‘It costs a lot of money to look this cheap’: Dolly Parton’s life in quotes

Benjamin Lee Tue, August 25, 2026 at 8:30 PM UTC

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Dolly Parton circa 1983.Photograph: THA/Shutterstock

Beloved musician, actor and philanthropist Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80 after an incredible, one-of-a-kind career. The star was known for both her fierce wit and her unflappable positivity.

Related: Celebrity tributes pour in for Dolly Parton: ‘a gift to the world’

In a life filled with much-quoted gems of wisdom, here are some of her finest:

On positivity

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”

“You have to work at being happy. Some people work at being miserable. If I wake up in the morning and don’t feel great or things are not great, I try to think about what I can do to make things work better, rather than just falling into that deep hole, because then you just go deeper and deeper.”

“If you see someone without a smile today, give ’em yours.”

“If you’re feeling low, don’t despair. The sun has a sinking spell every night, but it comes back up every morning.”

“They think I’m simple-minded because I seem to be happy. Why shouldn’t I be happy? I have everything I ever wanted and more. Maybe I am simple-minded. Maybe that’s the key: simple.”

“Happiness is your commitment to appreciating all that is good in life.”

“A positive attitude and a sense of humor go together like biscuits and gravy.”

On her career

“I’m not going to limit myself just because people won’t accept the fact that I can do something else.”

“I always say I’ve dreamed myself into a corner. I’ve got to keep all those dreams alive. Every dream spins off into some something else.”

“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”

“You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.”

“I hope to die right in the middle of a song and right on the stage doing what I love to do. I hope to be about 120 when that happens.”

“My music is so mine, it’s hard to turn it over to someone else. I have to be really involved in the production. It’s like someone else taking care of your kids – if they don’t treat them well, you’re going to be pissed off.”

“I never tried quitting, and I never quit trying.”

“Above everything else I’ve done, I’ve always said I’ve had more guts than I’ve got talent.”

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“I think in a way, my music has been almost like my ministry. Hopefully, it’s healing in some ways, just having a good sense of humor to be able to lift people up, to have songs that people can relate to.”

On her looks

“It costs a lot of money to look this cheap”

Related: Dolly Parton’s peerless career turned country music cliches inside out | Alexis Petridis

“People always ask me how long it takes to do my hair. I don’t know, I’m never there.”

“I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb – and I’m not blonde either.”

“I have pretty good skin considering my age, and I think a lot of it is mineral oil and bacon grease.”

“I describe my look as a blend of Mother Goose, Cinderella and the local hooker!”

“I’m not like a real person. I love being artificial. I think there’s a little magic in the fact that I’m so totally real, but look so artificial at the same time.”

“I am a self-made woman, and I have the doctor bills to prove it.”

“I’m no natural beauty. If I’m gonna have any looks at all, I’m gonna have to create them.”

“A lot of people have said I’d have probably done better in my career if I hadn’t looked so cheap and gaudy. But I dress to be comfortable for me, and you shouldn’t be blamed because you want to look pretty.”

“Those people who wake up and they’re just beautiful, they’re just born that way. Well, that ain’t me. I gotta work for everything I’ve got.”

On relationships

“I always love working with children. I never had children of my own. God has his purposes. God didn’t let me have children so everybody’s children could be mine. That’s kind of how I’m looking at it.”

“Love is something sent from heaven above to worry the hell out of you.”

“I was blessed to have family members who encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Whether it is your parents, or your uncles or your aunts or even the neighbor down the road, it’s important that kids have someone who encourages them to chase their rainbow.”

“I often get myself in love trouble because I’m so passionate; I love so much and so deep.”

“Love is like a butterfly: as soft and gentle as a feather, many-colored and full of cheer.”

“I think everyone should be with who they love. I don’t want to be controversial or stir up a bunch of trouble but people are going to love who they are going to love. I think gay couples should be allowed to marry. They should suffer just like us heterosexuals.”

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”