Dolly Parton's Biggest Hair Moments That Had Heads Turning

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Dolly Parton is one of the most iconic singers ever, and she's not just known for her country hits. The "Jolene" singer is easily recognizable by her blond hair, which is typically styled sky-high. She once famously said, "The higher the hair, the closer to God," and Parton's inspiration for her pouffy 'do came from looking at Frederick's of Hollywood catalogs when she was younger. "I wanted to feel like the way I thought all the movie stars in Hollywood did," she wrote in her 2020 memoir, "Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics" (via Today).

It turns out that many of Parton's hairstyles are thanks to wigs. In a 2014 appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," she said, "I do wear wigs all the time because it's so handy and I'm always so busy. And so, I really enjoy wearing the wigs." Even if she's not sporting her natural tresses, Parton has had some amazing hair moments over the years, and suffice it to say, they've all been big, bold, and beautiful.

Vintage Dolly Parton was a sight to behold with her buttery blond hair in voluminous curls worn short above her shoulders. She was decades ahead of the curtain bangs trend and managed to have hers perfectly frame her face. The "I Will Always Love You" singer had the top of her hair teased in a slight bouffant, going with the late-'70s style of big blowouts à la Farrah Fawcett. To get Parton's look, we suggest using Velcro rollers for perfect, bouncy curls.

Ever the fashionable one, Dolly Parton went with the '80s trend of tight, spiraled tresses at the time. She opted to wear her hair longer down her shoulders with her crown teased to the sky. "In the '80s, a lot of the wigs had those really, really, little, tight curls. The smaller I got, the bigger the hair seemed to be. My husband used to say, 'You look like a Q-tip,'" Parton told Allure in 2021. If she looked like a cotton swab, we want to, too!

Dolly Parton may be many things, but she is definitely not subtle, especially when it comes to her hair. In the '90s, she experimented with her rock-and-roll side with a feathered cut and tons of layers. Almost resembling a mullet, the top was shorter and spiked upward, with uneven bangs covering her forehead. Along with Parton's cheetah-print top and matching earrings, her head-banging 'do almost had us believe she changed music genres and became a heavy-metal singer.

The Y2K era had the most iconic hairstyles, including piecey tendrils, which Dolly Parton sported in 2000. Instead of the super-voluminous styles we typically associate with her, the bottom half fell into a straight lob with blunt ends, and only some strands were teased on the top in thin sections. This hairstyle showed Parton's slightly more natural side, although she kept her makeup bright and colorful. Still, this look proves that the "9 to 5" star always knows what's trending.

Dolly Parton was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2016 CMAs, and she brought her A-game with her aesthetic. Wearing a gorgeous sparkling yellow dress that was totally on par with her sunny disposition, Parton also donned makeup that complemented the color with a pretty, coral-colored lipstick. Oh, and her hair was huge with tons of volume on the top and sides. Parton's strands were curled in loose waves, falling gracefully onto her shoulders. She made sure to show up in her signature style, and we wouldn't expect any less from the queen of country.

Dolly Parton has been looking like a rockstar for decades thanks to her various hairstyles, but she finally proved that she is one when she released her 2023 album, "Rockstar." She made sure to dress the part during a press conference in London at the time, where she wore a bright-pink-and-silver fringed dress with netted fingerless gloves. Going with the '80s theme, Parton wore her hair half up with crimped pieces scattered throughout. We're sure this look took the multi-Grammy winner back in time.

Also in 2023, Dolly Parton made sure all eyes were on her when she performed at the Thanksgiving Day halftime show between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders. Dressed in the Cowboys' colors of blue and white, Parton looked like a bombshell with loose waves that had her looking like a younger Pamela Anderson. She showed that side fringe is back from its early-aughts grave and better than ever with cascading bangs that blended into her long layers. We love that the effect was slightly messy but still completely glamorous.