Dolly Parton

I do remember how it was to be poor. I do remember that in my early years, we had to grow and raise all of our food, even our animals. And I remember in my early life, we didn't even have electricity. So it was very, very hard times then. ”

Everywhere I go, the kids call me 'the book lady.' The older I get, the more appreciative I seem to be of the 'book lady' title. It makes me feel more like a legitimate person, not just a singer or an entertainer. But it makes me feel like I've done something good with my life and with my success. ”

Adjusting to the passage of time, I think, is a key to success and to life: just being able to roll with the punches. ”

I say, 'Yeah, Taylor Swift.' I think she is a smart, beautiful girl. I think she's making all the right moves. She's got a good head on her shoulders. She's surrounded with wonderful people. Her songs are great. She keeps herself anchored. She knows who she is, and she's living and standing by that. ”

Living in America and, of course, just being women in general, we've got more strength than we think we do. ”

God has his plans and his reasons. Sometimes we are supposed to go through things so that we learn lessons. ”

A lot of dreams can turn to nightmares... if you don't really work them. ”

My songs are the door to every dream I've ever had and every success I've ever achieved. ”

The only way I'd be caught without makeup is if my radio fell in the bathtub while I was taking a bath and electrocuted me and I was in between makeup at home. I hope my husband would slap a little lipstick on me before he took me to the morgue. ”

I just kind of wake up with a new idea and new dreams every day, and I follow that dream, as they say. ”