Dolly Parton was just 13 years old when she first performed at the Grand Ole Opry. Appropriately enough, the future country legend was introduced by none other than Johnny Cash. Reflecting back on that, Dolly Parton shares that Johnny Cash made quite the impression on a girl coming of age.
In an interview with GQ, the Jolene singer openly discussed things that a few things fans might not know about her storied life.
Doll Parton spills tea about her very special relationship with Cash, declining performing at the Super Bowl, and her 54 year marriage to husband Carl Dean.
Dolly Parton Meets Johnny Cash At The Grand Ole Opry
At the tender of age of 13, many of us aren’t even thinking about what we are going to do with our lives. But a young girl from Locust Ridge Tennessee was about to make the big time.
Dolly Parton’s life was about to change and The Man In Black helped usher in that change when he coached her before her Grand Ole Opry performance.
Young Dolly was taken by the country star who she claims was the first man to ever catch her eye.
“But I don’t remember him encouraging me to follow my dreams or anything,” Dolly said.
“I just remembered I was very encouraged by him that I got to meet him because I thought he was so handsome, so sexy. That’s the first time I really felt like a woman, when I was around him. He kind of stirred all that stuff in me and we always laughed about that.”
#FunFact At Dolly Parton’s first performance on the Grand Ole Opry stage, Johnny Cash coached her backstage! https://t.co/JO9IyzuCmh pic.twitter.com/OciZOHkMty
— Time Life (@TimeLifeUS) March 15, 2017
That encounter was memorable for many reasons, including establishing a long friendship with Johnny and June Carter Cash.
RELATED: Johnny Cash Tells The Story Of Asking June To Marry Him
Why She Declined 2015 Super Bowl Halftime Show
Dolly also confirmed the rumor that in 2015 she declined performing at the Super Bowl. She would have joined Katy Perry on stage.
But, Perry wasn’t the reason that Dolly declined. Her husband Carl Dean was sick and she didn’t want to leave him.
“That’s true, and I would have done it because I love Katy Perry,” Dolly Parton said. “But at the time, my husband was not doing good, he was kind of puny and I couldn’t leave him so I couldn’t do it. But one of these days, maybe we’ll do it again. I love her.”
RELATED: Dolly Parton Shares How God Speaks To Her
While most marriages of entertainers don’t last, Dolly and Carl’s marriage has stood the test of time. They didn’t get to have a big wedding in the 1960s, but they made up for it with their 50th anniversary.
?#TCL W’ @alexotutu @Chris_thevoice @DollyParton with her husband Carl Dean.
They’ve been married for 54 Years – since May 30th of 1966. pic.twitter.com/IzK67FKMdB— Classic FM 91.1 (@classicfm911) December 7, 2020
Dolly and Carl celebrated a half century of marriage by doing it all over again. They had a second wedding and Dolly got to have her fancy dress and big celebration that she missed the first time around.
“I wanted that beautiful gown and all that. I had the money to do it this time, so we just kind of went all out,” Parton said.
“We did do it at home, close quarters and all, but we did get to wear that beautiful gown and he got to dress up in his beautiful suit. We made beautiful pictures and he bought me another wedding ring. I still have my originals, wouldn’t take nothing for those.
Dolly Parton is an American treasure and so it’s no coincidence that country legend Johnny Cash played a role in her start.
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