Dolly Parton loves her songs like they’re part of her. Each one feels like a little piece of her heart, telling stories about her life, her family, and why love matters so much to her. Because of this, she doesn’t like giving her songs to other people, even if it might help her career.
If you look at the songs she’s written, you’ll see why. Dolly writes about her own life, sharing personal thoughts and memories that made her who she is. But she’s also great at telling stories, so when you listen, you feel like you’re part of her world too.
For example, take her song “I Will Always Love You.” It’s so special to her that she didn’t even let Elvis Presley sing it when he asked. She said no because she wanted to keep it as hers. It was hard to say no to someone so famous, but in her heart, she knew it belonged to her alone.
Another song she loves is “Coat of Many Colors.” It’s about a coat her mom made her when she was little. That coat wasn’t just clothes—it showed how strong she could be, even when life was tough. Growing up, her family didn’t have much money, but Dolly felt rich because of the love they shared. She wore that coat proudly, and the song tells that story. On The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, she called it her “little signature song” because it explains so much about her.
Writing “Coat of Many Colors” wasn’t just about making a song—it helped Dolly heal. Before, thinking about her hard times made her feel stuck. But when she wrote about them, she saw how those moments shaped her. In her book Songteller from 2020, she said she used to wonder why tough things happened. Now she knows it was so she could write that song. She believes God has a plan, even if it’s hard to see at the time.
Dolly says you never know how bad times might turn into something good later. That’s why she put so much into the song—not just her story, but big ideas like accepting people who are different. Back then, she didn’t realize it, but “Coat of Many Colors” shows her belief in loving and understanding everyone, no matter how they live.
