Happy Birthday, Dolly!

Music icon Dolly Parton celebrates her 70th birthday today. Dolly has been a staple in the country music industry since the 60s. It all started at the young age of 10, when Dolly started performing professionally, appearing on local television and radio shows in Knoxville. Her musical talents continued to bloom and after finishing high school, she moved to Nashville and the rest is history. Although known for her storytelling song lyrics and unshakable voice, Parton also dipped her toes in the movie business, starring in the hit films 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias.

Just a handful of her achievements include:

1967: Dolly’s career takes off she she partners with Porter Wagoner on The Porter Wagoner Show.
1971: Parton got her first No. 1 country hit with “Joshua.”
1977: Parton had her first cross-over smash with the uptempo but bittersweet “Here You Come Again.” She also received her first Grammy Award for her performance of this tune.
1986: Opened Dollywood
2000:  Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame
2006: Parton received special recognition for her lifetime contributions to the arts as one of 5 artists feted at the annual Kennedy Center Honors.

Beyond her musical and acting talents, Dolly’s vivacious personality has always made her unforgettable, her wise Southern sayings–her “Dollyisms”— always a staple of her rhetoric.

To celebrate Dolly on her birthday, here are a few:

“I do wear high heels in the house – otherwise I can’t reach the cabinets!” (The Guardian)

“I’ve always tried to never step on anybody to get where I am. I’ve had to walk around a few people, jump over a few of ‘em now and then, but I think you’re a true success when you’ve seen your dreams come true and you can take pride in how you did it, and take pride in and respect and appreciate the people that helped you get there.” (Mashable)

“We need to believe in something bigger than ourselves, otherwise we just become egomaniacs. If you don’t have something to look forward to and lean on, it’s a hard fall when [bad] things happen.” (Parade)

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