Dolly Parton Opens Up About Her Baby Brother’s Death – “It Crushed Me”
Bunnie Xo / YouTube
Dolly Parton’s Younger Brother, Larry, Died Four Days After Birth
Dolly Parton was just nine years old when her family experienced a major loss…the death of her baby brother, Larry.
Robert and Avie Lee Parton, Dolly’s parents, had a total of 12 children. Dolly, who was born in 1946, was their fourth child. She was nine years old when her parents welcomed their ninth child, a boy they named Larry.
Dolly was especially excited for Larry’s birth. Since the Parton family had so many kids, the older children chipped in to help take care of their younger siblings. Before Larry was born, Avie Lee told Dolly he would be “her baby.”
“That just meant that you got to take extra care of it,” Dolly told Fox News in 2015.
Sadly, Larry died just four days after he was born in July 1955. Dolly’s autobiographical TV movie, Coat of Many Colors, shows how his death had a profound impact on everyone in her family.
Dollywood / Facebook
Dolly Parton Shares How The Loss Of Her Sibling Left Her Feeling “Crushed”
Almost 70 years later, Dolly is still heartbroken over the loss of her baby brother. She recently opened up to Bunnie Xo on her Dumb Blonde podcast about Larry’s death and how it affected her.
“It just crushed me,” Dolly said about Larry’s death. “…That was a real hit for me at that age…”
Dolly said because Larry was supposed to be “her baby,” she felt like she did something wrong. She said she “had a guilt thing” after he passed away.
It took Dolly a long time to overcome her grief. “We all grieved over him, not just me,” she said. “But I, more than the others, because he was supposed to be mine…”
“It did take me a while, I was so depressed as a little kid over that,” Dolly said about losing Larry. “It took me a little while to kind of overcome that.“
Even after all these years, you can still hear the hurt in Dolly’s voice when she speaks about the loss of her little brother.
News
Reba McEntire’s Ex-Husband Narvel Blackstock Ties the Knot Again – But It’s Who He Married That Left Fans Absolutely Speechless!
Reba McEntire’s Ex-Husband, Narvel Blackstock, Marries Laura Stroud Mark Von Holden/Variety via Getty Images Narvel Blackstock, Reba McEntire’s former…
From Country Queen to Screen Legend: 10 of Reba McEntire’s Most Unforgettable Movie and TV Roles – Including a Few You Totally Forgot About (or Never Knew Existed!)
10 Of Reba McEntire’s Unforgettable Roles In Movies & TV Shows Reba McEntire Has Acted In Many Movies & TV…
Dolly Parton’s Hotel Isn’t Just Another Nashville Venue – It’s a Bachelorette Wonderland with a Glamorous Secret!
Dolly Parton’s much‑anticipated Songteller Hotel isn’t just another addition to Nashville’s skyline—it’s poised to become the ultimate bachelorette playground. Slated…
The Heartfelt Hymn Dolly Parton Has Chosen for Her Final Farewell Will Deeply Move You
“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.” Introduction When we think of Dolly…
At 79, Dolly Parton FINALLY reveals the scary, fragile moments of the pain she went through…
Dolly Parton – Lord Hold My Hand About The Song A Prayer in Song: Dolly Parton’s “Lord Hold My Hand” In every stage of her legendary career, Dolly Parton has never been afraid to show the world her heart—especially when it comes to matters of faith, grace, and personal strength. Her song “Lord Hold My Hand”, featured on the 2022 album Run, Rose, Run, is a stirring example of that open-hearted honesty. It’s not just a song—it’s a prayer set to music, a gentle plea for guidance in life’s darkest and most uncertain hours. For listeners who seek comfort, especially those who have weathered many of life’s storms, this track offers a quiet anchor in sound and spirit. Musically, “Lord Hold My Hand” leans into a simple, roots-based arrangement that lets Dolly’s voice take center stage. Acoustic guitars, soft harmonies, and a light gospel undercurrent frame the lyrics without distraction. The production is humble and reverent, echoing the tone of a country church service or a solitary walk in the hills at sunrise. There’s no need for dramatic crescendos—the power of the song lies in its sincerity. Lyrically, it’s a deeply personal invocation. “Lord, hold my hand, I need you again / Take me and guide me through sorrow and sin.” With these lines, Dolly offers vulnerability without fear, expressing what so many feel but struggle to say: that even the strongest hearts sometimes tremble, and even the most faithful souls need reassurance. Her voice carries that emotional honesty with grace—never showy, never forced, just pure, heartfelt dependence on something greater than herself. This isn’t new territory for Dolly. Her music has long drawn from her East Tennessee roots, where gospel hymns, family prayers, and personal faith were woven into daily life. But in “Lord Hold My Hand,” that spiritual foundation is more intimate than ceremonial. It feels like a one-on-one conversation with God, born not of dogma, but of deep personal experience. For longtime fans, especially those in later life who have walked through sorrow, illness, and loss, this song resonates on a profound level. It is not about religion—it is about relationship, about the unspoken hope that, in the loneliest moments, we are never truly alone. It’s a reminder that faith doesn’t always shout—it often whispers in the quiet corners of our lives….
At age 79, Dolly Parton FINALLY talks about the life of a woman named Jolene…
Dolly Parton – Jolene About The Song Timeless Plea, Timeless Power: Dolly Parton – “Jolene” Few songs in country music—or any genre—have left as enduring a mark as “Jolene” by Dolly Parton. Released in 1973, this haunting ballad of vulnerability and quiet desperation has become one of the most iconic tracks in American music history. With its unforgettable melody, sparse instrumentation, and emotionally charged lyrics, “Jolene” remains as powerful today as it was over fifty years ago—a testament to Dolly’s songwriting brilliance and raw emotional honesty. The song opens with a tension that never releases. A simple, hypnotic guitar riff sets the stage for Dolly’s voice—clear, pleading, and filled with restrained urgency. She addresses Jolene, a woman of striking beauty, begging her not to steal the man she loves. But this isn’t a song about confrontation; it’s about fear. “Your beauty is beyond compare / With flaming locks of auburn hair,” Dolly sings, admitting her rival’s power while revealing her own deep insecurity. What makes “Jolene” so unique is its emotional complexity. Rather than vilifying the other woman, Dolly’s narrator speaks with a heartbreaking sense of admiration and helplessness. The song doesn’t dwell in anger—it lives in the quiet space between pride and panic, between knowing love can’t be forced and hoping it won’t be taken. It’s that vulnerability, that human ache, that has allowed listeners of every generation to connect with the song so deeply. Musically, “Jolene” is deceptively simple. The arrangement is lean—acoustic guitar, light percussion, and Dolly’s voice front and center. But within that minimalism lies its brilliance. The looping guitar line mirrors the obsessive thoughts of someone spiraling through doubt, while the melody’s rising and falling phrasing captures the emotional waves of pleading and fear. Beyond its initial chart success—it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and has been covered by countless artists around the world—“Jolene” helped define Dolly Parton not just as a singer, but as a masterful storyteller. It showcased her gift for giving voice to complex emotions with clarity and grace, and it cemented her place in the canon of great American songwriters. Over the decades,…
End of content
No more pages to load