She may be famous for her legendary country music and Tennessee roots, however Dolly Parton also has links across the pond over in the UK. 

The 9 to 5 hitmaker originally hails from Wales and is heading to the valleys to explore her Welsh connections in a four part TV documentary set to air next year. 

The singer, 78, was born in Tennessee back in 1946, the fourth in a line of twelve siblings to parents Avie Lee Caroline Owens and Robert Lee Parton.

However it has been revealed that her ancestors came from close to Tenby in southwest Wales. 

Speaking to The Sun, her niece Jada Star told the publication that the family had traced their family back to Wales.

And she revealed much of the footage in the documentary will feature there. 

She explained: ‘Dolly is releasing a four-part docu-series about our roots and where we come from. There’ll be lots of footage from over there.’  

However this is not the first time Dolly has spoken about her Welsh ancestry after she performed at Cardiff International Arena back in 2007. 

The star confirmed to Wales Online at the time that she had Welsh blood on her mother’s side of the family, and she enjoyed visiting Wales to feel connected with her roots. 

She said: ‘Some of my mother’s people, the Owens, are from there [Wales]. I’ve been there about three times and it always feels good because it feels like family.

‘Many years ago we took a little tour there because some of my mother’s people are from Wales.’

Her mother Avie Owens knew old ballads that immigrants from the British Isles brought to southern Appalachia during the 18th and 19th century and would sing them to her children. 

Dolly revealed that her cousin Ritchie Owens, who plays in her band, went to do some exploring in Wales and find out as much as he could about various family members. 

He brought the singer back a rock which she keeps on her mantle.  

She added: ‘Actually, years ago, when we used to tour, I did spend a day there just looking around and snacking in little places in Cardiff, but I would like to spend some real time there.’ 

Dolly is known for her thick Tennessee accent and glamourous appearance, and her niece Jada, who is also a singer, confirmed she has never seen her Aunt looking ‘unglammed’. 

She said: ‘Dolly is exactly as you would imagine her as an aunt. I have never seen her unglammed in my life. She never wears slippers.

‘Even when she’s lounging around her own house in PJ’s she still wears Fredericks fluffy Marabou high heel slip-ons. She has them in every colour to slip on when she’s relaxing at home.’

It might surprise viewers that she hails from the valleys, but Welsh singer Bronwen Lewis revealed she has always been inspired by Dolly and is delighted to know they share the same roots. 

She told the BBC: ‘I have been inspired by Dolly Parton my whole life. I always say there are two main women in my life, my mother and Dolly Parton.’

Bronwen, who hosts a country show on BBC Radio Wales said the country singer would be right at home in the Valleys.

‘She’d fit right in. A person who loves music, big heart and time for everyone. I think that’s what being Welsh is all about.’

The singer has been translating well-known songs from English to Welsh over on her TikTok since lockdown and she added that part of Dolly’s music even seems inspired by Wales. 

‘They almost sound like Welsh hymns, some of them. They’re very similar to folk and Celtic music, not just country. I feel like it would make sense that she has heritage here.’

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Source: USA Today