Dolly Parton Was So Much More Than Big Hair and Rhinestones. This Documentary Shows Why.

Behind the wigs, rhinestones and unforgettable songs was a woman shaped by humble beginnings, faith, family and an extraordinary desire to give back.

When Dolly Parton died, tributes poured in from around the world— musicians and actors, presidents and philanthropists, longtime fans and people who had never met her but somehow felt like they knew her.

That may be the clearest measure of Dolly Parton’s extraordinary reach. Her music was beloved. Her personality was unforgettable. But her impact went far beyond either one.

The songs were the beginning. They gave Dolly a voice, a platform and, eventually, the means to turn her remarkable success into something much bigger than herself.

She used that success to help others, from championing children’s literacy to supporting communities in need. And somehow, through it all, she never seemed to lose sight of the girl who grew up in the Smoky Mountains.

Dolly Parton: Big Hair, Bigger Heart, which is now streaming on EKKL, takes a look at the life behind the rhinestones—the woman, the artist and the extraordinary legacy she leaves behind.

The Woman Behind the Legend

Dolly was born in a one-room cabin in Tennessee, the fourth of 12 children, and grew up in poverty. Music entered her life early: by age 6, she was singing hymns in church and playing a homemade guitar.

She went on to become one of the most recognizable entertainers in the world—a singer and songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and the force behind Dollywood. Her music career became legendary, earning her dozens of major awards and inductions into the Country Music, Songwriters and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame.

But alongside the fame came something else: a determination to stay true to her roots and to use what she had to help other people.

Her charitable work became an important part of that legacy, particularly her commitment to literacy. Her foundation’s Imagination Library grew into a program that has put millions of books into children’s hands.

And that’s what makes Dolly Parton: Big Hair, Bigger Heart worth watching.

The 2024 documentary doesn’t simply revisit the hits or celebrate the rhinestones. It traces the journey from Dolly’s dirt-poor beginnings to the extraordinary career and legacy she built, looking at the woman behind the larger-than-life image.

At just under an hour, it’s an easy watch—but one that leaves you with a much bigger picture of the woman you thought you knew.

Watch Dolly Parton’s Story on EKKL

The songs may have made her unforgettable. But her heart made her extraordinary.

Watch Dolly Parton: Big Hair, Bigger Heart on EKKL, and discover the story behind the woman the world will never forget.