Dolly Parton

Parton in 2012, photo by DFree/Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: Dolly Rebecca Parton

Date of Birth: January 19, 1946

Place of Birth: Pittman Center, Tennessee, U.S.

Date of Death: August 25, 2026

Place of Death: Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, German, possibly around 1/256th Cherokee Native American

Dolly Parton was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, businessperson, and humanitarian. She was known for the songs “Coat of Many Colors,” “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” “Here You Come Again,” “9 to 5,” “Islands in the Stream,” and “Travelin’ Thru.” Her roles included the films 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone, Steel Magnolias, Straight Talk, The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), Frank McKlusky, C.I.; Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, Gnomeo & Juliet, The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom, Joyful Noise, and Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square; the made-for-tv movies A Smoky Mountain Christmas, Wild Texas Wind, Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge, Unlikely Angel, Blue Valley Songbird, Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love, and Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas; and the series Designing Women, Hannah Montana, and Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings. She was a performer on The Porter Wagoner Show and Hee Haw, and was the host of the shows Dolly!, from 1976 to 1977, and Dolly, from 1987 to 1988. She was known as the “Queen of Country.”

Dolly was the daughter of Avie Lee Caroline (Owens) and Robert Lee Parton, Sr., who was a sharecropper, and had a tobacco farm and acreage. Her family had lived in the American South for many generations. She was raised with Great Smoky Mountain folklore and ballads. Dolly was the sister of country singer and songwriter Stella Parton, country singer and songwriter, actor, and businessperson Randy Parton, songwriter Floyd Parton, and singer and actress Rachel Parton George/Dennison. Her maternal uncle was songwriter Bill Owens. She was married to Carl Dean, until his death.

Dolly’s patrilineal line can be traced to John Partyn, who was born, c. 1560, in London, England.

Dolly’s paternal grandfather was William Walter Parton (the son of Albert Huston/Houston Parton and Tennessee Smith “Tennie” Russell). William was born in Sevier County, Tennessee. Albert was born in Sevier County, the son of Benjamin Chrisenberry/Christopher “Chris” Parton and Margaret Jane Evans, whose father was a minister. Dolly’s great-grandmother Tennessee was born in Fines Creek, Haywood County, North Carolina, the daughter of Lorenzo Dow Russell and Hannah Ellie Downs.

Dolly’s paternal grandmother was Bessie Elizabeth Rayfield (the daughter of George Washington “Old George” Rayfield and Cassandra/Cassey/Casie Ann “Cassie” Moore). Bessie was born in Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee. George was the son of Charles Rayfield and Elizabeth Bohannnon/Bohannon/Bohanan. Dolly’s great-grandmother Cassandra was the daughter of Andrew Jackson Moore and Rachel Metcalf.

Dolly’s maternal grandfather was The Rev. Jacob Robert “Jake” Owens (the son of James Robert “Jim” Owens and Mary Malinda/Melinda Messer). Jacob was born in Waynesville, Haywood County, North Carolina, or Tennessee. He was a Pentecostal preacher. James was born in Haywood County, the son of Samuel Paxton “Pack” Owen/Owens and Mary Elizabeth “Polly” Sutton. Dolly’s great-grandmother Mary was born in Waynesville, the daughter of Isaac Hugh Messer and Hannah Harriett/Harriet Jane Conard/Connard/Conrad. Hannah was said to have been the great-granddaughter of Emmet Starr Hair Conrad, who was of half Cherokee Native American descent.

Dolly’s maternal grandmother was Rena/Rene Kansas “Renie” Valentine (the daughter of Henry Lloyd Valentine and Margaret Louisa Whitted). Rena was born in John Sevier, Knox County, Tennessee. Henry was born in Sevierville, Sevier County, the son of William R. Valentine and Sarah E. Dixon/Dickson. Dolly’s great-grandmother Margaret was born in Sevier County, the daughter of William Jesse Whitted and Rebecca Dunn.

Dolly’s parents were fourth cousins, once removed, through their ancestors Henry Bohanan III and Amillia Burdine Shotwell.

Sources: Information on Dolly’s ancestry – http://www.dollymania.net

Genealogies of Dolly Parton – https://www.wikitree.com
https://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com

Dolly’s maternal great-great-great-grandmother, Mary Ann Shamblin, on the 1850 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Dolly’s maternal great-great-great-great-grandparents, Aaron H. Shamblin and Juda Bryant, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Aaron H. Shamblin and Juda Bryant on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Dolly’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Dolly’s maternal great-grandfather, Henry Lloyd Valentine, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org