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Dolly Parton and Her Love for Wigs!

Dolly Parton was one of the most accomplished artists ever!  She was one of the most awarded country stars to grace this earth. Dolly held the record for the most hall of fame inductions of any female artist.  Dolly Parton's personality was larger than life and her hair was often just as large as her personality.  Throughout the last sixty years, Dolly Parton prioritized her hair and made platinum blonde wigs a part of her signature look.  She had a wig for every occasion.  When she sat down with Wendy Williams in 2014, she discussed her love for wigs and the reasons why she wore them.  Parton acknowledged that she didn't want to damage her own hair because her lifestyle as a music artist required frequent styling and hair coloring.  

Dolly Parton's natural hair color was a sandy blonde.  She decided that her celebrity persona would always embrace platinum blonde hair.  Parton would usually get her own hair bleached prior to her decision to wear wigs on a full time basis.  After experiencing extreme damage from all the bleaching, she gravitated towards wigs in the early 1970s and grew to really love them.  During the interview, she could be heard confirming this love for wigs.  

"I love wigs cause they're so handy," Dolly stated.  

When asked by Wendy if she would ever open her door without a wig, she exclaimed, "No!"  Dolly wouldn't ever answer the door without her makeup or wig on.  Dolly loved to look good at all times! How can you really blame her?! No one was ever going to catch her experiencing a bad hair day. Being so famous, she never knew when there would be a camera lurking somewhere.  

It may come as a surprise to some that Dolly actually was once active as a hairdresser for family members.  She has expressed that this would have been a career that she would have opted for had it not been for her mainstream success as a country music star.  Dolly took a great deal of inspiration for her look from a gorgeous unnamed woman from her Tennessee hometown.  

"She was called the town Tramp. She was just one of those people and I think women were really jealous of her.  I mean she just was probably like us a lot.  She wore her hair--all you know--blonde. She wore lipstick, long nails, short skirts, tights.  She was beautiful and I just thought she was great! Everybody would just say, 'oh she's just trash' and I thought--that's what I'm gonna be when I grow up."

Dolly has sported everything from a signature beehive look to big curly hair to layered Fawcett hair.  Let's remember some of Dolly Parton's signature looks and the wigs from her collection over the years.

Dolly's signature Beehive hairstyle worn during the 1960s. She expressed that 
during this time hairpieces started to become available in USA.

                            Dolly in the 1960s with a bouffant and flipped ends.

                     Dolly shows off her voluminous hair in the late 1960s during her early career

                          Dolly in the early 1970s showcasing a towering wig style
Dolly in 1974 all smiles at one of her promotional photography sessions

        Dolly Parton in 1978 for a portrait session with photographer, Harry Langdon

                  Dolly had a supreme love for big hair. This photo was taken in 1974 by Jim McGuire

                    Rolling Stone used a 1970s photo of Dolly for her memorial cover

Dolly backstage with a long curly wig at The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1989

Dolly Parton in 1990 showcasing a voluminous feathered wig

Dolly Parton in 1993 during a seasonal grand opening for her themepark, Dollywood

        Dolly Parton wears a chic updo wig with bangs at the 43rd annual Grammy Awards in 2001

      Dolly Parton accepts the Liseberg Applause Award in 2010 with her signature platinum blonde spiked hair

Dolly Parton smiles for the camera in 2022 for a promotional portrait.

Following her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction in 2023, Dolly released this photo.

      Dolly Parton in 2025 for a People Magazine feature.

Dolly's prized wig room was situated in her former Dutch style vacation home in Solvang, California.  This former home of Dolly Parton is currently up for sale.  She stored and styled all of her wig pieces in this wig room on the home's upper level.  Dolly will be remembered for the contributions she made as a country star within Hollywood. Underneath her petite frame and bigger than life wigs was a sweet and bubbly woman who truly lived her life to the absolute fullest. Rest in Peace to the Original Big Hair Queen, Mrs. Dolly Parton!


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