Parton in 2012, photo by DFree/Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Dolly Rebecca Parton
Place of Birth: Sevier County, Tennessee, U.S.
Date of Birth: January 19, 1946
Ethnicity: English, Scottish, Irish, German, Welsh, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish
Dolly Parton is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, businessperson, and humanitarian. Her films include 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias, Straight Talk, and Joyful Noise.
Dolly is the daughter of Avie Lee Caroline (Owens) and Robert Lee Parton. Her brother was songwriter Floyd Parton. Much of Dolly’s ancestry is English, along with Scottish, Irish, German, Welsh, and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish. Her family has lived in the American South for a long time. She is married to Carl Dean.
Among her siblings are/were singer and songwriter Stella Parton. musician and actor Randy Parton, and singer and actress Rachel Dennison. Her uncle was songwriter Bill Owens.
Dolly has been said to have some degree of Cherokee Native American ancestry. No such ancestry has of yet been documented/verified in her family tree. For more information, see this Q&A.
Dolly’s paternal grandfather was William Walter Parton (the son of Albert Huston/Houston Parton and Tennessee Smith “Tennie” Russell). William was born in Tennessee. Albert was the son of Benjamin Christopher/Chris/Chrisenberry Parton and Margaret Jane Evans. Tennessee was the daughter of Lorenzo Dow Russell and Ellie Hannah Downs.
Dolly’s paternal grandmother was Bessie Elizabeth Rayfield (the daughter of George Washington Rayfield and Cassandra/Cassey/Casie/”Cassie” Ann Moore). Bessie was born in Tennessee. George was the son of Charles Rayfield and Elizabeth Bohannnon/Bohanan. Cassandra was the daughter of Andrew Jackson Moore and Rachel Metcalf.
Dolly’s maternal grandfather was The Rev. Jacob Robert “Jake” Owens (the son of James Robert Owens and Mary Malinda/Melinda Messer). Jacob was born in North Carolina or Tennessee. James was the son of Samuel Paxton Owens and Annie Sutton. Mary Malinda was the daughter of Isaac Hugh Avery Messer and Hannah Harriett/Harriet Jane Conard/Connard/Conrad.
Dolly’s maternal grandmother was Rena/Rene/Renie Kansas/A. Valentine (the daughter of Henry Lloyd Valentine and Margaret Louisa Whitted). Rena was born in Tennessee. Henry was the son of William R. Valentine and Sarah E. Dickson/Dixon. Margaret was the daughter of William Jesse Whitted and Rebecca Dunn.
Sources: Genealogies of Dolly Parton – http://www.dollymania.net
https://www.wikitree.com
https://www.geni.com
Genealogies of Dolly’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com
Dolly’s maternal great-great-great-grandmother, Mary Ann Shamblin, on the 1850 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Dolly’s maternal great-great-great-great-grandparents, Aaron H. Shamblin and Juda Bryant, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Aaron H. Shamblin and Juda Bryant on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Dolly’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Dolly’s maternal great-grandfather, Henry Lloyd Valentine, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
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