They noticed the figure-hugging outfits but overlooked the discipline behind her performances.
They heard the jokes about her appearance but sometimes failed to recognize the intelligence behind her humor.
They saw a glamorous entertainer and underestimated the woman who could write songs that connected with millions of people.
But Dolly understood something that many people spend their entire lives trying to learn.
Other people’s assumptions are not the same thing as your identity.
She did not have to abandon her personal style to prove that she was intelligent. She did not have to dress differently to demonstrate that she was serious about her work. And she did not have to become someone else’s idea of a respectable woman to build a successful career.
She could be glamorous and hardworking.
Funny and intelligent.
Playful and ambitious.
One quality did not cancel out the others.
Why Dolly Parton Learned to Laugh at Herself
