Dolly Parton before she was famous

The nobody years

1. 

   1946 One-room cabin, 1946

   Born in a one-room cabin on the Little Pigeon River.

   Was born in a one-room cabin on the Little Pigeon River in Sevier County, Tennessee. Source

2. 

   1946 Fourth of twelve

   She was the fourth of twelve children.

   Grew up the fourth of twelve children. Source

3. 

   1953 Mandolin, two strings

   At seven she built a guitar from a mandolin and two strings.

   Made her first guitar from a mandolin and two extra strings. Source

4. 

   1965 Songs sold away

   With her uncle Bill Owens, she wrote songs other artists sang.

   Wrote songs with her uncle Bill Owens, selling them to other artists. Source

5. 

   1965 Pushed off country

   Monument Records signed her, then pushed her toward bubblegum pop.

   Signed to Monument Records, which pushed her towards bubblegum pop instead of country. Source

6. 1946

   Her father paid the doctor in cornmeal. Source

7. 1956

   Began singing on Cas Walker's radio and television shows in Knoxville. Source

8. 1959

   Recorded her first single, Puppy Love, for a small Louisiana label at thirteen. Source

9. 1959

   Sang at the Grand Ole Opry as a teenager, introduced by Johnny Cash. Source

10. 1964

    Left for Nashville the day after she graduated high school, the first in her family to finish. Source

Reconstructions of documented moments, generated with AI. Not archive photographs, and not depictions of real people. © The Nobody Years