Long before Dolly Parton became one of the most recognizable names in country music, she was simply one of 12 children growing up surrounded by music in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
That musical upbringing would shape the singer and songwriter for the rest of her life. And one rare television performance from the 1970s offers a remarkable glimpse into those roots, with Dolly joined on camera by both of her parents and seven of her 11 siblings.
The footage has become especially poignant following Dolly’s death on August 25, 2026, preserving an intimate moment in which the Parton family came together to perform the Appalachian folk song “In the Pines.”
Music was part of Dolly’s childhood
Dolly was the fourth child of Robert “Lee” Parton and Avie Lee Parton. She grew up in the Great Smoky Mountains, where music was deeply woven into everyday family life.
During a 2000 interview with American Routes, Dolly recalled that her mother’s side of the family was particularly musical.
She said she had grown up singing in church while her parents regularly performed traditional mountain and folk songs. Those songs reflected a mixture of influences, including English, Irish and Welsh music, alongside gospel and bluegrass.
That blend of musical traditions became an important part of Dolly’s identity and ultimately influenced the country sound she would develop as a performer.
A rare family performance of “In the Pines”
One of the traditional songs Dolly performed with her family was “In the Pines,” an Appalachian folk song whose history can be traced to the 1870s.
The song is believed to have developed from two earlier pieces, “The Longest Train” and another song also known as “In the Pines.” The exact authorship of the traditional material remains unknown.
Over the years, “In the Pines” has been recorded and performed by numerous artists, with Bill Monroe among the best-known musicians associated with the song.
Dolly also performed it on her television show during the 1970s. On that occasion, however, the performance became something much more personal when her parents joined her.
In the footage, Dolly sits at the front with her mother and father, while seven of her 11 siblings sit behind them.
The performance is largely a family effort, with the group singing together and creating a warm harmony that reflects the musical environment in which Dolly was raised.
There are also brief solo moments. Avie Lee takes one solo before Lee later sings on his own.
For fans, the footage provides an unusually intimate look at Dolly’s family and the musical roots she carried with her throughout her career.
Dolly’s parents join her for another song
The same television episode featured another performance that celebrated the Parton family’s Appalachian heritage.
Dolly, her parents and her siblings also performed “Old Black Kettle,” a song written by Dolly herself.
The song appeared on her 1973 album My Tennessee Mountain Home, a record that was closely connected to her childhood and upbringing.
The album cover featured the small log cabin where Dolly and her family lived during the 1940s and 1950s.
Both the album and the television performance reflected Dolly’s deep connection to the place where she grew up.
Despite achieving enormous success, she repeatedly drew inspiration from her childhood, her family and the traditions of the Smoky Mountains.
That is what makes these old family performances so special. They capture Dolly not simply as a celebrated country star, but as a daughter and sister singing alongside the people and traditions that helped shape her musical life.
