Dolly Parton Shares Her Best Life Advice with Reese Witherspoon | Shine On

Dear Dolly, dear America, dear pink I'm doing a show highlighting powerful ambitious women in different fields. Let's go back to the top of the frame Okay, how did I do and I would love to share with you what makes these women so inspirational to me If I was trying to describe myself if no one had ever seen me I would say Outrageous gaudy friendly warm likable, but really weird-looking Like kids feel about Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse like they go to Disneyland and I think oh my gosh, there's Minnie Mouse and it's the most Extraordinary person they could meet in their life. That's how I as a grown-up woman feel about Dolly Parton This is gonna be a snow exciting With a career spanning six decades this 47 time Grammy nominee and Country Music Hall of Famer is one of the most Honored female artists of our time. She's one of the kindest warmest and smartest women. I know I Had this idea to do a show about women that I really Just love admire. I love what they're doing in their own industry in their discipline Their journey to become a strong woman within that industry. And of course one of the first people I thought it was Dolly because No one, you know in in country music has gone through more different iterations of Being a businesswoman and success isn't limited and I think sometimes people think okay Well, there's only a certain amount of success and if she gets it, I won't but I just don't think that's true No, I think it's very helpful. In fact, I I know that was true outside the business in my own life It was like that with my sisters and I and my aunts and my grandmas and my mom, you know We just had this whole world of women that kind of stuck together the women in the church I can we were going through things we were stronger together and I think that has carried on with me Through the years in my career. I always think back on that strength of women. I remember being little Okay, well I was in kindergarten skipping rope And I always was kind of a loner and I was always singing to myself I had big dreams and in my my PE teacher said to me Reesey What do you want to be when you grow up? And I said, I'm gonna be Dolly Parton And I meant it. I was not I didn't even blink and she said you're gonna be Dolly Parton. I said, mm-hmm I'm gonna be famous like miss Dolly Parton and she's from Tennessee and if she can do it then I can do it Well, you certainly did it with or without me for sure. I've been in this business for 60 years I started singing when I was 10, so it's just really been a journey, you know being brought up poor and country I barely got through high school never went to college, but I had my dreams early on I knew what I wanted to do I grew up way up and we called it up in the holler in the Great Smoky Mountains of East, Tennessee We were really just poor country people we had a house full of kids there's 12 of us and all we are in order Willard in David Denver Dolly Bobby Stella Cassie Randy Larry Floyd Frida and Rachel and in my early days We didn't even have running water unless we'd run and get it We worked our own fields grew our own food canned our own food and raised our own Hogs, it was hard and my daddy was strict daddy didn't want me getting out in the world Yeah, he didn't even want me to go to school, you know But that wasn't a bad way he just was afraid something bad was gonna happen his girls But mom knew that I had a strength. She knew I knew what I wanted and who I was Yeah So she'd fight for me a lot when I'd want to go places daddy didn't want me to go To sing like to Nashville with my uncle Bill Well, we'd sleep in the car and it was our a room my bedroom was the backseat This was the front seat I'd wash my hair in the filling station bathrooms and put makeup on in the side mirror of the car and That was just how you did it Wow. So you learned to do all your hair and makeup and all that stuff Oh, yeah How'd you learn to do all that when they didn't have YouTube and tutorials and all that? Well, you don't need to learn a lot to know how to learn how to tease hair and early on I wanted to my hair bleached and I remember one time when I first bleached my hair I was reading on the Bible and it said Be careful. So do not get in eyes to do some makeup blindness So anyway, I was we put the bleach on and so we was at the well My sister was rinsing it out and she's pouring water over my head and and it was getting in my eyes And I remember just I said And so I was like I didn't want to be blind or to be blonde yeah, oh My gosh, did record companies ever try to get you to change your look? Well, I was 18 when I came here and so You were 18 when you came when I got when I moved here for good I graduated from high school on a Friday night came here on a Saturday morning Wow, and I Started working with Fred Foster who on Monument Records and combine music I was young and I was country and so they were trying to classy me up a little they thought well Maybe they could make me into a teenage star So they got a hairstylist and makeup artists and clothes Lord I felt so uncomfortable and I wasn't even pretty I just not like the way I looked my hair was flat No, I wanted my makeup. I hate when my hair is flat. Oh, I hate I just can't stand it I just hated that that look and I did a few records teeny bop kind of songs. Yeah, and they didn't do anything I thought oh, I don't want to be this. I don't want to be this. I don't want to be this Well, I think it's wonderful to have ambition you gotta get out of work, too I mean a lot of women can kind of hide behind a lot of stuff and just use the excuse that I didn't make it Cuz I was a girl Well, you can make it if you'll get out and be willing to sacrifice and work for it Ain't no man gonna stop you if you've got the talent you might have to work a little harder in your area But it can be done and I am a prime example I was 20 years old when I started with Puerto Rican show it Porter had the number one country Syndicated television show at that time. I mean I was making no money He said well, I can pay you sixty thousand dollars a year And I thought that was more money than I had ever heard of but the unfortunate thing is it never changed Even after I got to be a star on the show because I was writing songs And so the more popular I got the more popular the show got we got and we've been your salary I kept saying, you know, don't you think I need a raise? Was it hard to get the courage to say that? Oh, yeah, that was your boss at the time a lot and he was very strong-willed But I feel like I was talking to one of my uncles or one of my brothers and saying you're not pushing me around Right, I'm a songwriter and I ain't your girl singer forever I was out to be a solo artist. Yeah, and I still want to have my own band I want to have my own show want to have my own life I don't want to just be the girl singer in somebody else's group and that's when I wrote I will always love you. So I went back the next morning and I said sit down. I have something I want to Play for you Sure stay Well So So I sing I'll always love you important with crying he's that's the best song you ever wrote Okay, you can go but I have to produce the song and so it was a couple years later But it was alright because that's how you you learn to maneuver I am first and foremost a songwriter I've been writing since I was seven serious songs loving my family and writing about those days Keeps me saying in an insane world and anytime I get homesick or lonesome when I'm out on tour and other countries I didn't just get my guitar and sing about home and just takes me back there My daddy always said now try to keep as much as your own stuff as you can So as soon as I could I started my own publishing company years later Elvis was recording here and I knew the people that were producing him So they called me two or three weeks before and said Elvis is recording You want to come down and meet him because he's going to record. I'll always love you And I thought oh my god, and I told everybody I was so excited and I was gonna go to the session and meet Elvis and all that and then just like a Day before I got a call and he was saying you know We don't record anything with Elvis unless he has the publishing and I said hold on I said well, I can't do that I said cuz I already had a number one song on it and it's my most important copyright Well, he said well, then we can't record it and I cried all night I was so upset about it, but I thought you know, I can't do it I can't even do it for Elvis Priscilla told me later He was very disappointed and she told me how much he loved the song when they divorced that when they were leaving the courthouse She told me that he was singing that song in her ear It's a good thing that you maintain the rights to I will always love you Then what happened when the bodyguard movie came out Kevin Costner is it or you know? Can can you send us that song because they were looking for the perfect love song? So I sent it out totally forgot all about it And then I was driving home and all of a sudden I hear this sound on the radio is like she has she started that acapella Should stay I thought my heart was gonna bust I had to pull over Unless I should wreck. Yeah, the most overwhelming feeling I've ever had and that was Whitney Houston So it was Whitney She took it to so many levels to think that my little song my little heartfelt Heartbreaking song could be that big I felt like that. I had arrived as a as a writer, but you look at it and over time like that's of course That was such a savvy thing to do But I do think I'm sure you've had through your career many times where people said I just think maybe I'll try She's not as smart as she thinks she is or and I that's always been such an inspiration to me because I always thought No matter where you come from. It's inside of you. Yeah. Well, I got that strength from my dad My dad was a hard worker. My dad was not educated at all My daddy couldn't even read and write but he was so smart. You've got to not just trust everybody You can trust them to a degree, but you got to keep that thing like inside you that says they don't feel right to me I'm not that's not how that should be but I wanted to talk to you a little bit about you know I've been I came here like six seven years ago to this house I think I'm gonna start a company for making Movies for women and television shows for women because there's not enough parts and I remember sitting there and you saying I think it's a Good idea. And if you ever need my help you were so sweet. And I was like, yes, I need your help and support I love working with the men, you know The movies I've done but my most success have been like with still Magnolias with all those great women Oh, and then of course, let's not forget nine five Just such an anthem for female empowerment and that we're stronger together nine to five It's such a classic movie, but women now we're dealing with so much of harassment in the workplace And do you think things have changed since nine to five? Well not changed enough I don't think but I really think it threw a light on it back then at times and I think a lot of things were Greatly improved because of that but people don't realize there are many good men Then you know what I'm talking about. You've worked with a lot of wonderful wonderful men But there are some that just won't give you a break There are just some that think because they are men that they can take advantage or because they are the boss I do believe too. It's a moment for women to stand up. But honestly, we need balance in the world We do we gotta have me good men doing that and there are so many more good men than bad It's just that the bad ones need to be pointed out and we've got to learn to stand up a little more as women So any way that we can help? Yeah, it's good you're very genuine and everything that you do and I think that comes from you know, your background and You know, my favorite song is coat of many colors. Oh It's just as a little girl. I would listen to it and I thought no matter where you're from your life matters Your story is important I think a lot of people think out there like how am I ever gonna get ahead but I look at you and I think about your story and what your mother made this coat out of little pieces of Fabric that little song is more than a song. It's about an attitude of philosophy It's about you know, it's about the bullying, you know that we made it into a children's story about how accepting people as they are and for their differences and not to make fun and not to laugh and that you're only poor if You choose to be meaning you can be rich in spirit. You can be rich in thought You can be rich in talent and you can be rich in all those wonderful things So that little song means a great deal to me and it's meant a lot to a lot of people When I wore that little coat to school kids would just say that ain't nothing but rags Tell you nothing the scraps and you know, that's just a ragged old coat and it's even faded and it's not even new cloth It broke my heart that they were actually making fun of me But maybe if God had his hand in that because now and I'm able to be in a position Where I can help other people and certainly my family In my coat ♪ So many colors, mama made for me, just for me ♪ My nails are a little long for this, but it's so pretty. That's so magical. You wanna hold it? Yes. Okay, pick it. No, I don't know if I can. I don't think I can do it. I can't do it. Back to rock. I can do the honor harp, but I can't do the concerto. Oh, you learned to play the honor harp before I played the tune. Yes. Did you know Jane Carter? Yes, I knew her very well. And Johnny. Yeah. When I do my life story, you may have to. I better get after it, though. It's my dream to play you. I said, all you gotta do is just get a bigger boob job. We can work on that part. But when I was a kid myself, I used to, when I was a teenager, I used to steal the shoulder pads out of my grandma's winter coat, and I would use them to put in my bra to push my boobs up before they had those push-up bras. So we do what we gotta do. One of my favorite songs that I've written is called Backwoods Barbie. It was kind of about the way I looked. It's like, I'm just a backwoods Barbie. Too much makeup, too much hair, but don't be fooled by thinking that the goods are not all there. Don't let these false eyelashes lead you to believe that I'm as phony as I look, because I run true and deep. Don't judge a book by the cover, because I'm a real good book. I started a program called The Imagination Library 22 years ago, I guess. I started because of my dad, who couldn't read and write, and he just felt crippled about that. We weren't allowed to have books in the house because we had so many kids. We weren't allowed to bring books home from school because the kids would chew on them, pee on them, and get food on them, whatever. And daddy said, I can't afford to pay for no books, so don't bring no books home for no homework or none of that stuff. What's good about this little program, they get the book that comes in the mail with their own little name on it. So if they go to the mailbox, every month they wait for that book. So we love the fact that we just can't get enough books in the hands of enough children. I love that. That's such good work in the world. ♪ I grew up poor, just a simple country girl. ♪ Oh yeah, this is where they are. What? Which one do you wanna wear? Oh my God! Well, here. Okay, I have to hold this. You better put your cookie and your tea down. Hold on, hold on. Just feel this. Wow. Isn't that beautiful? But, even this one, what was that? Oh my gosh, Dolly! That's okay. That happens all the time. They're sequins. Don't tear up my clothes. Don't tear up my stuff. I'm sorry, your original costumes. No, it's just, I always imagine Dolly Parton's closet opens and sequins come flying out. Well, that did. Actually, that happens all the time. Sometimes when I'm on stage, I'm always popping beads and stuff and they go sweep them up and they put them, they give them back to us when we sew them on and they call them dolly droppings. Like a rabbit. What's your fashion inspiration? Fashion? What makes you feel beautiful? Well, just God and glitter and color or not color. Just whatever. I mean, I like my clothes to fit me good. I buy them the size too small and then I have them taken in. Okay. Is that right? That was a joke. Okay. Come into my little church, my little chapel. This is where I have to come when I get overwhelmed with everything else or if I just want to pray. I don't know if you remember this, but you told me a story a long time ago about a man that came to your church. He pulled you out and he said this child's special or these children are special. Oh, that was amazing. It was a woman. A woman, okay. And she prayed all the time and she was kind of like a psychic and I was little and she put her hands on me and she was praying and she said, this child is anointed. And she was like shaking like the Pentecost. She said, this child is anointed. Of course, after church and mom said, that just means God has his hand on you and that you might do great things. Wow, what a beautiful story. It sounds like you've always had that guiding light inside of you. Oh, I'm no angel, heaven knows. I mean, what I ain't done, I probably will do, but I don't mean to. Yeah. I try to be better all the time, but I do have faith and it really helps me. And sometimes I do get weary from life and family. I go a little crazy from all the lunacy. It's not that I'm not grateful, but all in all it gets a little much some days. You know, that's when I have to stop and I pray for love and guidance and help along the way. I love what you said in your concert, this last concert that I saw you in, where you talk about dream more, learn more. Oh, dream more, care more, do more, be more. I wrote a song 22 years ago called Try and it's really about just, you know, try to be the first one up the mountain. You know, it's like just try to make the most of every moment. And if you fail, just get up and try again. Well, I wanted to tell you, Dolly, I'm gonna get emotional, but I just, you've inspired me so much. Well, thank you. You continue to inspire me. I've always wanted to be more like you. Well, don't be like me, be like you. I'll be me, but you do inspire me and I think you inspire so many people out there with your positivity and the warmth and the kindness just comes off of you because it's real. Well, I try. Well, thank you. It's like I've chased after rainbows, I've captured one or two. Yeah. And I've reached for the stars and I've even held a few. I've walked that lonesome valley, you know, I've topped the mountains, soared the skies. I've laughed and I've cried, but I've always tried. Well, I love you, Dolly. I love you too. Thank you for sharing. Thank you. It touches me to no end that I'm an inspiration. It makes you feel like you've done something right because you don't really know in your life how you're gonna be seen or remembered and I look back and then I still see that my music seems to be important and that young women especially, which I love that, that they can look to me to say, Dolly had the strength to do it or she got through it. That's really humbling and it makes me feel proud and I just thank God for it.