Nigeria, Aug. 26 -- Dolly Parton is far more than a country music singer. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she has built a reputation as a songwriter, actress, businesswoman, philanthropist and one of the most recognisable figures in American popular culture.

Born on January 19, 1946, in Sevier County, Tennessee, Parton grew up in a large, poor family in the Great Smoky Mountains. She was one of 12 children born to Robert Lee Parton Sr. and Avie Lee Parton. Her family's financial struggles would later influence many of the songs that made her famous.

How Dolly Parton started her career Parton began performing as a child and was already appearing on local radio and television programmes before her teenage years. At 13, she ...