Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton rose from an impoverished childhood in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains as one of 12 children to become an enduring voice and vision of music, film, television and country culture. Known for her big voice, big personality, big hair, and big breasts, Dolly has become a tiny blonde icon of enormous proportions. Her roots are in traditional country but she's meddled with pop, folk, and honky-tonk.

Discovered as a child, she was only 12 years old when she first appeared on Knoxville television; by the following year Dolly was signed to a label and performed on the Grand Old Opry. From then on, Dolly's magnetism propelled her forward, and she is proud owner of a long and lasting career with dozens of albums, a string of number one singles, seven Grammy Awards, Oscar and Golden Globe nods, a theme park, a variety show, a tribute album, a Muppet character, and a film career. Phew! Not too bad for a poor girl from the south, and there's a lot of Dolly still yet to be seen.