Dolly Parton is expressing her grandfather’s response to her childhood dress choices.
Parton, 77, told The Guardian in an interview ahead of the publication of her new album Rockstar and book Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones that her stylistic inspiration in her earlier years came from the “town tramp.”
Parton stated to the source that the “town tramp” was a certain woman who wore tight skirts and high heels.
“She was outgoing. Parton described her as having “bright red lipstick and long red fingernails.” “She had high-heeled shoes, little floating plastic goldfish in the heels of them, short skirts, low-cut tops, and I just thought she was beautiful.”
When someone described her as “nothing but trash,” the “Jolene” singer said, “Well, that’s what I’m going to be when I grow up.”
According to The Guardian, Parton’s grandpa would physically chastise her for the way she wore, but the country queen told the publication that it didn’t stop her from wearing what she wanted.
“I was willing to pay for it,” said Parton. “I’m very sensitive, and I didn’t like being disciplined because it hurt my feelings so much to be scolded, whipped, or whatever.” But there’s always that part of you that’s eager to go for it if you want something bad enough.”
Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, the 9-5 star’s next book, will showcase Parton’s style and wardrobe decisions over the years.
Parton’s album Rockstar, which contains several well-known musicians, will be released on November 17. Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Lizzo, and Chris Stapleton are among the many celebrity collaborators on the album.
Parton and Garth Brooks spoke exclusively to people in May about their friendship in advance of their co-hosting of the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 18.
“A lot of people think we’re close friends, and we are.” “We definitely have that kindred spirit, but we’ve never had the opportunity to spend much time together,” the “Jolene” singer noted at the time.
“We see each other now and then, but I feel like we’re starting to build a really good, lasting friendship over the last few weeks as we’ve been preparing for this.” “I’ve always admired and respected him, and I know who he is and what he does, and I have many friends who are close to him,” she continued.
Meanwhile, Brooks claimed that he had long admired Parton and that their friendship had grown organically.
“I’ve been a fan for a long time.” “It’s not every day that you get to sit down with someone like Dolly Parton,” he explained. “We did the advertisements approximately a month ago. But as we stepped in, we were holding hands. It was like we’d known one another for a long time.”