Culture and Lifestyle Celebrities 25 Quotes by Dolly Parton on Faith and Family By Nellah Bailey McGough Nellah Bailey McGough Nellah Bailey McGough started her career as an EA at Southern Living in the Travel Department, where she spent 3 years learning about the hidden gems of the South from various editors which led her to researching and writing stories during her 14 years at Southern Living. While continuing to write (Southern culture and holiday DIY are her favorite topics), Nellah eventually pursued a path in business operations. She runs the day-to-day operations in the Southern Living Birmingham office, responds to reader questions and comments, manages freelancer contracts and invoices. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 27, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos We all love watching the high-heel wearing, rhinestone-clad Dolly as she's belting out her numerous chart-topping songs but there is also a deeply spiritual side to Dolly Parton. Growing up in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, she was the 4th of 12 children. Her father, Robert Lee Parton, was a farmer and her mother, Avie Lee Parton, was busy taking care of her family, neighbors, and household. They didn't have much money but they were rich in love and relied on their faith in God. In a 2003 interview with Larry King, Dolly commented, "I grew up in a very religious background. I trust God, I love God, and I love the thoughts of it. Even if there was no God, I'd prefer to believe it, because I prefer to believe in something greater than we are. It takes all of the pressure off of you. You don't have a bunch of ego problems." Dolly says that her work is to glorify God and her actions mirror her words. She seems to walk the talk which is why people all over the world adore and respect her. In addition to her musical career, she created the Imagination Library more than 20 years ago. Inspired by her father's inability to read or write Dolly wanted to gift preschool children the love of reading. Today over 1 million age-appropriate books are sent to children from birth to age 5 across the United States and abroad every month. Dolly once said, "A belief in God is essential. We grew up believing that through God all things are possible. I think I believed that so much that I made it happen. I know what it's like to be without and I know what it's like to have things. And I appreciate both." 01 of 25 Southern Living I was blessed to have family members who encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Whether it is your parents, or your uncles or your aunts or even the neighbor down the road, it's important that kids have someone who encourages them to chase their rainbow. - Dolly Parton 02 of 25 Southern Living You make your choices, you make your sacrifices and I never looked back. I knew early on that I was going to walk that road until God told me to stop. - Dolly Parton 03 of 25 Southern Living So I say a silent prayer for creatures great and small. Peace on Earth, good will to men is the greatest gift of all. - Dolly Parton 04 of 25 Southern Living I make a point to appreciate all the little things in my life. I go out and smell the air after a good, hard rain. These small actions help remind me that there are so many great, glorious pieces of good in the world. - Dolly Parton 05 of 25 Southern Living If I can hold God's attention, I can hold the world's. - Dolly Parton 06 of 25 Southern Living We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. - Dolly Parton 07 of 25 Southern Living The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain! - Dolly Parton 08 of 25 Southern Living If you see someone without a smile today, give 'em yours. - Dolly Parton 09 of 25 Southern Living I always count my blessings more than I count my money. I don't work for money, never did. - Dolly Parton 10 of 25 Southern Living I've always kinda been a little outcast myself, a little oddball, doin' my thing, my own way. And it's been hard for me too, to be accepted, certainly in the early years of my life. - Dolly Parton 11 of 25 Southern Living I don't think you ever really know what all you're doing, so you have to act on faith. - Dolly Parton 12 of 25 Southern Living I always ask God to work through me and let me be a light of some kind and help in this world, so I always pray for that, and I always want to do good. - Dolly Parton 13 of 25 Southern Living You can be rich in spirit, kindness, love and all those things that you can't put a dollar sign on. - Dolly Parton 14 of 25 Southern Living No matter what, I always make it home for Christmas. I love to go to my Tennessee Mountain Home and invite all of my nieces and nephews and their spouses and kids and do what we all like to do—eat, laugh, trade presents and just enjoy each other. - Dolly Parton 15 of 25 Southern Living I thank God for my failures. Maybe not at the time but after some reflection. I never feel like a failure just because something I tried has failed. - Dolly Parton 16 of 25 Southern Living I see so much of my family in the things that I do. And I love and embrace that. - Dolly Parton 17 of 25 Southern Living People just overshoot trying to find God. They're going outside and trying everything. They don't realize that it's right inside themselves. - Dolly Parton 18 of 25 Southern Living God has his plans and his reasons. Sometimes we are supposed to go through things so that we learn lessons. - Dolly Parton 19 of 25 Southern Living I've never been pregnant so I just feel God didn't mean for me to have kids so that everybody else's children could be mine. - Dolly Parton 20 of 25 Southern Living When I wake up, I expect things to be good. If they're not, then I try to set about trying to make them as good as I can 'cause I know I'm gonna have to live that day anyway. So why not try to make the most of it if you can? - Dolly Parton 21 of 25 Southern Living I like to think of myself as a Girl of Many Colors, not just a coat, because I have all kinds of moods and I experience them all. I think that's what makes a human being. - Dolly Parton 22 of 25 Southern Living There's a scripture that says, 'A merry heart doeth good like medicine.' I think that's true, too. - Dolly Parton 23 of 25 Southern Living Every day I pray about all I do. - Dolly Parton 24 of 25 Southern Living People are looking for something a little more stable; people are feeling like they need to get closer to God. - Dolly Parton 25 of 25 Southern Living When I'm home, I spend Sunday with my husband. If we're not cooking, we travel around in our camper, stop at fast-food restaurants, and picnic. We love that stuff that will harden your arteries in a hurry. - Dolly Parton Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit