When it comes to glitz, glamour, and a touch of mystery, no one does it quite like Dolly Parton. The legendary singer-songwriter has been captivating audiences for decades, but here's something you might not know about her—she’s got some secret ink hiding beneath her iconic style. And trust me, these aren’t your average tattoos.
Why Dolly Went Under the Needle
Back in 2019, during her unforgettable performance at the Dallas Cowboys halftime show on Thanksgiving Day, Dolly strutted her stuff as a cheerleader, showing off her signature flair. But even with all that skin on display, her tattoos remained elusive to the audience. Why? Well, Dolly revealed in an interview with Hello! Magazine that her tattoos are done in light-colored ink, making them practically invisible unless you know exactly where to look.
“When I first started getting a few little things done, it wasn’t for show,” Dolly explained. “I had a few little tattoos to cover up some scarring. You see, if I ever get a scar for any reason, it tends to leave this purplish mark on my skin. I don’t like that look, so I thought, why not turn it into something beautiful? Flowers, butterflies, little designs—that’s how I started.”
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The Art Behind the Ink
Fast forward to September 2020, and Dolly opened up about her body art in a candid interview with People. She admitted to having tattoos but insisted they were far from bold statements. “Oh, I do have some tattoos, that’s true,” she said with a laugh. “But they’re tasteful. I’m not a tattoo girl, per se.”
She went on to explain how her tattoos evolved from simple cover-ups to meaningful pieces of art. “They’re pretty, they’re artful, and they usually started out covering some scar. Life throws curveballs sometimes, and I’ve dealt with health issues in the past. There was a time when I had to wear a feeding tube, which left a little indentation on my side. Not exactly the look I was going for, right? So I decided to turn it into a little beehive tattoo—with a tiny bee perched right on top. The mouth of the beehive is actually that little sinkhole. It’s all about making positives out of negatives.”
No, Carl Thomas Dean Isn’t Inked on Her
While fans might dream of Dolly sporting a grand declaration of love for her husband, Carl Thomas Dean, Dolly set the record straight. “Oh no, he’s tattooed on my heart,” she joked. “Who knows, though? Maybe one day I’ll get so many tattoos that people will think I’ve gone wild! But for now, my tattoos are all about personal meaning and beauty.”
Butterflies and Personal Symbolism
When asked why she chose butterflies as one of her tattoo motifs, Dolly shared her deep connection to the delicate creatures. “Butterflies don’t sting, they don’t bite, and they are so beautiful,” she told W Magazine in October 2021. “I just kind of related to them with my own personality. They’re free, graceful, and full of color—qualities I aspire to embody. So naturally, they became my little symbol.”
She added, “I have a few little tattoos scattered here and there. Most of them came about because of my fair skin and tendency to scar easily. Surgeries and cuts can leave marks that don’t fade well for me, so I use tattoos to soften those imperfections. Mine aren’t heavy or dark; they’re all pastel shades. And yes, I have more than one!”
