Dolly Parton Siblings: An Inside Look Into Her Family

Dolly Parton Dean is a prominent figure in the country music industry, renowned for her talents as a singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, with a career spanning several decades.

Although Dolly Parton is widely recognized for her remarkable achievements in the entertainment industry, it’s important to note that her siblings are equally talented and have made noteworthy contributions of their own.

While some followed Dolly’s path into music, others pursued different career paths but nonetheless excelled and established themselves as part of the illustrious Parton family legacy. Together, they have made an indelible mark in their respective fields and continue to be an unforgettable names in the entertainment industry.

Meet Dolly Parton’s Siblings

Dolly Parton was one of twelve siblings born to Robert and Avie Lee Parton. The family spent their early years in Sevier County, Tennessee, near the Smoky Mountains, and lived in a small cabin where the children shared beds and slept six to a bed.

The twelve siblings, listed in order of birth, were Willadeene, David Wilburn, Coy Denver, Dolly Rebecca, Bobby Lee, Stella Mae, Cassie Nan, Randel Huston “Randy”, Larry Gerald, twins Floyd Estel and Freida Estelle, and the youngest, Rachel Ann.

Willadeene Parton

Willadeene is the eldest among the Parton siblings. While she did not pursue a career in music like her younger sister Dolly, she made notable contributions to the family legacy through her writing. In 1985, she authored “In The Shadow Of A Song: The Story Of The Parton Family,” which chronicled their life experiences.

She went on to release “Smoky Mountain Memories: Stories From The Hearts Of The Parton Family” in 1996. Her third book, “All-Day Singing And Dinner On The Ground,” featured recipes that her mother used to cook for their large family.

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Stella Parton

Stella, born on May 4, 1949, is the sixth child in her family and is three years younger than her sister Dolly. In 1975, she released her biggest hit I Want To Hold You In My Dreams, along with other top 20 country music hits such as The Danger of a Stranger, Standard Lie Number One, and Four Little Letters.

Cassie Parton

Cassie Parton, who was born on February 12, 1951, pursued a career in singing and was part of a quartet with her siblings Willadeene, Dolly, and Stella in 1967. Together, they produced a gospel album titled In the Garden. Cassie also performed with her brother Randy in the Dollywood show, My People, in 2013.

Randy Parton

Randy Parton, the eighth child of Robert and Avie, was born Randel Huston on December 15, 1953. He had two singles, “Hold Me Like You Never Had Me” and “Shot Full of Love,” that peaked at No. 30 on the US Country Music charts in 1981. Unfortunately, Randy passed away at the age of 67 in January 2021.

Freida Parton And Floyd Parton

Freida Parton is a twin who used to perform and was a member of a punk band in the 1980s. She provided backup vocals on some of Dolly’s albums and released a rock album called Two Faced in 1984. Her twin brother, Floyd Parton, was Dolly’s songwriting partner for a long time and also contributed to soundtracks for George Burns in Nashville (1980) and Dolly Parton & Friends (2007). Unfortunately, Floyd passed away at the age of 61 in 2018.

Rachel Parton

Rachel Parton Dennison, Dolly’s famous younger sister, was born on August 31, 1959. She starred in the ABC sitcom 9 To 5 from 1982 to 1988 and performed with Dolly and Stella at the Red Tent Women’s Conference in Tennessee in 2014.

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David Parton, Coy Parton, and Bobby Lee Parton

Dolly’s older siblings, David and Coy, were born on March 30, 1942, and August 16, 1943, respectively. Bobby was born on February 18, 1948. Although they have not pursued careers in showbiz, Dolly once mentioned that one of her brothers works as a carpenter.

Larry Parton

Larry, the youngest sibling, and the ninth child was born on July 6, 1955.

Regrettably, Larry passed away only four days after he was born, and he was laid to rest at Angel Hill Cemetery, located in the family’s hometown of Sevierville.