While the other write-ups on
Dolly Parton are factual, they omit the perhaps best-known fact about Ms Parton: her physical attributes (a euphemism for
her infamous breasts).
Dolly Parton is tiny, only 5' (153cm) tall barefoot, and 6'1" in heels and tall hair, her trademark look. As a result of her small frame, her 40DD breasts look very out of proportion to her body. However, Dolly's weight fluctuates dramatically, and she has been known to have even larger, or smaller, breasts. In spite of the size changes, it is rumoured that Dolly's breasts are insured for US$600,000.
According to various sources (including the Dolly Parton fan site), Dolly has implants, but she has claimed that she is 100% natural. Interviews have revealed that she is miserable with such a large chest: insufferable back and neck pain and constant headaches almost cripple her, and she has to wear a bra to bed to avoid worse pain and sagging. According to the same interviews, Dolly is afraid that a breast reduction would also reduce her fan base, as her breasts are her trademark.
Some random non-breast related trivia about Dolly:
- Dolly uses a butterfly as her logo, as she believes it is a symbol of beauty and freedom.
- Ms Parton has said she'll do a shoot for Penthouse on her 100th birthday, but she has not posed for Playboy, as some rumours claim. Any pictures of Dolly naked are fakes, as is the porn movie which stars a look-alike.
- Despite rumours which have circulated since an appearance on the cover of Out magazine, Dolly is not gay. She has been married to Carl Dean since 1966, and Judy Ogle, the woman she was rumoured to have been involved with, has been a friend since childhood and is now her personal assistant.
- There was once a Dolly Parton Cosmetics range, made by Revlon, but poor sales resulted in the withdrawal of the products from most stores. Now the make-up is available only at Dollywood.
- Dolly has twice tried to start a television career for herself. In 1994, CBS was set to make "Heavens to Betsy", a sitcom in which Dolly was an angel sent down from heaven to help people (much like Touched By an Angel, but with bigger hair and wilder, tighter clothes). In 1996, "Minding My Own Business" was on the drawing board: a sitcom about a caterer (played, of course, by Dolly) who gets into all sorts of wacky situations with her celebrity guest stars. CBS canned this show as well. What a pity.