“It costs a lot of money to look this cheap,” Dolly Parton famously quipped, embracing her signature blend of humor and glamour.
The legendary country singer has always been open about her love of bold fashion, beauty enhancements, and high heels. When asked about plastic surgery, she told Today’s Willie Geist, “If I see something saggin’, baggin’ or draggin’, I’m gonna get it nipped, tucked or sucked.”
Oprah Winfrey and Dolly Parton share a lighthearted moment on the set of Dolly in 1987, with Oprah looking elegant in a teal double-breasted suit, while Dolly stuns in a silky pink wrap ensemble with matching satin pants and playful feather-trimmed heels (Credit: WENN)
Beyond her unmistakable wardrobe, Dolly Parton has always viewed glamour as an extension of her personality rather than a costume. Standing just 5 feet (152.4 cm) tall and wearing a petite US shoe size 5.5–6, she built one of entertainment’s most recognizable images around sky-high platform heels.
✨ Jump to Dolly’s Signature Style:
Like other petite stars featured on Your Next Shoes—including Lucy Hale, Sarah Hyland, and Shakira—she has long relied on towering heels to add height.
The Making of an Icon: Dolly Parton’s High Heels, Glamour, and Signature Style
But no one has made platform shoes more inseparable from their public image than Dolly, whose platinum hair, sparkling stage costumes, and larger-than-life style transformed one of country music’s smallest stars into one of its biggest icons.
As she once joked, “When I’m feeling a little low, I put on my favorite high heels to stand a little taller,” a philosophy that has guided the evolution of her signature look for more than five decades.
Dolly Parton flaunts her petite size 5.5 (US) feet in glamorous silver platform heels with crystal-embellished clear straps on the red carpet (Credit: Nikki Nelson / WENN)
Her image has become her brand in many ways, and it’s received much attention for decades. She appeared on the cover of Playboy in 1978.
Despite declining an invitation to pose nude for the magazine, she appeared wearing the infamous Playboy bunny outfit, including the ears. Her breasts are a large part of her signature look – and I mean that both figuratively and literally. The 40DD chest on her petite frame stands out.
The media has often said that her breasts enter the room before she does. Her notorious breast implants were the inspiration for Dolly the cloned sheep’s name, as she was cloned from a mammary gland.
For many who know Dolly, it seems she has always looked this way and hasn’t changed over the years, so many aren’t sure what she’s done and what is natural.
Singer Dolly Parton turns heads in a fitted, embellished blue leather jacket while promoting her album Halos and Horns at HMV Oxford Street in London on October 8, 2002 (Credit: WENN)
Beyond her signature big hair, high heels, and sparkling ensembles, Dolly has openly embraced cosmetic enhancements as part of her larger-than-life image.
In her twenties, Dolly first opted for cosmetic enhancements, beginning a lifelong journey of refining her signature look. Over the years, she and her surgeon have been candid about the procedures that have helped maintain her iconic image.
The Story Behind Dolly Parton’s Famous Hourglass Silhouette
Although Dolly has had other work done, her breast implants are the most popular. Her surgeon is Dr. John Grossman, a renowned celebrity plastic surgeon. When interviewed by People, he said, “She has a generous bosom, which I augmented some years ago.”
She had said she had always had nice breasts but got them pumped up in her twenties, before becoming famous, and again in her thirties. This is why we’ve always known Dolly to look this way.
Dolly Parton and her lookalike, Pete Burns, both known for their love of bold fashion and extensive plastic surgery, showcase their signature styles—Dolly in a rhinestone-studded white ensemble with her iconic platinum blonde hair, and Pete in a silky embroidered kimono with dramatic makeup and voluminous waves (Credit: WENN)
When she first got into the business, some people made fun of her appearance, and although it initially embarrassed her, she realized that her tight, flashy clothes also enhanced the look.
Why Dolly Parton Chose Breast Reductions After Years of Back Pain
Dolly has never shied away from joking about the cosmetic enhancements that became part of her signature look. “I’ve slapped a few people who didn’t stare at them! This kind of money, they’d better be looking at them,” she told UK magazine Q, adding that she had spent $1 million on her breasts.
But the physical toll was serious. “My breasts have been a trademark to me—but I’ve paid a hell of a price,” Dolly said of the back pain that eventually led her to undergo breast reductions in 2004 and again in 2011.
Dolly Parton beams while promoting her album Those Were the Days at a Best Buy event, showcasing her signature blonde hair, bold makeup, and radiant smile (Credit: PNP / WENN)
Cosmetic enhancements were only one part of Dolly Parton’s signature image. She has been just as open about the wigs, acrylic nails, and beauty rituals that became inseparable from her personal brand.
Long acrylic nails started as a way to make her hands appear more elegant, but they unexpectedly shaped her music.
While filming 9 to 5, Dolly began tapping her nails together as a percussion instrument, creating the rhythm that inspired the film’s iconic theme song.
Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, and Jane Fonda exude retro office-chic in 9 to 5 (1980), with Tomlin in a bold embroidered jacket, Parton in a Western-inspired belted blue dress, and Fonda in a soft pink blouse with a high-waisted skirt, capturing the film’s empowering style (Credit: WENN)
From Acrylic Nails to Big Hair: The Beauty Secrets That Became Her Brand
Dolly’s big blonde hair is another essential aspect of her signature look. In her twenties, after years of bleach and styling, her hair started to break, and she turned to wigs.
“I used to try to keep my own hair teased as big as I like it, and having the bleach and all that, it just broke off,” she told Hallmark. “I thought, ‘Why not just wear wigs?’ That way, I never have a bad hair day. I have a big hair day, but not a bad hair day”.
On the set of Hannah Montana, Dolly Parton sparkles in a rhinestone-embellished denim set with strappy metallic heels, while Miley Cyrus keeps it casual in cuffed jeans, a floral jacket, and embroidered ballet flats (Credit: Disney Channel)
As a self-proclaimed feminist, Dolly changed the music industry for women. Female country music stars were expected to look proper and more subdued, but she changed that. She also fought for pay equity, which is recognized in her songs and film 9 to 5, and achieved success thanks to her brand.
This brand and her distinct image helped her create the cult following she’s had for all these years. In 1986, she even opened her theme park, Dollywood.
The park reflects Dolly; it’s what’s referred to as “The Dollywood Difference,” which is done “all in a manner consistent with Christian values and ethics.”
Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda share a joyful moment at a 2009 event, with Dolly sparkling in a bold zebra-print blazer and Jane exuding elegance in a chic leopard-print ensemble (Credit: Joseph Marzullo / WENN)
Faith, Fame, and Fashion: The Values Behind Dolly’s Glamour
Yet the enduring appeal of Dolly’s image has never been built on glamour alone. Behind the rhinestones, sky-high platforms, and larger-than-life beauty routine is a deeply personal sense of faith that has influenced both her music and the way she approaches her career.
When asked by People about it, she said, “I’ve just felt like God was calling me into that. I’ve always felt like my music was more my ministry than a job. I just feel that this day and time, we need more people that are in a position to help to try to do something, if they can, to brighten the world a little bit. That’s what I’m hoping to do now”.
Dolly Parton turns heads at the CMA Music Festival on June 11, 2011, in Nashville, Tennessee, dazzling in a vibrant yellow studded jacket with a plunging neckline, bold makeup, and her signature voluminous blonde hair (Credit: Judy Eddy / WENN)
Dolly breaks down stereotypes and repeatedly redefines the industry. You can be a successful Christian artist with platinum blonde hair and large breast implants. Miley Cyrus’s godmother is, and always has, carved her own path, and there is no stopping her.
That combination of confidence, humor, and unwavering authenticity has allowed Dolly to wear her signature style through every stage of her career.
Carrie Underwood (L) dazzles in a sparkling green halter gown with a daring thigh-high slit, paired with metallic gold strappy heels, while Dolly Parton stuns in a ruffled off-the-shoulder dress with pink embellishments, completing her look with sparkling platform sandals at the 53rd annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 13, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee (Credit: Instar / WENN)
Whether performing alongside fellow superstars or commanding a red carpet on her own, she has rarely strayed from the glamorous formula that made her an icon in the first place. One of the best modern examples came at the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards.
Dolly Parton and Katy Perry’s Show-Stopping ACM Awards Performance
In April 2016, the then-70-year-old Dolly Parton took to the stage with Katy Perry to sing a duet of her hits at the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. They sang “Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” and “9 to 5″ together that evening.
The legendary American singer-songwriter, actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian was also awarded the Tex Ritter Award for her work producing the TV movie “Coat of Many Colors”, which tells the story of Dolly‘s upbringing.
Dolly Parton flashes her signature smile while celebrating country music at the ACM Awards (Credit: Judy Eddy / WENN)
For her performance, Dolly Parton wore a sequined ensemble true to form, paired with sky-high Christian Louboutin heels. High heels have no age limit!
Dolly Parton was awarded the Tex Ritter Award at the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3, 2016 (Credit: Judy Eddy / WENN)
Do you plan to wear high heels when you’re in your 70s? Let us know how you like Dolly’s sparkling sequined jacket!
Katy Perry and Dolly Parton light up the stage at the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards on April 3, 2016, in Las Vegas, with Dolly dazzling in sparkling platform heels and Katy adding a playful touch with pink cowboy boots and bold yellow pumps (Credit: WENN)
“Katy Perry is a living doll,” Dolly Parton told Rolling Stone.
“I like her because she is very upfront, open, honest, and funny. I like her approach to her music. She’s a very talented and serious songwriter and I always appreciate that. I look forward to getting to know her better personally as we have a lot in common. . . our love for songwriting and our similar upbringing. It was a joy getting to sing with her on the ACMs. I was a hit with my nieces, nephews, and my young friends as they can’t believe I met Katy Perry. I met a girl and I liked her!”
Dolly Parton in a colorful sequined jacket at the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3, 2016 (Credit: Nicky Nelson / WENN)
Immediately after it was announced that she would be performing with Dolly Parton at the Academy of Country Music Awards, Perry took to Twitter to show off her excitement: “MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. I shall remember, though, that I am but one sequin on this living legend’s costume!”
Dolly Parton stuns in towering Christian Louboutin peep-toe platform heels, featuring the brand’s signature red soles, perfectly complementing her crystal-embellished white ensemble
Dolly Parton’s Sparkling 2023 ACM Awards Look Proves Glamour Never Gets Old
In May 2023, Dolly Parton made a grand entrance at the 58th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
The then-77-year-old iconic artist’s sparkling silver ensemble beautifully accentuated her hourglass figure, turning heads as she walked down the red carpet.
Dolly Parton capturing everyone’s attention in a sparkling silver ensemble at the 58th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards held at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on May 11, 2023 (Credit: imageSPACE / Media Punch / INSTARimages)
Her attire boasted a plunging neckline that showcased her legendary bust, adorned with sparkling, embroidered silver beads and delicate sheer paneling, creating an elegant turtleneck silhouette.
Adding extra glamour, the ensemble featured layers of flashy crystal fringe trimming the hem and swirling silver paisley accents embellished with beading and crystals on each shoulder.
Dolly Parton opted for a pink-and-red manicure to add bold pops of color to her shimmery silver ensemble (Credit: imageSPACE / Media Punch / INSTARimages)
The rich country singer-songwriter incorporated a Western twist into her look with silver-patterned pants elegantly lined with crystal fringe along her legs.
Completing her ensemble, she sported a vibrant pink-and-red manicure, complemented by a cocktail ring adorned with multiple diamonds and a jeweled butterfly ring.
Her signature bleach-blonde bouffant framed her face, complemented by glossy pink lips, rosy blush, and shimmering purple-and-white eyeshadow.
Dolly Parton’s beauty look consisted of a blonde bouffant, colorful eye makeup, a rosy blush, and a pink lip (Credit: imageSPACE / Media Punch / INSTARimages)
As for footwear, Parton donned her signature tall platform heels featuring platform soles made of matching silver leather accentuated with shimmering round crystals.
These delicate 5-inch heels added a glamorous touch and boosted her height, giving her look the perfect finishing touch.
Dolly Parton is a celebrated country music icon with ten prestigious awards from the Academy of Country Music alone (Credit: imageSPACE / Media Punch / INSTARimages)
The ACM Awards have long been part of Dolly Parton’s story. A 10-time ACM winner, including Entertainer of the Year in 1978, she returned in 2023 as co-host alongside Garth Brooks, blending her trademark humor with heartfelt tributes throughout the evening.
Dolly Parton with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood at the 58th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards (Credit: imageSPACE / Media Punch / INSTARimages)
One of the night’s most memorable moments came when she walked onstage with a live goat named Claire, joking about Brooks’ “G.O.A.T.” introduction before the pair traded playful banter.
Later, the mood turned emotional as Parton performed an a cappella rendition of “Precious Memories” in honor of Loretta Lynn and Naomi Judd.
Priscilla Block and Dolly Parton posed for photographs together at the 58th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards (Credit: imageSPACE / Media Punch / INSTARimages)
She closed the ceremony with “World on Fire,” the lead single from her Rockstar album, wearing a dramatic map-of-the-world skirt that underscored the song’s message of unity and hope.
Dolly Parton made sure that the 58th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards was an unforgettable one with her talent, wit, and heart (Credit: imageSPACE / Media Punch / INSTARimages)
More than five decades into her career, Dolly Parton continues to show that personal style is about consistency as much as reinvention. From the towering platform heels and sparkling stage costumes of her early career to her crystal-covered red-carpet looks today, every appearance reinforces the image she created long ago: unapologetically glamorous, unmistakably authentic, and entirely her own.