Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton has been in the music industry for over sixty years now, but it doesn’t seem like the country music legend is still going at it. Before her fame blew up, Parton endured tremendous poverty, perhaps to the point of taking out personal loans. According to the singer herself, her family’s living conditions were so poor that her father had to pay the doctor with cornmeal the day that she was born. However, they were also devout Christians and her father made the young Parton participate in the church choir.

After learning to play the guitar, Parton and her parents set their sights on broadcasted performances. Right after finishing her high school education, she moved to Nashville and started working as a songwriter. Then in 1967, Parton finally broke through the country music charts with her single The Last Thing on my Mind. She’s only had success since then. Today, she is considered a living legend with a big heart for philanthropy.