1955: Smiling as a Kid
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
Before she was a country music superstar, Dolly was a kid born in a one-room cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.
1965: Dolly as a Pop Singer
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
Looks like she’s always had a thing for big hair! This portrait of Dolly is from 1965, the same year she signed with Monument Records as a pop singer. Yes, you read that right — it wasn’t until years later that Dolly would return to her country roots.
1967: Joining the Porter Wagoner Show Cast
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
Young Dolly smiles here with her good friend Porter Wagoner and the rest of his show’s cast.
1969: A Duet With Porter Wagoner
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
Much of Dolly’s early success is due to her spot on Porter Wagoner’s television series The Porter Wagoner Show. The two became close and often sang duets together. When Dolly eventually left the show to pursue a solo career, she wrote her famous song “I Will Always Love You” about saying goodbye to her old friend.
1975: Country Girl
Photo: Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images
With her ten-gallon hat, Dolly proves that she’ll always be a country girl at heart.
1977: Performing at the Bottom Line
Photo: Getty Images
By 1977, Dolly had fully crossed over from country television star to live performer, taking the stage at New York City’s renowned Bottom Line venue and bringing her unmistakable style and voice to new audiences across the country.
