Dolly Parton: The Real Queen Of All Media

Tells 60 Minutes When It Comes To Business, She Looks Like A Woman But Thinks Like A Man

(CBS)  One of her songs from the musical is called "Backwoods Barbie," and 60 Minutes caught up with Dolly as she was making a music video for the song.

Fittingly, it was filmed at Frederick's of Hollywood, makers of outrageous underwear. The lyrics: "I’m just a backwoods Barbie in a push-up bra and heels. I might look artificial, but where it counts I'm real."

Speaking of which…

"You have no problem talking about the nips and the tucks and the science, I guess, that helps create who you are," Safer remarked.

"Well, I don't, because people are gonna find it out anyway. I'd certainly rather say it. I don't just go in for a complete overhaul. I just go in for tune-ups," she explained.

Safer read back to her an inventory she once made of her various cosmetic procedures: "I've had nips and tucks and trims and sucks. Boobs and waist, and butt and such. Eyes and chin and back again. Pills and peels and other frills. And I’ll never graduate from…"

"Collagen," Dolly said, laughing. "It is so true."

Her sanctuary is her house in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, a country place built on the site of the old shack she grew up in.

She has grander places in Nashville and Los Angeles. But her Tennessee home, with its reminders of hard times past, its pictures of the worn, haunting faces of family members long gone, is where Dolly Parton comes to recharge her batteries and reminisce.

She told Safer one of the strangest, funniest stories we've ever heard about an encounter with a pig when she was three years old.

"One time there was an old sow layin' over here, feeding her piglets. I wanted to be one of 'em. So I was this tiny little thing. And I, mama, I got lost. Nobody could find me. So a few hours later, they found me over here. I had moved the little pigs, and I was down there, just nursin' with the rest of 'em. So, I've been a pig all my life. That's true. And they never let me forget it," she said, laughing.

Asked if she made that story up, Dolly told Safer, "I swear to God. I swear. It's a famous story in our family."

[traffic101]

She must have a picture at home that is aging. She would look better more natural, she has sold herself to Hollywood. But, it must be working....

[TNisgoodenoughforme]

I loved it when they showed Dolly the old clip with her Mom & Dad. She is as real as they come

[big67tex]

Seems strange to me that there was no mention of the person who 'found ' Dolly and made her a star. Sure, she had more talent than Porter, but it was his show that put her in the linelight. If it hadn't been for him, Dolly could well be a 61 year old, 5 foot, blonde, big boob singer wandering from bar to bar. REPORT THE WHOLE STORY!

[Xenogogic]

OK, where's the Joan Crawford side of her?

[holymountaineer]

Morey:

You, as always, did an outstanding job of journalism on Ms. Parton. However, please ask her if she knows the Southern term "Indian giver." She fired 42 people, her longtime touring band, backstage crew, background singers, and tour administrative staff after giving her word that she would employ them for a specific number of years. This was done via a letter from her while they were touring in Europe last year. The tour still had the remaining months in the U.S. to go. So, these TRULY loyal folks toured with her until the tour concluded around Thanksgiving.

Also, ask her new manager, formerly with Bon Jovi, the top 100 country music classics of all time.

I am no longer a fan or supporter of Dolly.

[Henrys_mom]

This was a nice piece on DP. MS failed to mention one of Dolly's greatest works, "Imagination Library". To provide children with free monthly books until age 5 will be one of her most memorable achievements.

[davidcc472]

I think this was one of the best profiles the show has ever done. The first two segments were very heavy and this piece was a nice lighthearted profile of a woman who's an American classic. 60 Minutes was well balanced Sunday night, I enjoyed it very much. Keep up the good work.

David

[Ludwig_Von_Mises]

Nice piece on Dolly. What was missing, though, was any mention of the two men in country music who were most instrumental in helping Dolly break thru in what was then a very male dominated business. There should've been some mention of Porter Wagoner and Chet Atkins. That's all.

[sofarr]

Look, I like Dolly Parton as much as the next guy, but that was the puffiest puff piece that 60 minutes has pulled so far. Looks like paid advertising. What happened to investigative reporting? Your show is turning into just another bit of infotainment, so formulaic and trite.

This is a time when newspapers are failing and people are starved for substantive reporting on the economy and politics, the corruption and abuses that have led up the mess we are in. What are you guys doing? Seems like the only real reporting left on TV is PBS's Frontline.
Come back, 60 Minutes. We need you.

[ericgarrison]

Thank you, 60 Minutes, for reminding us what a wonderful person Dolly is! She truly is a genuine, classic, American sweetheart!