Along with Elvis and Beyoncé, Dolly Parton belongs to a small group of celebrities who are on a first-name basis with fans. For over half a century, the singer and songwriter has helped define modern music, from the Grand Ole Opry (where she debuted at the age of 13) to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which she joined in 2022. She’s also become a formidable entrepreneur, generous philanthropist and cultural icon whose influence extends far beyond the world of music.
Earlier this year, Dolly fans celebrated the news that she was launching Dolly Wines, a collaboration with Parton Family Cellars and Australia-based Accolade Wines. The company’s first release, now widely available in the United States, is a California Chardonnay. More wines are planned for the U.S., U.K. and beyond.
Parton spoke with assistant editor Kenny Martin about getting into the business, why she loves drinking wine to celebrate special occasions, and much more.
Was wine around when you were growing up? What made you get into the wine business?
We had homemade wine and moonshine and that kind of thing back home, but I’d never thought much about it, because I’m not known to be a big drinker.
When you think about wine, you think about friends, fun and family. We know how music brings people together. I thought, why not have a nice wine to go along with all the stuff that we have? Music, family, friends, celebrations—there are so many things to celebrate, especially if you’re in the music business.
Watch excerpts from Dolly Parton's interview with Wine Spectator at our Instagram account.
I also have three hotels, and we serve cocktails and wine there. I thought, well, it’d be wonderful to have my own wine. Why not just go ahead and start this right now?
Do you have any special wine memories?
I have often kept Champagne bottles from special occasions—having a number one album, first this, first that—and I sometimes put candles in them. We’ve always celebrated with bubbly. Our first wine is a Chardonnay, but eventually we’ll have bubbles too. I have lots of bottles from special dinners to celebrate awards shows or hit albums or something else.
You always think about some sort of alcohol when you’re celebrating something. And many people do choose wine because it’s not as hard-hitting as liquor, which some folks in the country music business are known for. A nice wine is always good for celebrations and good with nice food. So starting to make my own just seemed like a good thing to do.
Are you the kind of person who drinks wine with dinner on a weeknight?
I have to be honest, because I can’t just tell lies to sell a lot of wine! I’m not much of a drinker. I never drink alone. I have a few nice bottles of wine and other things at my house for when friends come over. It’s usually to accompany a nice dinner, or when someone has something special to celebrate. It’s always nice to have some good wine around.
How did you decide on California Chardonnay for the first release?
We wanted to keep things in the United States to start. California makes wonderful wines, and I’ve had a home in Los Angeles for many years. It just seemed to be the thing to do. I’m sure we’re going to be making wines from Italy, the rest of Europe, Australia and beyond when we start releasing more wines. But right now, this one’s for us, and it’s from the good ol’ U.S.A.
How are you involved in the project?
I always like to test everything that I’m involved with, and they do bring the wine for me to taste. But I try to leave those kinds of things to the experts, and they have lots of people, including a lot of young people, testing the wine and making sure it’s good. We’re with Accolade, which is a wonderful company, so I’m allowing those kinds of decisions to stay with the people who know what they’re doing.
I wouldn’t know the first thing about how to make a good wine or be able to say for certain if it’s this or that. But we’re surrounded by good people who are making sure that this is something good, and something I can be proud to represent.
What sets Dolly Wines apart from other celebrity wine brands?
It has my name on it! If I’m going to sell it, you know it’s going to be pretty good. And at least I’m going to tell you the truth about whatever it is. I’m excited about this, and I’m hoping people really like it. And I’m eager to hear the feedback on it.
In addition to your name, the label has those beautiful butterflies.
Oh, the butterflies! That’s my symbol, my little emblem. I’ve chased butterflies since I was little, and there are all kinds of stories about me getting lost and chasing them. In 1974, I wrote a song, “Love Is Like a Butterfly,” that was one of my biggest country hits.
Who is this wine for?
Anybody who likes to drink wine! It isn’t necessarily for somebody so highfalutin who knows this and that and has a bottle that’s 200 years old—though I’d like to sell it to them too, of course, if they’d like to try it and maybe collect it!
My wine is for the regular people out there who like to have a good time, people who love together, who get together with friends and family. It’s for anyone who enjoys it. I’m always a person who’s about the general public, my fan base, the people who know me and love me. This is a really good wine, but it’s an affordable wine. That’s hopefully going to be the case with all the wines we release.
How do wine, music and creativity fit together for you?
I guess it depends on how much wine you have! I’m a serious songwriter—I’ll sometimes be on a roll for two or three days. I take songwriting more seriously than anything else I do. Sometimes, if I’ve been writing for hours, I’ll get up and have a cup of coffee—but then I think, how many cups have I had? Or do I need to be winding this thing down? Maybe I need a glass of wine to kind of calm myself.
When you think about wine, you think about celebrations and music and dancing and fun. I think music, wine and creativity just go together. But a lot of people drink too much and then they’re not as creative as they think they are. You read the song back later and it’s not as good as you believed it was at the time. So I think you have to be careful with all of it. Drink in moderation and be smart with it.
Do you write songs with your guitar, at the keyboard, away from an instrument?
I mainly write with my guitar—that’s always been my number one. It depends on what I’m writing. I have all of my old mountain instruments, which I love, and if I’m wanting to write a really old-timey sounding song, I’ll use my dulcimer or my autoharp. And I love to play the banjo.
I’m not great at anything, but the guitar is my best instrument. I love to sit at the piano and work out little things. I’m not a great piano player, but I do love the sound of it. And I have a tendency to get a broader range of melodies if I do write at the piano. I sometimes feel that because I play the guitar so much and have written so many songs, a lot of them tend to sound similar. But when I get at the piano, I can just sit and play and have more of an open feel for my music.
Increasingly, young women are playing a crucial role in the wine industry. You’ve long been an inspiration to women all over the world. What would you say to them?
I would say I’m proud for you. I’m proud for you being great in whatever business you’ve chosen to be in. I love seeing young women doing great, and if they’ve chosen to be in wine, I think that’s wonderful. I would also say, try mine and tell me what you think, as a girlfriend!
Have you noticed country musicians and fans getting more into wine?
I have, and so many of them now even own vineyards. It seems to be a favorite business. In east Tennessee, they have moonshine, and of course we have our Tennessee and Kentucky whiskies. Everybody likes to have a good time and get out of their normal feelings every now and then, and be elevated a little bit.
But I think the country music people were known through the years for drinking heavy liquor, which ruined some careers. A lot of them still have honky tonks and bars and taverns, and people are always going to drink beer and spirits. But I think wine has more class to it, and maybe some of us should try to be a little classier than the country hillbillies that we really are.
Did you ever work a 9-to-5 job?
Yes! I worked at an outdoor sign company called Northern Outdoor when I first came to Nashville. I wasn’t very good at it, and my heart wasn’t in it. I worked a little bit as a waitress, mostly just for the free meals. I was lucky that I got a job as a songwriter early on, but I still felt I knew what it was like to work. And I worked 9-to-5 and 5-to-9 living on the farm.
What are you most proud of?
I’m proud of everything I’ve done in my life. I’m proud of the awards. I’m proud that I’ve been able to make a living doing what I love to do. I’m proud that I’ve gotten to see my dreams come true, because I’ve seen so many people who love their work who never got so lucky.
One of the things I am proudest of is the Imagination Library. We give books to children from the time they’re born until they start school. Every month, they get a book in the mail with their name on it. Over the past 30 years, we have given out over 250 million books worldwide.
It started out with my dad, who couldn’t read or write. It troubled him, and it always bothered me that it bothered him. I got him involved in the project. Daddy was really smart, and he helped me a lot on the business end. It started in my home county and has now grown and become a worldwide thing. I feel so blessed that I’ve been able to put that many books in the hands of children around the world.
Are there plans for Dolly Wines to support your philanthropic projects?
Not so far, though we are serving these wines at our Dollywood hotels. You know me. I’m always giving back, and I’ll always find ways to do what I need to do. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if I start donating many of my profits to support the Imagination Library or other things. I’ll always be out trying to help where there’s a need. I’ve been blessed with so much, and I try my best to put my money where my mouth is, and where my heart is.
What gives you hope?
I still believe that there are so many wonderful people in this world. There are still so many wonderful things that we can enjoy. It is my hope that people open their eyes and their ears and their hearts to try to let some more sunshine in, some more light, so that we can enjoy the rest of our lives instead of being scared to death all the time that everything’s going to hell in a handbasket.
I wish there was a better way, and I’m going to be out there the rest of my life trying to lift people up and spread as much light as I can. I wish more people would try to do the same thing.
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