From Jolene to an unexpected scene on the streets of
New York City, Dolly Parton's life has been filled with
surprising twists.
Today, we're detailing a rather remarkable incident from the country
icons past.
Join us as we celebrate Dolly's talent, her ability to
handle tough situations with grace, and the enduring impact she's
had on music and fashion.
Mistaken identity in New York City.
So we checked in this hotel and they thought we
were hookers.
So we went out looking around in the in in
the city and we come back to our room and
they had our luggage out in the hall and they
had us locked out because they thought we were returning
to it.
In the late 60s or early 70s, when Dolly was
just starting to make a name for herself in country
music, she and her friend Judy Lane decided to take
a trip to New York City.
As small town girls from Tennessee, they were excited to
experience the Big Apple for the first time, but their
adventure took an unexpected turn that would later become one
of Dollies most memorable stories.
Upon arriving in New York, Dolly and Judy checked into
a hotel, sharing a room to save money.
At this point, Dolly wasn't yet the iconic figure we
know today, but her unique style was already developing as
she described to Conan O'Brien in a 2005 interview.
I looked cheaper than I even do now.
And Judy didn't look any better.
Little did they know their appearance would lead to a
major misunderstanding.
After spending some time exploring the city, the pair returned
to their hotel only to find themselves locked out of
their room.
The hotel management had jumped to conclusions about their intentions.
Quote We went out looking around the city and we
came back to our room and they had our luggage
out in the hall and they had locked us out
because they thought we were turning tricks up there.
Suddenly homeless in an unfamiliar city, Dolly and Judy found
themselves in a precarious situation.
They decided to walk the streets while waiting for their
departure time, unaware that their appearance and behavior might be
misinterpreted.
Once again, the gun incident.
I was country girl from the mountains.
I had a gun in my purse.
And so wait a minute.
I love how you just throw that in there.
Well, of course I had a gun.
Well, we came to New York.
That was back then.
And you're not country girl, the girl's not going to.
So you had a gun in your purse?
I had a gun in my purse.
And this guy wouldn't leave me alone because he was
just sure I was playing hard to get and that
I was really after it.
As Dolly and Judy wandered the streets of New York,
they unknowingly put themselves in a potentially dangerous situation.
What they didn't realize was, at the time, prostitutes in
the city often worked in pairs for safety reason.
Their presence on the street, combined with Dolly's flamboyant style,
led to another case of mistaken identity.
Dolly recounted the incident to Larry Grobel in a candid
interview quote.
All of a sudden these men started approaching us on
the street.
They thought we were up for sale.
You can imagine how ridiculous I looked.
I would look like a street Walker if you didn't
know this was just an image.
I would look like a total whore, I suppose.
One man in particular became aggressive, refusing to leave Dolly
alone despite her protests.
As the situation escalated, Dolly revealed a surprising fact about
herself.
Quote At that time I was a country girl from
the mountains.
I had a gun in my purse and this guy
wouldn't leave me alone because he was just sure that
I was playing hard to get and that I was
really after it.
Faced with a threatening situation, Dolly took matters into her
own hands.
Quote I didn't know how to get him off me,
so I just pulled my gun out and said if
you touch me one more time, I'm going to shoot
you.
The bold move effectively ended the confrontation, but it left
a lasting impression on Dolly.
The incident even inspired a line in her hit movie,
9:00 to 5:00, where she threatens to turn you from
a rooster to a hen with one shot.
Dolly's iconic style.
I patterned my look after the town trollop in our
town.
But I guess that's what you call them.
Well, me too.
I mean, that's what I.
Yeah.
So did you really?
Yes.
And I thought she was the most beautiful thing.
She had all this makeup and hair and all the
tight clothes and everything I wanted.
So it it impressed me.
So I thought, well, why not play the painted lady?
You know, that I patterned my look after.
So I'm.
I did her in the movie.
Dolly Parton's distinctive look has been a central component of
her public persona throughout her storied career, but the origins
of her style might surprise some fans.
In a recent interview with People magazine, Dolly revealed some
unexpected influences.
Quote, I was influenced by those early days with women
that I would see, like the Loose Women in Our
town or just people that I'd see in magazines and
the Fredericks of Hollywood catalog.
I mean, that just spoke to me.
This fascination with provocative fashion began early in Dolly's life.
In her book Dream More, she recalls being captivated by
the appearance of a local woman who was often referred
to as trash.
She didn't.
I didn't never.
I never called her name.
I never really got to know her really because I
don't think her family probably knew she was a hoe.
Any of the albums quote.
I often tell the story of how I thought the
most beautiful woman in the county was the woman most
people called trash.
In my eyes.
With her big dyed hair, her bright red nails, her
feet squeezed tight into her high heeled shoes, and all
her paint and perfume, she was just perfect.
Dolly's admiration for this bold, unapologetic style would shape her
own image as she entered the music industry.
But her fashion choices weren't always well received, especially by
her family.
Family reactions to Dolly's Style While Dolly's flashy style eventually
became her trademark, it initially caused some friction within her
family.
In an interview with The Guardian, Dolly revealed that her
father and grandfather, who was a preacher, strongly disapproved of
her outfits.
Her grandfather even went as far as to physically discipline
her for her clothing choices.
Despite the disapproval, Dolly remained committed to her vision.
Quote.
I'm very sensitive.
I didn't like being disciplined.
It hurt my feelings so bad to be scolded or
whipped or whatever.
But sometimes there's just that part of you that's willing
if you want something bad enough to go for it.
Evolution of Dolly's style.
I've often made this statement that I would never stoop
so low as to be fashionable.
That's the easiest thing in the world to do.
So I just decided that I would do something that
would at least get the attention.
Once they got past the shock of the ridiculous way
I looked and all that, then they would see there
was a part of me to be appreciated.
I'm very real.
Over the decades, Dolly's style has evolved while remaining true
to its flamboyant roots.
From her early days of DIY makeup, using poke berries
for lipstick and burnt matchsticks for eyeliner, to her current
status as a fashion icon, Dolly's look has always been
distinctively her own.
In her new book, Behind the Scenes, My Life in
Rhinestones, Dolly offers fans a glimpse into her vast wardrobe,
which she stores in big warehouses on her property.
Quote, I have storage bins that people think are stables.
When they come by my house, they'll see all these
huge buildings and they think, oh, I didn't know you
were into horses.
And I say, no, I've just been horsing around all
these years and those are my clothes.
This extensive collection featuring 450 full color photographs, showcases the
evolution of Dolly's style throughout her career.
The impact of Dolly's image Shelly's unique style has become
an integral part of her brand and appeal.
Despite occasional pressure to tone down her look, she's remained
steadfast in her commitment to her image, as she told
Elle magazine quote.
It was about me knowing who I was, being happy
with me, and feeling comfortable in the way I presented
myself.
If I was happy, I could make other people happy.
That's how I've always looked at it, that if I
look totally artificial, but I am totally real as a
writer and as a professional, as a human being, a
rhinestone shines just as good as a diamond.
This philosophy has served Dolly well throughout her career, endearing
her to fans and setting her apart in the entertainment
industry.
Dolly's style as self-expression.
I'll look as young as my plastic surgeons will allow
me and it's like all in makeup and lighting and
all that.
But I think more than anything, it's about what comes
from inside you.
It's an attitude and you know you got to shine
from within and sometimes that can make you feel young
and make you seem young to other people.
For Dolly, her appearance has always been about more than
just fashion.
It's a form of self-expression and a reflection of her
personality, she said to People magazine.
I was never one to care as much about what
other people thought of me as I felt about what
I thought of me because I felt if I was
comfortable in whatever I was wearing, then people would be
comfortable around me.
This confidence and comfort in her own skin have allowed
Dolly to push boundaries and challenge conventions throughout her career.
Her willingness to embrace an over the top image has
become a source of inspiration for many fans who admire
her authenticity and boldness.
The Legacy of Dolly's Style Today, Dolly's style is recognized
and celebrated worldwide.
It's inspired countless fans, influenced fashion trends, and has been
the subject of academic study.
It's hard to imagine Dolly any other way.
While she once considered changing her look after filming The
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, feeling she might have outgrown
her signature style, Dolly ultimately chose to stay true to
the image she had created.
This decision has proven a wise one, as her distinctive
appearance continues to captivate audiences and set her apart in
the entertainment industry.
Now, it's time to hear from you.
What do you think about Dolly Parton's iconic style?
Have you ever had a case of mistaken identity that
led to an unforgettable story?
Share your thoughts in the comments section below.