When Dolly Parton passed away on August 25, 2026, her nephew, Bryan Seaver, shared that she was “surely met” by her late husband, Carl Dean, as well as her beloved parents.
Dolly was born into a large, close-knit family in the mountains of Tennessee. Her father, Robert “Lee” Parton, was born on March 22, 1921, in Sevierville, Tennessee, while her mother, Avie Lee Owens, was born on October 5, 1923, in Lockhart, South Carolina. Avie Lee was the daughter of Rev. Jacob “Jake” Robert Owens.
Lee and Avie Lee married young in 1939, when they were just 17 and 15 years old. Their first child, daughter Willadeene, arrived the following year.
Dolly would eventually become one of 12 children in the Parton family, although her younger brother Larry tragically died only days after his birth.
The family endured serious financial hardship while Dolly was growing up. They lived in a small rustic cabin, and when Dolly was born, her father reportedly paid the doctor who delivered her with a sack of cornmeal. Lee worked as a sharecropper and took on additional jobs whenever he could to provide for his growing family.
Despite their lack of money, Dolly remembered that her mother never wanted her children to think of themselves as poor.
“My mama…she’d always say, ‘Now, don’t you say we’re poor.’”
Instead, Avie Lee taught her children to appreciate what they did have, especially their family, faith and love for one another.
The Parton Family Faced Heartbreaking Loss
In 1955, Lee and Avie Lee experienced one of the most painful moments of their lives when their ninth child, Larry, died just four days after he was born.
That heartbreaking period later became part of the inspiration behind Dolly’s 2015 television movie Coat of Many Colors. The film explored the family’s struggles while highlighting the faith and love that helped them remain united.
It also told part of the story behind the famous coat Avie Lee made for Dolly—a childhood gift that eventually inspired Dolly’s beloved song “Coat of Many Colors.”
The family’s story continued in the 2016 sequel Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love. The movie portrays Lee working hard to earn enough money to buy his wife a wedding ring. In a touching moment, the children give up their own Christmas presents so their mother can receive something special from her husband.
Dolly Parton Grew Up Surrounded by Music
Dolly’s extraordinary musical talent was nurtured from an early age. Her mother’s Owens family was particularly musical, and Dolly grew up surrounded by folk, gospel and bluegrass music.
She began singing in church and performing with members of her family while she was still a child.
Her uncle Bill Owens played an especially important role in the beginning of her career. A songwriter and musician, Bill taught Dolly to play guitar, helped her secure an early radio performance and supported her as she pursued music.
Bill also helped Dolly make her Grand Ole Opry debut when she was just 13 years old.
After his death in 2021, Dolly reflected on how important he had been to her journey, saying, “I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t been there.”
Several of Dolly’s siblings also became involved in music. In the 1970s, Dolly performed the Appalachian folk song “In the Pines” alongside seven of her siblings on her television show. Her parents even made a rare appearance, showing off their own singing abilities.
Dolly also carried a special connection to her father through music. Lee’s favorite song was Albert E. Brumley’s “If We Never Meet Again,” and the family performed it at his funeral.
Dolly later said she wanted the same song played at her own funeral, showing just how deeply it was connected to her father and her family memories.
Her Father Inspired Dolly’s Imagination Library
Lee Parton never learned to read or write, and his experience had a profound influence on Dolly.
After achieving fame and success, Dolly wanted to give children in her home county of Sevier County, Tennessee, opportunities that her father had never had.
In 1995, she founded the Imagination Library in his honor. The program initially provided free books to children in Sevier County before expanding internationally.
The organization eventually reached millions of children, distributing more than 330 million free books across the United States, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Canada and Australia.
Of all the accomplishments Dolly achieved during her lifetime, her father was especially proud of the Imagination Library.
In a letter shared by the organization, Dolly explained that her father considered it perhaps the most important thing she had ever done. She created the program as a tribute to him and to help children overcome the same barrier that had affected his own life.
Dolly’s Legacy Continues Through Her Family and Her Giving
Lee Parton died in 2000 at the age of 79. Avie Lee passed away three years later at age 80.
Their influence remained deeply woven into Dolly’s life, music and charitable work for decades.
After Dolly’s death on August 25, 2026, her family encouraged those who wanted to honor her memory to consider supporting the Imagination Library.
From a childhood spent in a small cabin in the Tennessee mountains to becoming a global music icon and philanthropist, Dolly never forgot where she came from—or the parents who helped shape the woman she became.
Her legacy lives on not only through her music, but also through the family values, faith and generosity she carried with her throughout her remarkable life.