Regardless of personal preferences, few things in this life truly connect us as people—and Dolly Parton is one of them. From her dazzling smile and sky-high hair to her southern charm and oh-so-sweet voice, we all love Parton, and her life and contributions are worth celebrating.
Today marks the “Jolene” singer’s 79th birthday, so there’s no better time to look back at some of her most iconic beauty moments. Here are just a few of our favorites from throughout the years.
Dolly Parton’s Best Beauty Moments, From the ’70s to 2025
Dolly Parton Circa 1977
From the jump, Parton’s hair never wavered in its holy height. In this photo from the groovy days of the late ’70s, her curls are still full of volume and styled to unreal levels of perfection, but her subtle glam is not to be overlooked. With her natural lashes brushing her brows and her lips glossed to the gods, Parton’s natural beauty shines through. And can we talk about her skin? Not an imperfection in sight.
Dolly Parton Circa 1980
As the decades turned and the flower power of the ’70s was replaced with the electricity of the ’80s, Parton’s beauty looks shifted with the times, but her commitment to her bouffant hair was ever non-negotiable. In this photo from the premiere of Nine to Five, Parton went for a pretty in pink aesthetic, matching her full-lid of shadow, exaggerated blush and shiny lip to her pink dress. If you look closely, you can also see her lengthy nails coming into play—a style we’d all come to associate with the singer.
Dolly Parton Circa 1990
In this photo taken to celebrate Parton’s 44th birthday, the beauty trends of the ’90s are beginning to take hold while still staying true to her southern-bell aesthetic. With her voluminous curls grazing her collar bone, Parton’s glam is a bit more moody, opting for a neutral-colored eye and a muted, burnt-orange lip. Still, her radiant skin and dazzling smile steal the stage.
Dolly Parton Circa 2000
At the turn of the century, Parton’s look got a pretty substantial makeover as she swapped her classic curls for a pin-straight style (still, never compromising on volume, though). Her makeup look is more rock-inspired, featuring a green-and-black smoky eye and a sharp red lip to emphasize her new era.
Dolly Parton Circa 2010
At the opening of Dolly Parton’s Trinkets and Treasures in 2010, Parton owned and clapped back the stereotypes put against her rocking a rhinestone-encrusted “Dumb Blonde” T-shirt, paired with a slightly flippy but ever-voluminous blowout, a nude, glossy lip and moody, smoked-out eyes. We’d be remiss not to point out those squared-off, lengthy orange tips, too.
Dolly Parton Today
Fast-forwarding to today, it’s hard to believe that this photo taken at the 2024 CMA Awards was taken more than 45 years after Dolly’s groovy ’70s headshot, as the singer is as youthful and over-the-top as ever. Rocking her now signature curl-less bouffant style and her classic square acrylics, Parton opened the 2024 CMA Awards in true Dolly style, with a multicolored eye look, a soft pink lip and a chain-adorned pantsuit, all of which prove one thing: Parton is never going out of style.
