Dolly Parton’s mother gave her a gift more valuable than any rhinestone; six words from Shakespeare that would guide her through heartbreak and history-making success. In an emotional TODAY interview, the legend reveals how Hamlet’s “To thine own self be true” became her North Star, fueling everything from Jolene to her new Southern food line while healing her grief.
That Shakespearean wisdom morphed into Dolly’s signature motto: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” Watch her eyes light up in the TODAY clip as she explains how this mantra armored her against industry pressures. The proof? That unshakable Tennessee twang, self-deprecating humor and those sky-high wigs she refused to tame for critics.
Dolly Parton Shares Her Mother’s Life-Changing Advice – TODAY Interview
The comedy reel shows Dolly weaponizing authenticity; roasting her own looks with “It costs a lot to look this cheap!” while disarming talk show hosts. Fans adore how she wraps profound wisdom in punchlines, proving her Shakespeare lesson: when you stop taking yourself seriously, the world embraces you. “Honey, I’m a cartoon!” she cackles and we love her for it.
Now she’s bringing that authentic flavor; literally; to frozen food aisles nationwide. Her new $4.49 comfort meals (think: shrimp & grits) taste like her childhood kitchen. “Food’s like music,” she says. “It should come from the heart and warm you up twice.”
Dolly Parton’s Funniest Moments – Comedic Genius Compilation
This new chapter comes as Dolly grieves husband Carl Dean’s passing. “Grief carves holes we fill with love,” she told Knox News. True to form, she’s transforming pain into purpose; using food profits to fund literacy programs. Because staying true, she’s learned, means lifting others while you climb.
From a one-room cabin to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Dolly proves Shakespeare right daily. Her secret? “When you’re real, success sticks to you like glitter.” And at 78, she’s still sparkling one heartfelt song, one pot roast, and one raunchy joke at a time. Now that’s living with purpose.