Dolly Parton Made a Replica of Her Childhood House, Spending Money to Make It Look Just as Poor – Photos

Dolly Parton is a phenomenal singer, well-known globally. Yet, prior to achieving fame, she was simply a young girl with grand aspirations, raised in a modest one-bedroom log cabin in Sevierville, Tennessee.

Dolly was born in the Smoky Mountains, a place that she holds close to her heart. She recalled how they had no hospitals nearby. So, when her mother was having trouble giving birth, her dad rushed to call a missionary doctor who took care of the poor mountain people.

The singer’s desire for a better life started at their family home. The two-roomed house had no electricity or running water. At night, the family would catch fireflies and keep them in a jar to light up the house.

A look into the house, which still stands today, shows that it wasn’t a mansion but it was a home to the singer and her family. Dolly’s family cabin had a kitchen with a stove, a small pantry, and a table with six seats.

To preserve memories of her childhood and share aspects of it with her fans, Dolly has created a replica of her family home in Dollywood. The house stands close to the entrance to Dollywood and has a sign written “Tennessee Mountain Home.”

The sign also reads, “These mountains and my childhood home have a special place in my heart. They inspire my music and life. I hope being here does the same for you.” This message is signed, “Dolly.”

The replica, designed by Dolly’s mother and built by her brother Bobby, has original family treasures throughout. When one steps inside, they see the first part of the house, the kitchen, whose wall is covered with old newspapers and a floral wallpaper.

The kitchen table is set with plates and aluminum coffee cups. There’s a wood stove in the corner, while utensils such as pans and bowls hang on the wall. The other tables are covered with decorative clothes while more cups, jars, tins, and plates line the wooden shelves. A basket filled with firewood sits on the floor.

The kitchen also has a washing space at the door of the bedroom. Hanging on the thin wall that separates the kitchen and bedroom is a 1946 calendar, showing her birth month, January, and her birthday, the 19th, circled.

When one enters the bedroom, one can see a bed pushed against the wall and pictures of Dolly’s father and mother hanging on the wall above it.

Other picture frames hang next to a dressing mirror, which is pinned above a dressing table. There’s a wooden chair next to the bed and sewing machine, and another chair in the furthest corner of the bedroom. The bedroom also hosts a simple cabinet with shelves that has a book and other items. The bedroom leads to a long and narrow porch through its back door.

Dolly mentioned standing on the porch of the Locust Ridge house in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. There, she would insert a tobacco stick into the cracks of the porch and position a tin can on the stick as a makeshift microphone. The singer proceeded to sing for the pigs, dogs, chickens, and kids as she pictured a bigger world. “I Imagined it, I dreamed it, I worked for it, and God was good enough to let me have it,” she proclaimed.

Dolly’s parents gave her and her siblings a good life, even though they were poor. The singer playfully remarked that her family didn’t realize they were poor until someone pointed it out to them.

The “Jolene” songstress recalled, “We didn’t have any money, but we were rich in things that money don’t buy. You know, like love and kindness and understanding[sic].” Still, the country star wanted more in life. She remembered that when graduating high school, she announced that she was going to Nashville to be a star, but so many people laughed at her that she was embarrassed.

However, Dolly knew what she wanted. “I just knew that I wanted to be out in a bigger world. I knew there was more than just the Smokies. I love my people, I love my home, but I just wanted to do more,” she narrated.

When asked what paved the way for her, Dolly revealed that her mother’s side was very musical. As much as they focused on the gospel, they could play instruments. Her uncle Billy Owens taught her all the chords of the guitar as he saw how serious Dolly was with her singing.

From these poor and humble beginnings, Dolly has grown to become one of the most famous country music singers. In addition to a prolific music career, the 78-year-old has has a successful marriage to Carl Thomas Dean, and they have been together for close to six decades. The two met at a laundromat in the ’60s.

Despite their different personalities, the couple works harmoniously together. Carl is a loner who doesn’t like socializing. He prefers staying at home and taking care of their farm. And while he loves music, he isn’t into the music world.

The singer said these differences give them things to talk about. “We have a lot of love and respect for each other,” shared Dolly. The pair also have lots of fun and have a mutual crazy and distorted sense of humor.

Carl and Dolly enjoy a simple life, traveling around Tennessee in their camper, sightseeing, and learning a little history in all the exceptionally beautiful places they visit. Dolly Parton, who loves cooking, occasionally packs a picnic for their excursions. The singer has come a long way, from her childhood to her great career and to living a cozy life with her husband.