Those curious can visit an exact replica of Parton’s childhood home at her amusement park, Dollywood. Upon entering, tourists can find a sign that reads, “These mountains and my childhood home have a special place in my heart. They inspire my music and my life. I hope being here does the same for you! Dolly.” The replica was built by Parton’s brother Bobby, and the interior was designed by Parton’s mother. But it doesn’t stop there. Throughout the cabin, you’ll see original family treasures. The kitchen walls are covered in floral wallpaper, the table is set with plates and aluminum coffee cups, baskets are filled with firewood, and old photographs of her parents hang above the bed.
Red Top
In 1984, Parton’s parents, Robert Lee and Avie Lee Parton, purchased a red-roofed home in Sevierville, Tennessee. The 1,548-square-foot farm house was built in 1917 and featured two chimneys, three bedrooms, and two-and-a-half bathrooms, a far cry from the two-room log cabin they once called home. Nestled amongst 62 acres of rolling green hills, the property offered privacy, land, and expansive views of the surrounding landscape. After the death of her parents, Parton sold the home in 2003 to a family friend. Fast-forward almost 20 years later and the owners of Red Top continue to carry on the philanthropic legacy of the Parton family. In 2022, they temporarily transformed the quaint home into a wedding venue after a nearby venue was lost in the Sevier County wildfires.
Rustic mountain escape
Up until July of this year, the “Jolene” singer and her husband, Carl Dean, owned a secluded Craftsman-style cabin in Idyllwild, California. The wooded property is everything you could dream of in a mountain escape. Nestled amongst pine trees and snowbanks, the 1,800-square-foot home featured a stone fireplace, cathedral ceilings, original wood paneling, and charming moldings reminiscent of a Bavarian lodge. The couple purchased the property in June of 2000 for $235,000, according to The Press-Enterprise. They briefly listed it in May of 2014 for $599,000 then removed the listing in October for unknown reasons. Nine years later, in November of 2023, Parton and Dean said goodbye for good by transferring ownership of their rustic mountain escape to the Ronald McDonald House through a gift deed.
Brentwood estate
It only makes sense that Parton would live within a stone’s throw of the country music capital of the world. Parton and Dean live in the wealthy suburban neighborhood of Brentwood, located 10 miles south of Downtown Nashville. The couple, who have been together since 1964, first purchased the family home in 1999 for $400,000. Though not much is known about the home, one outlet reported that Parton and Dean have made serious upgrades to the home over the years, adding a tennis court, swimming pool, private chapel, and even a small farm. “He’s more than happy keeping the fields mowed, the barns painted, and working away on his farm equipment,” Parton said in a 2019 interview with The Mirror. The couple is known for leading relatively private lives, Dean especially. “He doesn’t particularly care about being around anybody but me. He’s just always asked me to leave him out of all this. He does not like all the hullabaloo,” Parton said in the same interview. Due to the private nature of the Grammy Award–winning singer, the world has never been given a proper tour of her estate. However, she has given us a few glimpses into her home through social media channels, and what we do know is that her home looks just as warm and glamorous as she is.
