present.

because it's so easy. And I'm sure you. know living out in this big world, you. can just go any way, whether it be right. or wrong. >> Yes, ma'am. >> You can go left and right and wrong. >> Yes. But it's it's like if you keep that. thing that you remember as a child that. faith I keep that very I'm very I'm a. big uh person you know on faith and. keeping that strength because that's my. creative energy and my and my spiritual. energy is the thing that keeps me.

motivated keeps me strong keeps me from. falling through the cracks. >> keeps me grounded. >> crazy world yeah. >> I always say that I'm like whenever. you're on your knees you're in the best. position to pray. >> it is literally like that has been the. Only thing that has gotten me through in. any hard times in my life is being able. to call on Jesus and be like, "All. right, big homie. I know we got this. [laughter]. >> I know you got this for me." Speaking. about family and you being so close with. your brothers and sisters, um, everybody. knows you as Dolly the icon, but how did.

they know you before all of this? Like, if they could describe you, how would. they describe the Dolly that they grew. up with? Well, I was just another one of. those little ragged ass kids, you know, [laughter] up there in the Smokies in, you know, in the mountains. But we all. we all love the music. I I took it more. serious, I think. Of course, my uncle. Bill, one of my mom's brothers, he took. a great interest in me because he saw me. paying more attention to it than maybe. some of the others did because I was.

always trying to learn all the chords on. a guitar or any kind of an instrument. laying around. And uh so they knew me as. somebody that's going to, you know, offer to do their chores if they'll come. help me sing on a song or if they'll add. some background or help me work up a. background part that I thought of. I. remember once I had u when pig Latin. when I was in school, somebody came up. with pig Latin. And. >> I never learned how to speak that. >> Well, I I did and because I was. fascinated with anything different. Can. you tell me a song? >> I only learned I only learned to do.

Yeah. I'm going to sing you a song in. piglet. [laughter]. But anyway, so I came up with a song. called Friendliest Enemy and I wanted. the backgrounds to be like uh she was my. best friend to go with that in the. background. So it was like is o. es. [laughter]. and that meant she was my best friend. But if the song was she's the. friendliest enemy I believe ever did see. and she'd better get my baby off her.

mind. I may es. So anyway. I had to I had to get my sisters because. it they had to learn it you know they. had to learn all that and I had to offer. to do their chores for a week or two to. you know for them to take the time to to. do it and just make them do it. So. anyway, that that kind of stuff. So they. knew me as somebody that was always. singing, always writing, always, you. know, fidgety. I couldn't stay still.

You know, I was just kind of always full. of energy in life. But we all loved each. other. We all had our own personalities. We all loved each other for the way we. were. And that's how we still are. We. all, some of us are a good mix, you. know. Well, we're all a good mix, but a. lot of them are more like mama mom's. people or some are more like dads. I was. a really good mix between the two and I. love that. >> That is perfect. And I I really think. you need to release that song in Pig. Start a new trend again. The kids will. love it. >> We actually did it up in uh as one of.

the shows in at Dollywood when I was. telling my life story. So we worked it. in a couple of years ago at the Dolly. Show and my nieces got such kick having. to learn to sing it up there on the. show. But everybody was singing it. because everybody trying to learn that. little part. >> I love it. I know. I was so jealous of. the people who could do pig Latin. because I just couldn't do it. I just. could not catch on to it or how to do. it. So I I'm just fascinated that you. could. >> I was a pig so I learned pig. >> Stop it right now. [laughter]. >> Oh, I was I was farmer's daughter.

>> I love [gasps] that. So you um circling. back to your family, you helped raise. being from 12 children, you guys all. took turns raising a baby, right, in the. family. The oldest ones did. Um that is. what I had read. And you had one. specifically, your brother Larry, that. you helped raise. Um, can we touch base. on that whole situation a little bit? >> Well, I think let me clear up a little.

bit. We We all had I have a sister and. two brothers older than me. Yes. And. there's eight kids younger. But we uh. mama had so many kids. She there was. only 18 months, two years difference in. our in all of our age. And mom and daddy. married when mama was 15. She got had. her first baby at 16. M and so um so. they were just born one right after. another. So. >> any older child had to help with. >> whoever was coming along. But the little. uh the one that was going to be my baby. was a little Larry.

>> He didn't live that long actually. And u. you know he was just he he died at. birth. But he was I'd followed mama. around when she was pregnant the whole. time. She said that was going to be. mine. I'd sing to it and I'd kiss on the. belly and you know couldn't wait for my. baby to come. But he didn't make it. And. it just crushed me because I that was. when I. >> you know I didn't understand about death. and you know all of that. So that was a. real hit for me at that age that I had. lost my baby. I thought it some you know. I had a guilt thing about it somehow. that I' I'd done something wrong.

>> But uh I think any child that goes. through a thing like that but we all. grieved over him. Not just me but I more. than the others because he was supposed. to be mine. I was picturing how I was. going to rock him and how I was going to. sing him my songs and you know and all. that. >> But u but we loved all the kids and we. all helped with all the kids. >> Um you've spoken about the influence of. your family. So would you say that. Larry's spirit and the memory um of him.

has continued to impact you both. personally and professionally because. after that um he passed away when you. were nine. Correct. And then at at 10 is. when you like started performing and. kind of like I don't know. I feel like. maybe it was kind of like a push. Was. that your way of dealing with the pain? >> No. No, I don't think that had anything. to do with it. I was so musically. oriented anyway and I had my dreams. It. did take me a while. I was so. >> depressed as a little kid over that. Took me a while to kind of overcome.

that. Um, I mean, you know, weeks, you. know, months kind of, you know, to where. I really wasn't all that interested in. stuff, but I don't think that had. anything to do with the rest of my life. It just taught me about grief. You know, how we all have to learn those things at. some age. And so, that was, you know, that was a real hard hit. But no, that. after I got over the the grief of that. and I moved on, I knew he was in heaven. And you know we would if mama could. handle it certainly I could you know.

that kind of thing. >> But I just was ready to go on and my. uncle Bill you know was pushing me on. and uh he saw my desire my dreams and so. we would he would take me around to you. know to different local things to sing. and on local radio and TV. But all of. those things helped to make up a human. being. all those memories of the bad and. the good, >> you know, I think that just all you. don't even know what what parts they. really play, the little things that.

happen, it just either, if nothing else, it makes your heart tender or you know. how you have how you have to protect. certain things and it teaches you got to. know about those things. >> Yes, ma'am. I couldn't agree more. So, you know, at 10 years old, you're. starting to work with Uncle Bill and you. guys are going around, you know, you're. performing and stuff like that. At 10. years old, a lot of kids are still. figuring out who they are. How did you. find your confidence to stand out and. perform um at such a young age like.

that? >> Well, I was always writing songs. I was. always able to rhyme and mama was always. fascinated and there was always so much. commotion in a house with that many. kids. >> Oh, I can imagine. >> None of us really got any real special. attention unless we were in trouble or. you know or something. You're going to. get called out with something. But I. learned early on mama was always. fascinated and and you know when I'd. sing these songs that I'd written, I' I. was I would hear people talk. I'd hear.

stories. So I was writing songs at. eight, seven, eight, nine years old. about people getting killed in the war. and things that I'd never seen or done, but I was able to to rhyme and and. write. And mama would she would always I. I noticed early on that I'd get more. attention. >> because of that. >> And of course, everybody wants to be. paid attention to. Everybody wants to be. special. So when somebody come to our. house, mom would often say, "Run and get. your guitar." And and then she'd say, "Whoever would say, "I want you to hear.

this thing this little thing wrote. I. want you to hear this song this little. thing wrote." And so I'd be really just. singing my song and I was getting all. that extra attention, >> which is making some of the other kids. jealous because they weren't doing, but. they didn't work as hard as I did. [laughter] But learning them chords, I. had little calluses on my little. fingers, you know, cut deep. They were. hard. They hardened. I had to I had to. really learn it till it, you know, hardens those calluses for you to play. So, I took the time to do a lot of the. things that some of the little younger.

ones weren't willing to do. >> So, I just saw that that was and I got. the confidence from uh mama bragging on. me and and I I knew that I could do. something. >> special. >> that some of them couldn't, you know, playing the guitar and all that, [snorts]. >> but I just and then my uncle Bill, he. took great pride in me and anytime. somebody would tell me, "Oh, you're. going to be good. you're this that I. just kind of took that and my. personality was very. >> um you know susceptible to that kind of.

stuff. >> Do you feel like you're an old soul. because you were able to relate to those. songs of like people losing people in. the war and stuff like that? Like to be. 10 years old and writing songs like that. like you you would have to resonate with. them in some way. Well, I'm just very. perceptive and I had the gift of rhyme. as I mentioned and I had the gift of. song and so I would just hear things and. and you can always, you know, I was I. could kind of take a story from one. other thing and I could change a few.

things around. So I I didn't feel like I. was necessarily an old soul or that I. had lived before or anything. I mean, I. might have. I hope I did. Hope I might. live again. Yeah. But um I just think I. was just able to do that because I had a. I was very perceptive and receptive and. I I just had a a very creative mind, you. know. I I I had a great imagination. >> So it wasn't hard for me to make up a. bunch of junk.

>> Well, being around 12 kids, I'm sure to. even just get any sort of piece, you had. to have a great imagination. >> Yeah. I'd sneak up because there was a. lot of kids going on. I sneak out behind. the woodshed or. >> around the outhouse, sit back there, do. whatever, you know, write my songs, find. a a shady spot or a warm spot. But yeah, I was always into that guitar and always. writing my song. >> I love everything that you do is. productive. I want my daughter to watch. this, our daughter to watch this because. she's 16 right now. She's still trying. to find her place in this world. And I.

think it's awesome that, you know, >> you were so productive at such a young. age. >> Can we talk about Uncle Bill? because. Uncle Bill really believed in you and he. took you to all these shows and then he. landed you in the uh Cass Walker Farm. and Home hour and you became a regular. on that show. Can you take me on that. journey? >> Well, uh Knoxville was about 30 miles. from where we actually lived and I had. an aunt that lived in Knoxville. That. was where the show was from. And so, uh,

I would in the summer after I got to. where I actually got the job, when I got. old enough to to be allowed to stay away. from home, but God, I was so homesick. She, uh, she worked at a at a one of. those uh, store, department stores, and. my uncle was a carpenter. So I was there. in that in that house a lot and I would. go up to the top of the hill from where. they live and I'd catch a bus down to. the radio station, take my little guitar.

and and I I would go to walk across the. vio I guess is what they call it like. this big bridge have my little guitar. and then I would I would go do the. Caswalker show um play my little guitar. do my songs and Bill wasn't always with. me then. Yeah, >> Bill was doing a lot of other things, but when I [laughter] was working on the. >> Bill was living a full life. >> Walker show. Yeah. Well, he was doing he. did some other things, but I could go. there. >> And then the the guys that the Brewster. brothers especially that worked with the.

Cass Walker show, they'd back me up and, you know, work with me, playing the. songs or singing some with me. And then. sometimes I'd wait while I was waiting. for the bus, I'd just open I'd just get. my guitar out to to be singing and some. people would walk by and they'd think. that I was standing on the corner and. they'd drop money in my guitar case, which I love because then I go home and. buy those little jiffy burgers up at the. top of the hill uh from where my aunt. lived. They were like little crystal. white castle things. [snorts].

>> Oh, that was the greatest thing if I. made enough, somebody threw enough money. in. And then I got on to that to where I. just kind of kind of [laughter] play it. And I even I even wrote a song with my. brother Floyd called Nickels and Dimes. And it was about that that time when I. was walking across. But working with the. Caswalk Show was amazing. Bill had taken. me there um early on before I got the. job. He's the one that got me, as you as. you mentioned, got me on the Caswalk. show and he'd take me to the to the. fair, the county fair, where I could,

you know, join in contests and different. things like that. And then eventually he. would take me back and forth to. Nashville. >> Yeah. And so he just had he saw that I. was so serious about it and he saw that. I had potential and I just And Bill was. a great guitar player. Bill wrote great. songs. We wrote great songs together. In. fact, in 19 I guess it was 67, we won. the song of the year, BMI song of the. year, and put it off until tomorrow, Bill Phillips on Deck of Records. He was.

a pretty big artist at the time. And so. I got to when I had we had sent the demo. to him. >> from when we just written it. Then they. wanted me to sing on the demo. So that. was kind of like my first kind of break. >> of being heard like on the on the real. radio. >> of everybody was DJs were calling who's. the girl singing with the Bill Phillips. on the Bill Phillips song. >> So anyway that was kind of a moment too. >> That's awesome that Uncle Bill's been so. pivotal in your career. That's amazing.

At 10 years old being on the Cass Walker. show, who were some of your musical. influences? Was there anybody that you. wanted to be like or did you have an. idea of like, hey, I'm going to pave my. own way? >> Well, all of my people were very musical. and so I think some of my greatest. influences were within my own family. My. I had an aunt, Dorothy Joe, one of my. mom's sisters. Boy, she played the. banjo. She played the guitar and she. wrote great songs and she was an. evangelist. She also was a Pentecostal.

preacher. >> I love that. And I used to I was just. totally influenced, you know, by her. But as far as some of the others, there. were the kitty, you know, there was. Kitty Whales on the Grand Old Opry and. Roy Auff and and there was the some. early on after I got to out to where we. really had I had a little bit more. exposure to to big radio and all. There. was a woman named Rose Maddox. She was. it was the Maddox brothers and Rose. She. worked with her brothers and that was.

the first time I'd ever seen uh people. dress in the rhinestones. They wore kind. of western kind of like the how the. Grand Old Opry does, but they were the. first ones I'd ever seen do that. >> And uh so and they also put a show. together, a little they did little bits, little comedy and little things and I. thought that was amazing. So you you. find that now that I'm older, I look. back and I I find that I have just. picked up bits and pieces from so many. people through the years and I've.

learned so much that I didn't realize. I'm like a sponge. Yeah. >> You know, I just without even knowing. that I'm doing it. >> and then later on I'll do something and. I'll think, "Oh, that reminds me so much. of when I saw so and so or or you know, you just learn. You just learn through. watching." I always say we're like a. masterpiece of all the art we pick up. from each person. You know, it's just. like little little gems of their souls. that we take with us and that, you know, we look back on and we're like, "Okay, this influenced this and this influenced. that." So, I love that you always give.

credit where credit's due. >> because I'm the same way. Like, if I see. if anybody asked me what's your look, I'm like Dolly. I'm Dolly all day long, you know? >> Well, I wish I look like you. >> Oh, stop it. >> You didn't need me for that. >> Oh, you Listen, we could trade outfits. right now and I'd be happy. I love this. outfit right here. >> Well, yeah. I we love God, I guess. >> A we like it that way. >> Absolutely. Yes. So, circling back, let's talk about the Grand Old Opry Opry. because you made your first appearance. at the Grand Old Opry when you were 13. years old. >> How was that for you walking out on that.

stage at 13 being introduced by Johnny. Cash? >> It was scary. [laughter]. >> Yeah, I could imagine. >> I remember my heart was beating like a. drum, but uh I always said my my desire. to do a thing is has always been greater. than my fear of it. >> [snorts]. >> So, I just try to hold on to to that. I. thought, well, I can't I can't turn. around in the middle of stage and run. back. I thought I got to finish it. >> It's kind of how I felt today. >> No matter what. [laughter]. >> I was so scared. >> Oh, no.

>> In a good way, though. I feel like if. you're not if you're not scared of what. at what you're doing, you're not. growing. >> Well, I agree with that. But anyway, that was scary. That was big. That was, you know, working with just being around. all those big daughters. But I was also. in awe of it. >> Yeah. And I like I said, of course, I. mean, I was this country kid, >> you know, you're always nervous when you. first time you ever eat in a restaurant. around people. You're not used to. knowing how to do that. What spoons and. forks and even to this day, I still. don't know exact. When I go to these big.

fine meals [laughter] and all that, but. I figure, well, I wouldn't be here if I. wasn't a star, so to hell with them. I'm. going to eat what I eat and do what I. do. >> But I still would like to know those. things, but I just never knew it. And. now I don't care. >> [laughter]. >> you know that I you know sometimes you. think oh. >> gets to a point where you've earned. nothing. >> you just kind of watch other people. that's how you how you learn is I'll. watch them and when. >> they pick that up I'll pick [laughter]. that up and I'll do this and [gasps]. I'll do that. >> I could never I could not point out a. salad fork to you if somebody paid me I. don't know how to do that either.

>> that's what I'm saying I just [laughter]. kind of watch if it's a big old big. >> thing like if I'm invited to eat the. royal family or something you think. >> I'm very uncomfortable. >> but so I mean I better watch so I don't. make a fool of myself. >> No. >> Or they. >> So, circling back to the Opry, um Johnny. Cash introduced you and he's known for. his powerful presence and me mentorship. What do you remember about your. interaction with him that night? And did. he say anything to you that stuck with.

you throughout your career? >> He said hello. [laughter]. That stuck with me because at that time. I thought see I had seen Johnny Cash uh. at another time when we were sitting in. the audience and I had the biggest crush. on him. >> Cuz he had so much magnetism and I was. young you know I was just beginning to. feel those hormones and look at you know. to where you feel those things. I never. felt. >> very masculine energy. >> Well he did you know he had all that you. know movement and all I found out later. it's cuz he was coming off drugs. Oh no,

he had he was just had twitches of what. I thought was magnetism. [laughter]. >> I love that. >> But there was some truth in that. I. think you know the way he kind of. >> he was a Pisces, right? >> Yeah. But I loved him and I and as for. years and years I told him he was my. first crush and he was. >> and then uh so uh in my Broadway musical. the life story I cover that about Johnny. touching me on the shoulder club. I mean. it made just changed my life.

>> Yeah. you know, because I wanted I. thought I was grown then, you know, because [laughter] I felt all those. feelings, >> but he was uh he was a real nice guy and. very quiet, but I became best friends. with June and Johnny after. So, as the. years went by, you know, we we would. visit and we liked each other a lot. >> Yeah. She was a good woman. I really I. really. >> She was a loud mouth like me. So, we got. along just fine. And Johnny, I remember. where somebody said something about. Johnny, don't you get tired of hearing.

June talk all the time? And he said, "No, I do some of my best thinking when. June's talking." [laughter] So I think. >> talking like a true man does, but I. think I think he does some of his best. thinking when I'm talking. >> No, I think that's how all husbands are. They just tune us out, you know? They're. just so used to us. >> Oh, sure they do. Um, when you performed. that night, did you already have a sense. of like the legacy that you wanted to. build in country music or did that. experience at the opery shift your. perspective on what was possible for you.

as an artist? Because. >> Well, at that time, I was just so. nervous and and I reflected on that. years later, as I still do, >> but at that time it was just a big deal, you know, to be there on at the Grand. Old Opera with all those big name. artists. And uh so I I think that I I. was just it was just kind of addling at. that time. I was just kind of addled. about the whole thing. But I knew that. that was you know just like when I got. my encore on the Cas Walker show the.

first time I was on there and I thought. oh boy you know I'm going to I'm going. to be a star. And now I years later I. realized they weren't applauding so much. because I was good. It was just because. I was [laughter] little. >> you know. No it wasn't because I wasn't. you know, you have to develop and grow, but you know, how everybody wants to be. good to a kid. >> And the fact that I was out there doing. it, I think they uh you know, they. people were just extra nice and I think. a whole lot of that might have been so. with the opera. It was just kind of cute. when you see a young.

>> person doing something. So, but I did. feel and I I thought back on it shortly. after thinking, wow, you know, I was on. the grand operation and they liked me. So, they asked you for three. This is. what I I want to do. >> Yeah, they asked you for three encors. after your first performance. >> I didn't give them to them. >> No, I'm joking. [laughter]. They asked [gasps] them. Now, actually, they did applaud and I kept singing the. same, you know, last verse a couple of. times. [laughter]. >> She's like, "This is all you get.".

>> Yeah. This is all I practiced. >> Yeah. >> So, soon after that, you ended up moving. to Nashville and you graduated from high. school, correct? And then you ended up. moving to Nashville. And you moved to. Nashville with, you know, minimal. amounts of money. How did you make ends. meet in those early days? And were there. any creative or un unexpected ways you. found to survive while pursuing your. dreams out there? >> Well, I was lucky because there so many. songwriters. in Nashville and publishing companies.

and a lot of the people that write songs. are not good singers. So, uh, all the. publishing companies they hire if. there's song, female songs that you can. get a job singing those songs. So, I got. work uh through Tree Publishing Company. Uh, Buddy Kellen was a dear friend. And. so, he would get me on uh these sessions. singing some of the songs that these. writers had written, singing the girl. songs. And then I didn't have a car, I. didn't have a phone, didn't have.

anything. And so all these musicians. because I was a right pretty girl at. that time, you know, just young girl and. you know, coming and so I had all these. musicians that were on the sessions. always willing to drive me home. [laughter]. >> Always willing to stop shows buying me a. burger and some of them thinking they. might get more but uh and some of them. might have but that was not because. [laughter] I. [gasps]. >> lucky fellas. >> I know. But I'm serious. It's like they. were always so good to me. Everybody. seemed to know that I my heart was in a.

good place and that I was just a country. girl. I was funny, you know. I was. always u cracking jokes or you know just. being well like I am now really. >> Um but everybody got a kick out of me. So I was just one of the boys because I. had six brothers and all my uncles and. my grand I was not a bit shy around the. men and I knew how to you know how to. maneuver with all that. So so I made. money. Uh and then I also got on a small. salary uh with tree um publishing.

company in those early days and then. later I got with the combine music u. with Fred Foster and Monument Records. They had a publishing company. So I got. I was lucky that I always got a little. bit of a salary as a writer of my own. songs in addition to being able to sing. some of the demos. >> She's like, "I figured it out, sister. I. did what I had to do.". >> I love that. But I used to go uh in the. early early days, I would walk down to.

the hotels and I would walk through the. hallways and I would uh see all the. trays out on the out in front of the. doors and any food that uh you know like. all those little mustard and ketchup. packets and. >> bottles, I'd take those all back and. anything that looked like you know that. was pretty decent to still eat, I. [laughter] would get it. I would just. kind of get a clo get a napkin off of. the tray and. >> and put it all in my purse. So, >> yeah, >> just whatever you had to do to survive. >> And there was a a restaurant uh down.

around uh 12th Avenue at that time. And. uh this was different places I lived, but that right up above the hill. It was. called Cowzers. It became very famous. It was a meet and three. and the two the. cows brothers owned it. >> and I would walk down there and they. liked me and so they would give me free. food, they would give me a good meal, but I would clean off the tables and I. would refill the salt and pepper shakes. and I would uh you know do all the.

things that you you know do like that. >> So I could I would do that. I didn't get. it for money, but I got good food and. then they would pack me stuff to take. home, too. >> A that is so sweet. I never knew what a. meet and three was until I moved to. Nashville. My husband was like, "We're. going to go to a meet and three." And I. was like, "What is that?" And I love. them now. I think the concept is so. awesome and I think they need them all. over everywhere, not just in the south, like on the West Coast and everywhere. I. think it they would just be a hit. >> But I guess if somebody out there don't. know what a meat and three is, it's like.

wherever the choice of meat, whether it. be meatloaf, it's like three three. [laughter] vegetable, three side dishes. you get. Yes. But yeah, all of those. terms I never I remember once my I was. on the road with one of my brothers and. u we were just he played the bass and my. first one of my first bands. and uh we' stopped at a truck stop and. he had I guess he looked at the menu and. it had had corn beef corn beef and. cabbage. >> when they brought it and he said well. where's my corn. >> cuz he didn't [laughter] know it's corn.

it's beef from corn. >> corn to beef. >> it was corn to beef and cabbage And he. said, "Well, where's my corn?" She said, "Well, did you want corn, sir?" He said, "Well, it says corn." [laughter]. >> He He took it literal. >> Yeah. We always There's jokes about. those things with country boys coming to. Nashville to. >> tell their. stories. >> So, switching gears, um, we're gonna. we're going to talk about Carl for a. second because you you came to. Nashville. Did you think coming to.

Nashville you were going to meet the. love of your life? >> No. As soon as you came here, >> I left two boyfriends back home that had. wanted to marry me and I kept saying, "No, I'm going to move to Nashville, you. know, when I, you know, I mean, a. different Well, I left two boyfriends. [laughter]. >> I love that there was two of them.". >> I thought Yeah. Well, I you know, I I. dated not at the same time, but they. were like in that. >> It's okay if you did. >> They both Well, I know that's true, too. [laughter]. >> But my point is, uh, that I thought, well, the last thing I want is a.

boyfriend. I got to, you know, because. I'm leaving two boyfriends here. And I. kept saying, "No, I'm going to. Nashville.". >> And so I got here and I thought, well, that's the last thing I'm going to get. caught up with some boy, you know, till. I get my feet on the ground, get things. going. And the very day I got to. Nashville, I met Carl Dean. And 60 years. later, I'm still with Carl Dean. >> But that's the one that took Yeah. We've. been together 60 years. We've been. married 58 going on. That's six decades.

>> Yeah. Well, but it took [laughter]. but anyway, he's a good guy and you. know, he's quiet and I'm loud and uh we. just we're funny. Oh, he's hilarious. And I think one of the things that's. made it last so long through the years. that we love each other, we respect each. other, but we have a lot of fun. Yeah. >> Anytime things get too. >> u too much tension going on. >> Yeah. We either one of us can like find.

the a joke about it. Yeah. To break the. tension and where it's not we don't let. it go, >> you know. So far we never fought back. and forth and I'm glad now. >> that's amazing. >> that we never did cuz once you start. that. >> that becomes a lifetime thing I've seen. it with so many people and I thought I. ain't ever starting that. I don't I. can't I couldn't bear to, you know, to. think that he'd say something I couldn't. >> take, you know, it would hurt, you know, because I'm a very sensitive person.

>> toward other people and myself, you. know, you don't, you know, you may hurt. people's feelings not knowing it, >> but knowingly, you don't do it. Yeah. >> Yeah. Absolutely. Jay and I always say, you have to be comfortable with having. uncomfortable conversations and you have. to be best friends like that. Best. friends before lovers. Like you have to. remember why you fell in love with each. other. And we have we we're only eight. years in, but I can't wait to be 60. years in with him like you and Carl. >> In a world where love and marriage is.

often romanticized, what do you think. was the most important but sometimes. overlooked aspect of you and Carl's. relationship? Well, he was a homebody. >> and that worked well for us, [laughter]. you know, because he was in uh well, he. was in asphalt paving, but he just his. sign I don't know if anybody out there. that goes by by astrology or pay. attention to that astrology. Well, he's. Cancer and I'm Capricorn and those are. compatible signs. Yeah, cuz I the. Capricorn is the mountain goat and it's.

always climbing want to look down on the. other side and the cancer is more of a. home body and he really was he never he. loved to go places if we were going to. drive cross country or go where if we. had planned thing. >> but boy he can't he never could wait to. get home you know he wanted to be around. home [snorts] and I wanted I'm a gypsy. by nature I just love to go and love to. see what else is out there but um I. think that he's just that's that's. worked well for us. He's not the least.

he loves music, but he's not the least. bit interested in being in it. And he. told me that right up front. I begged. him to go with me in ' 67. We'd got um. we got married in ' 66. So, um, that's. when I got won the first award for the. >> BMI song of the year and I rented him a. tux and, you know, begged him to go and. he did and oh, he was so uncomfortable. the whole night. I mean, we soon as he. we got hit the door, he started pulling.

off stuff, you know, he thought he was. just so he said, "Look now, I want you. to do everything you want to do and I. wish you the best, but don't ever ask me. to go to another one of these damn. things cuz I ain't going." And he never. did. So, we just kind of have that. respect and I respected that cuz I. didn't know he was going to be that. uneasy. But he doesn't even like to go. out to, you know, to big dinners or. anything like that. So, even on. anniversaries and stuff like that, we. usually stay home and make something. special,

>> do something special like that. But he. does or go to McDonald's or go somewhere. we want to go that's comfortable. >> or to go to Now, we will go to Mexican. restaurants. He does. He [laughter] will. go in sit in a booth and do that. He. loves that. Does Carl love nachos? >> Yeah, he does. [laughter] He loves. Mexican food, period. But we go um you. know, we'll go sit in a booth like if. it's an anniversary or. >> or just sometimes on a Saturday, we just. go we know where to go when the before. the crowd comes. He doesn't like big. crowds.

>> But anyway, he's just special to me and. I just love him like he is. >> You light up whenever you talk about. him. >> Well, >> I love to see that. >> He's good. Everybody loves Carl. What's. something that you would want the world. to know about Carl that they don't know? >> He don't want me to tell the world. nothing about Carl. [laughter] So they. >> I love that. I love that he's such a. private person. >> Yeah, he is. I mean, he can I can talk. what I want to, but he'll say just leave. me out the whole damn thing. Don't Don't. He would say don't say nothing I said. But I do all the time because he's.

funny. >> Yeah. Oh, I love that so much. And um I. also wanted to tell you I always tell. everybody um whenever they give me. they're like, "Oh, you're like a young. Dolly." And I'm like, Dolly's birthday. is January 17th. Mine's January 22nd. So, we're on the same cusp. And I that's. like always my thing. I'm like, I'm just. like Dolly. Like, I love that. So, we. have the same cusp that we're on the. 17th through the 22nd. >> So, moving on from Sweet Carl. Um, >> five minute warning. So, we're going to. move on to the product. >> Okay. Gotcha. Oh, boy. We could go. forever. >> I know. There's so much I wanted to talk.

to you about. So, you and I, um, your. signature look, the big hair, the bold. makeup, and all that stuff. Um, you now have your own makeup line that. we have sitting in front of us right. now. And can you show me some of your. products because I am really excited. about learning? >> Well, there's a whole bunch of stuff. >> There's so much stuff. I mean, >> we got the lipsticks, you know, we got. great lipstick and and so we've got all. the beautiful colors and we have these. wonderful glosses, too, with all the the.

different colors. But I I've always. wanted to have my own line of makeup and. I love lipstick and you do too. And I. love gloss and I love the shine and and. I love all the beautiful things. And we. don't have the full line that we will. eventually have, but we started out with. our lipsticks and with our glosses and. so we're going to have a a line of. everything as as we got our eyeliners. and the different colors and so we've. got great stuff. So, have you not had a.

chance to see anything? >> I did. I did get to see it. They wanted. me to like look at these. >> I'll knock everything over if I try to. get. >> No, you're good. I'll hand you some of. these right here. I mean, you have. Dolly, your name is on everything. There's nothing that you haven't. covered. I just want to tell you, your. Dolly Parton brownies though are I brag. about them on my podcast all the time. I. will eat those brownies any time of day. They're. >> pop those up. I hope they hope it pops. Our nails are too long. >> Sequoa actually showed me how to do. this. Yes. There we go. >> Yeah. And and don't you love these the.

rhinestones? I always make my joke of I. never leave a rhinestone unturned and. it's got my little name there. But. that's the color that would fit you. That's the Jolene red. Yes. You know, we. thought well we had to have. >> have a Jolene color. And then we got our. beautiful gold glosses and you know all. the things that go with them. And we. have different colors you know of the of. the lipsticks. We have the gold dust in. the uh gloss and a rose petal which is. real real pink and uh so we have little.

different things that we have for for. that. So. >> So moving on from the lipsticks because. I mean and we always need a uh lipstick. stained wine glass. You are selling wine. now too. >> Lipstick stained wine. >> We need the lipstick stain wine glass. but never Chardonnay. We have the. accolades uh wine company and I went in. business together and this is one that's. really really nice and eventually you. know we're like with the makeup we're.

starting out with certain ones but then. eventually we'll have all the the things. but right now we we're we have our um. Chardonnay and you can get that in in. easy stores like Kroger's and stores. like that. >> Yes. >> And in the in the wine and beer stores. So, we were also smelling uh backstage. We were We opened up your. >> That's the good one. Yeah, that's my. That was my original. >> Yes. >> And now this is the They're doing this. as a you know, special thing. This one's.

just a colle kind of almost like a. collector's item. And I can't I can't. wait for for everybody to try this. >> This is the one we tried in the dressing. room and it smells so good. I love. everything that you've done and. everything that you've branded your name. on. You have cookbooks. I mean, you have. children's books. There's so many people. that messaged me um when they found out. on my Patreon that we were going to be. doing this um podcast together, and they. wanted me to thank you for the. imagination books that you have. >> Oh, the Imagination Library. Proud of. that as anything I've ever done where we.

give books to children from the time. they're born till they start school. Yes. And yeah, we've given over I think. 250 million books out since we started. Yes. So, but that's all good. I'm very. proud of all the things we got in the. little Billy the Kid books. It's based. on stories that I've uh children's songs. that I've written. Well, the Christmas. one is based on a song I wrote, but the. others are uh children's things that. they need to know about. Yes. And I. mean, if you've got a good book and you. got makeup and you got perfume and you.

got wine, what else do you need? >> I need some of your Jolans. >> Well, you do. [laughter] Oh, the. >> I need some of the Jolans. They're. coming out soon, so I need them. They're. called Jolans. I love it. Yeah. And you. probably got a pretty butt, so they'll. probably look good on you. >> Well, I got I got hips and I got hips, so we need we need to slap some hips in. there. >> I think they'll look good on everybody. I got to get me some of those, too. >> I love it so much. >> Jolene, boy, for a trying to steal my. man, she's gone. She's done pretty good. by me, ain't [snorts] she?

>> I think Jolene might be your alter ego. [laughter]. >> She might be. Miss Dolly, thank you so. much for giving me your time and I. appreciate you and thank you so much for. just letting me be in your world for a. little bit today. >> Well, thank you for being in mine and. we're not dumb blondes. Not by a long. >> No, we are not. >> But anyway, I love the title of your. show and you have a huge following and I. was honored that you wanted me to be on. the show. So, >> thank you. I appreciate you so much. >> Now, I want to be more like you. >> A you are so sweet. I think um I'm just.

going to continue to just walk in your. footsteps and do whatever I can to be. more Dollyike. I always think, what. would Dolly do? So, >> well, Lord, I'll do anything. I'm not. fair. >> Me, too. That's what got me here. So, [laughter]. thank you, Miss Dolly. >> Thank you. >> Thank you guys for tuning in to another. episode of Dumb Blonde. I will see you. guys next week. Bye.