Dolly Parton’s story is a powerful reminder that a difficult childhood does not have to determine the future of a child.
Born as one of 12 children in a poor family living in a one-room cabin in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, Parton grew up with limited resources. Her father, Robert Lee Parton, was a hardworking tobacco farmer who, despite being unable to read, was considered by Dolly to be one of the smartest people she had ever known.
His struggle with literacy deeply influenced her.
