Dolly Parton’s Parents Inspired Her Philanthropic Work Start in Music

Dolly Parton’s parents were sources of inspiration for their daughter, who went on to cement her name as a country music superstar. She even dedicated an iconic song and an “imagination library” to her parents.

Country music legend Dolly Parton is a household name thanks to her success in the entertainment industry. Dolly is a true multi-hyphenate who established a name for herself in music, acting, philanthropy, and business.

Despite her many accolades and recognitions, Dolly remains a grounded and selfless woman who has never forgotten her humble upbringing. Her positive outlook stems from the way her parents raised her.

Avie Lee Parton Is the Famous Singer’s Mother, but She Also Has 11 Other Children

Avie Lee was born on October 5, 1923, in a small community of cotton farmers in Lockhart, South Carolina. She was the preacher’s daughter, so in addition to her exposure to cotton farming, she was raised hearing God’s word from a young age.

In 1939, she married her husband, Robert Lee Parton, and they welcomed 12 children–six boys and six girls–into the family. Their sons are David Wilburn, Coy Denver, Bobby Lee, Randel Huston, Larry Gerald, and Estel Floyd.

The pair’s daughters are Willadeene, Dolly Rebecca, Stella Mae, and Cassie Nan. They also have twin daughters named Freida and Rachell Ann. Despite having a large family, Avie managed to rear her children well.

Avie did everything she could for her 12 children, from making food to providing them with medical needs. She was an attentive and perceptive mother who could tell when one of her kids needed special care.

Like many children of farmers and sharecroppers, Robert Lee had to drop out of school to support his family.

Once, she told her children they would be having “stone soup” for dinner, which meant the kids would search for perfect stones and present them to her. Avie would examine each piece once they returned with their chosen stones.

The mother of 12 would also make remarks about the children’s little rocks. In the end, Avie would select one precious stone to tell her which child needed more love on that day.

As a mother, Avie wanted her children to have the same love, happiness, and faith in the family. In 2003, the well-loved mother of the Parton clan sadly passed away at 80.

Dolly Parton Dedicated a Song to Her Mother in 1971

Dolly released “Coat of Many Colors” in October 1971, three decades before Avie died. On tour with her musical partner Porter Wagoner, she penned the song on the back of a dry cleaning receipt.

The song tells the story of Avie creating a winter coat for herself by piecing together assorted fabric scraps because she never had enough financial resources to buy brand-new coats for her children.

Meanwhile, another song, “Little Tiny Tassletop,” came from a memory of her late mother making a doll out of a corn cob for her. Interestingly, Avie wrote the song when Dolly was still a young child.

Avie quickly penned the lyrics when her daughter started singing while playing with her little corncob doll on the front porch of their house. It became Dolly’s first-ever song.

Through her late mother’s efforts in creating such pieces, Dolly learned the importance of seeing and appreciating the value of things, regardless of how small they appear. Both of Dolly’s songs achieved legendary status and are still being played today.

Robert Lee Parton Came from a Farming Family

Robert Lee Parton was born to farmers Walter and Bessie Parton in March 1921. Robert Lee spent a great deal of his childhood working on farms. Farmwork was a big part of Robert Lee’s early life.

Like many children of farmers and sharecroppers, Robert Lee had to drop out of school to support his family. His family and childhood circumstances deprived him of the opportunity to learn to write.

But being illiterate did not stop Robert Lee from becoming an excellent tradesman on top of being a skilled farmer. Becoming a father himself, he made sure to support his children to reach their dreams outside of farm work.

Dolly Parton Made an “Imagination Library” in Honor of Her Father

Dolly founded the “Imagination Library” as a tribute to her father. The initiative gives families free access to high-quality books for their children from birth to age five. The program, launched in 1995, rapidly expanded.

Sevier County, Tennessee, where the country singer grew up, was the program’s initial distribution point. But it soon grew nationally, with one million books mailed by 2003. Later, the program eventually spread to other countries.

Today, nearly 150 million free books have been sent to children worldwide. Dolly has been vocal about how her dad inspired her to launch the award-winning program. She said:

“When I started the Imagination Library, it was to honor my Daddy. My Daddy was so smart but he felt crippled with the fact that he couldn’t read and write.”

Robert Lee became involved in the project, too. Dolly said he wanted him to be proud that his life inspired a project that has helped millions of children and people to read and write.

Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, and singer Dolly Parton present the 100 millionth book to The Library of Congress on February 27, 2018, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images

Robert Lee Parton Died in a Baptist Hospital

Dolly Parton suffered a loss when her beloved father died on November 12, 2000. Robert Lee succumbed to complications from strokes at the Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee in Knoxville. He was 79.

Parton and her eleven siblings may have lost two of the most influential people in their lives. But the important lessons they learned from Robert Lee and Avie about love, determination, and keeping their faith helped them move on with their lives.

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