Dolly Parton's Iconic Acrylic Manicures Stunned - And Helped Her Craft One Of Her Biggest Hits

The late, legendary Dolly Parton has given us some of the biggest and best beauty moments over the years. Known for loving a full face of makeup, big hairdos, and dazzling rhinestones, Parton's iconic style transformation over the years wasn't complete without a set of long nails. It was, in fact, her acrylics that helped her write the hit song "9 to 5," and if you listen closely, you'll hear them clacking in the background. While on "The Graham Norton Show" in 2020, Parton explained that while on the set of the 1980 movie of the same name, she was brainstorming her song and didn't have time to get her guitar, so she rubbed her acrylic nails together to make a beat. "After we recorded the song, I brought all the girls down that was on the show and I played my nails. So on the back of the album I have a credit that says, 'Nails by Dolly,'" she revealed.

In a 2023 interview on "The Howard Stern Show," Parton demonstrated how she used her nails as an instrument, sharing that she thought it sounded like a typewriter, which went with the movie's theme about working women. And it's not just any nails that would have worked. "You got to have acrylic nails to make that real percussive sound," the "Jolene" singer stated. Parton had maximalist nails to inspire your next manicure for as long as we can remember, and they were clearly more than just decorative when it came to her music.

Only Dolly Parton would have thought about making her glam functional. Not only did she use her acrylics as a percussion instrument, but the country star also reimagined them as guitar picks. During an interview in 1979, as shared by History In Pictures, Parton is seen strumming the guitar with the help of her long nails while singing a song to Johnny Carson with her angelic voice. As explained by the Facebook account, she used an open tuning method to play complete chords while she adjusted her other hand to navigate the frets.

Gorgeous throwback pics of Parton prove she's always been an icon, and what made her even more legendary is that she taught the nail trick to Patti LaBelle. In a 1987 interview in "Dolly!" posted on YouTube, Parton told the "Lady Marmalade" singer, "I write a lot of songs, and when I don't have my guitar, you know, I beat around the dashboard in my car when I'm riding around writing songs. But I have a little rhythm that we can do with these acrylic nails." Demonstrating her technique, LaBelle joined in, and together, they sang "Shortnin' Bread" while creating their own rhythm section. A fan quipped, "Two beautiful women and a whole lotta talent (and hair!)."