Dolly Parton once left fans stunned when she revealed what her real hair looked like

When it comes to celebrity style icons, Dolly Parton is loved for being bold and glam, especially when it comes to her iconic hair.

Rhinestones, heels, and, of course, her famously enormous blonde hair have all become part of her instantly recognisable look. But while her hair has always looked perfectly coiffed, there’s a secret behind her signature 'do that some admirers may not have known... Parton was a big fan of wigs.

This is why fans were so in awe when she posted a stunning throwback image in 2018 of herself in the recording studio making music.

The image shows Parton’s perfectly teased hair and fans rediscovered the post following the sad news of her death this week aged 80.

“You are a beautiful woman with or without wigs,” one fan gushed.

“Love her hair,” said another fan.

In fact, the country music legend was wearing wigs for decades and it wasn’t a secret.

Parton often joked about the time and effort that goes into maintaining her famous hair. One of her most memorable quotes on the subject perfectly sums up her attitude: “People always ask me how long it takes to do my hair. I don't know, I'm never there.”

And during a 2016 appearance on Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family, Parton opened up about exactly why she decided to embrace wigs.

"I used to try to keep my own hair teased as big as I like it, and having the bleach and all of that, it just broke off," she said. "I thought, ‘Why am I going through all that? Why don’t I just wear wigs? That way, I never have a bad hair day! I have a big hair day, but not a bad hair day."

Parton also explained her approach to the bigger-is-better philosophy behind her signature style, joking about her famously voluminous look during the same Home & Family appearance.

"Well, the higher the hair, as they say…" she joked during the show. "But actually, I like the curls. I like the different ones. Gospel singers and country singers just have to have that big hair. It’s just a thing."

Her love of faux hair dates back to shortly after she moved to Nashville to pursue her music career. In her 2021 memoir, Dolly Parton, Songteller, she explained that her appearance was closely tied to the vision she had for herself and the star she wanted to become.

"Because I wanted to look like the dream I carried in my head," she said.

Parton was also inspired by the glamorous looks of gospel singers and country performers from that era, helping shape the larger-than-life aesthetic that would eventually become synonymous with her.

But the wigs aren’t just reserved for the stage. And it’s it’s important to remember that sometimes getting dressed up and glam isn’t about hiding anything or ‘needing’ makeup or wigs, it’s about the sheer joy of it.

Dolly was never been afraid to go all out and in a 2020 Good Housekeeping cover story, Parton confirmed that she continued to wear wigs daily, while occasionally letting her natural hair grow out when she wasn’t working or travelling.

"I let it get long enough to braid sometimes just for fun. But never for stage. My wigs are my armor."

And if Dolly Parton taught us anything about beauty, it’s that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having a bold signature look especially when it involves a little extra volume up top. Her wigs have become just as much a part of her persona as the rhinestones, the Southern charm and all her hits.