Country music superstar Dolly Parton had a very early start to her career when she began singing at her local church at age 6. By age 13, she had recorded her first single, “Puppy Love,” which she co-wrote at age 11 with her uncle—and had even appeared on the Grand Ole Opry stage by that time, too, introduced by none other than music legend Johnny Cash.
After high school, Parton immediately moved to Nashville to continue building momentum in her music career. It was there she wrote both hit singles “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You”—on the same day, no less—two songs that were later cemented as country classics. Her partnership with singer and television star Porter Wagoner in 1967 also helped her gain national recognition.
Notably, Parton even turned down Elvis Presley’s request in 1974 to record the song after his manager Colonel Tom Parker demanded half the publishing rights.
Parton had established her own publishing company in 1966, which helped her hold on to nearly all of her publishing rights. This meant she got paid a larger royalty whenever one of her songs was played or covered. And she wasn’t about to let even The King slide past those rules.
“Everybody’s going to use you if they can,” she added. “These are my songs—they’re like my children. And I expect them to support me when I’m old.”
Parton, who has built a legendary career in entertainment from her music, acting roles, and her theme park, Dollywood, in Tennessee, has been in the news recently owing to health challenges, which forced her to postpone her upcoming Las Vegas residency from December to next September.
The 79-year-old sensation has remained upbeat, though, about her condition, reassuring fans she’s not ready to retire yet.
But fans were alarmed this week when one of Parton’s 11 siblings, Freida, posted on Facebook asking for prayers for her superstar sister.
Although Parton is taking a break for now, she said she’s doing it for the sake of her fans, too.
“You pay good money to see me perform, and I want to be my best for you,” she wrote. “I believe [God] is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you.”
