It's hard to imagine a time when Dolly Parton wasn't a superstar, but in reality, she grew up poor, resulting in one year when her mom didn't get any presents.
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Dolly Parton is a gift to the world, bringing joy, wonderful music, and books to people wherever she goes. She has set up charities and supports many people with her hard-earned wealth. But, she wasn't always able to be such a philanthropist. As a child, her family had little money, and they had to scrape by on what they had.
She came from a family of 11, hailing from the mountains of east Tennessee. Providing food, shelter, and warmth, let alone presents for a family the size of the one Dolly Parton was from would be a struggle for anyone. However, the family was never short of love. She looks back on a Christmas with both fondness and sadness in her words.
"The church had thrown in a little money to where everybody could have a little grab bag. 'Cuz we had services, and everybody around our parts was very poor, so everybody was gonna get a little Christmas present. Even the grown-ups, the women, and you know, especially the kids," she said, reminiscing. "So I remember this one particular time that Mama had so many kids that they were giving all the presents out to all Mama's kids, so Mama didn't get one."
A Mother Sacrifice Dolly Parton Will Never Forget
Things like this will stick with a child all the way through her life. Dolly Parton still now remembers her mother giving up her chance at presents for the good of her kids. She went without, so others could have instead. "So I remember this one lady saying, 'Well, Avie Lee, you won't mind will you? 'Cuz you have so many of the kids, they got so many presents.' So of course Mama, everybody's a kid at Christmas, and I remember momma saying, 'No, no, no. I understand. I understand that.' I saw Mama over there sittin' on the bench crying."
Despite putting on a brave face, her mother was hurt when she didn't get to unwrap presents on Christmas, and Dolly Parton spotted it. Perhaps her mother's selflessness is what helped shape Dolly Parton into the national treasure she is today.
