Dolly Parton is celebrating a major milestone on Monday, January 19 — the country music icon is turning 80 years old!
Over the years, the industry legend has earned 11 Grammy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Tony Award. That’s not to mention nominations for two Academy Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the National Medal of Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
While fans have watched the beloved star throughout her impressive career, you might not have seen her as a child.
Dolly Was Adorable as a Child
In September 2016, Parton took to Instagram to share a photo of herself as a child.
In the caption, she wrote, “TBT! Little Dolly… back in my real pure & simple days!”
The singer’s followers loved the pic!
One person wrote, “So cute!!! Looks just like you!!!”
“Dolly you are the most perfect beautiful angel on the planet. I will always love you Dolly🙏🏻🌹😘😊,” another person added.
A third person wrote, “Oh my goodness….sooo beautiful from day one! @dollyparton”
Someone else left a comment, saying, “With the same big beautiful smile of yours!”
Dolly Doesn’t Dwell on Aging
GettyIn November 2025, Parton opened up to People about her life, her career and aging.
“You know, I have just been going so fast my whole life,” Parton said. “And I just start thinking, ‘How in the world did I even have a life? How did I even get it done?’ I really realized when I was putting this book together just how much I had sacrificed in my life. I never had children, so at least I didn’t have a guilty feeling. I’m thankful that I got to see my dreams come true.”
She also explained, “People say, ‘Well, you’re going to be 80 years old.’ Well, so what? Look at all I’ve done in 80 years. I feel like I’m just getting started. I know that sounds stupid, but unless my health gives way, which right now I seem to be doing fine . . . I think there’s a lot to be said about age. If you allow yourself to get old, you will. I say, ‘I ain’t got time to get old!’ I ain’t got time to dwell on that. That’s not what I’m thinking about.”
