Happy Birthday Dolly Parton! Here's To 7 Decades Of Rhinestones, Denim, And Big Hair!

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    10. In 1996, scientists named the world’s first cloned mammal (a sheep) after Dolly Parton. When asked about the name choice, Scientist Ian Wilmut said, “Dolly is derived from a mammary gland cell, and we couldn’t think of a more impressive pair of glands than Dolly Parton’s.”
    2/11 10. In 1996, scientists named the world’s first cloned mammal (a sheep) after Dolly Parton. When asked about the name choice, Scientist Ian Wilmut said, “Dolly is derived from a mammary gland cell, and we couldn’t think of a more impressive pair of glands than Dolly Parton’s.”
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    9. She once lost a Dolly Parton lookalike contest. “I just over-exaggerated my look and went in and just walked up on stage. I didn’t win. I didn’t even come in close, I don’t think,” she said.
    3/11 9. She once lost a Dolly Parton lookalike contest. “I just over-exaggerated my look and went in and just walked up on stage. I didn’t win. I didn’t even come in close, I don’t think,” she said.
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    8. Parton has stopped trying to disguise herself in public, because her voice is always a giveaway. “I remember once I was going Christmas shopping. I did my makeup completely different with dark eyebrows, and wore a short black wig, and wore different clothes,” Parton said. “I said something, and this group of kids said, ‘You’re Dolly Parton in a black wig!'”
    4/11 8. Parton has stopped trying to disguise herself in public, because her voice is always a giveaway. “I remember once I was going Christmas shopping. I did my makeup completely different with dark eyebrows, and wore a short black wig, and wore different clothes,” Parton said. “I said something, and this group of kids said, ‘You’re Dolly Parton in a black wig!'”
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    7. Although she’s owned the theme park Dollywood for more than 20 years, she’s too “terrified” to ride any of the rides.
    5/11 7. Although she’s owned the theme park Dollywood for more than 20 years, she’s too “terrified” to ride any of the rides.
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    6. She refused to sell Elvis Presley the publishing rights to her hit ‘I Will Always Love You.’
    6/11 6. She refused to sell Elvis Presley the publishing rights to her hit ‘I Will Always Love You.’
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    5. Since she was 7-years-old, Parton has written approximately 5,000 songs. Parton considers herself a writer first and foremost - singing has always come second. According to her website, Parton writes a song every two or three days, and she always makes time to write on her birthday. She wrote her first song about her corn-cob doll.
    7/11 5. Since she was 7-years-old, Parton has written approximately 5,000 songs. Parton considers herself a writer first and foremost - singing has always come second. According to her website, Parton writes a song every two or three days, and she always makes time to write on her birthday. She wrote her first song about her corn-cob doll.
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    4. Dolly has a few tattoos. There’s a long standing rumour that the reason you never see Dolly Parton’s arms is because she’s actually covered in tattoos! However Dolly has denied this, but admitted that she does have “a few little tattoos”, which were mostly done to cover scars.
    8/11 4. Dolly has a few tattoos. There’s a long standing rumour that the reason you never see Dolly Parton’s arms is because she’s actually covered in tattoos! However Dolly has denied this, but admitted that she does have “a few little tattoos”, which were mostly done to cover scars.
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    3. She holds a country music record. An astonishing 26 of Dolly’s singles have hit number one on the country charts, which is more than any other female country artist in the history of time.
    9/11 3. She holds a country music record. An astonishing 26 of Dolly’s singles have hit number one on the country charts, which is more than any other female country artist in the history of time.
  • 10/11
    2. She got death threats from the KKK. Parton openly supported the LGBT community in the mid-2000's, and this spurred some KKK members to send her death threats. However, that did not stop her from supporting gay rights.
    10/11 2. She got death threats from the KKK. Parton openly supported the LGBT community in the mid-2000's, and this spurred some KKK members to send her death threats. However, that did not stop her from supporting gay rights.
  • 11/11
    1. Dolly based her signature look on the “town tramp” she’d seen growing up. She thought the woman with the bleach blonde hair, red lips, high heels and tight dresses was the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen.
    11/11 1. Dolly based her signature look on the “town tramp” she’d seen growing up. She thought the woman with the bleach blonde hair, red lips, high heels and tight dresses was the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen.

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Happy Birthday, Dolly Parton! The legendary country singer turns 70 today! She continues to amaze us every year with her hilarious sense of humour and beautiful songs, but here's 10 things you probably don't know about Dolly...