
Dolly Rebecca Parton, born on January 19, 1946, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist. Parton was born in a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee, and grew up in Locust Ridge, nestled against the Great Smoky Mountains. In addition to her illustrious career, Parton is also known for her charitable work, including donations to hospitals and medical centers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 19 January 1946 |
| Place of Birth | In a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee |
| Doctor | Robert F. Thomas |
| Hospital Supported | Yes, she supported the construction of a new Union Medical Center in Union County, South Carolina |
| Donations | $100,000 |
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What You'll Learn
- Dolly Parton was born in a cabin in Pittman Centre, Tennessee
- She was delivered by Dr Robert F. Thomas
- Dr Thomas travelled through the mountains on horseback, bringing medical aid to residents
- Parton donated $100,000 to the construction of a healing garden at Union Medical Center
- She has donated to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and other hospitals

Dolly Parton was born in a cabin in Pittman Centre, Tennessee
Dolly Parton, the "Queen of Country", was born in a cabin in Pittman Centre, Tennessee, on January 19, 1946. She is one of the most celebrated female country performers of all time, with eleven Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and nominations for two Academy Awards and six Golden Globe Awards under her belt. She has also sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
The cabin where she was born was a one-room cabin by the Little Pigeon River, owned by her parents. She was the fourth of twelve children, born to Avie Lee Parton, a housewife, and Robert Lee Parton, a tobacco farmer. Her father, known as "Lee", worked as a sharecropper and later owned a small tobacco farm and acreage. He also took on construction jobs to supplement the family's income.
Parton's early life was marked by poverty, and her father is said to have paid the physician who delivered her, Dr. Robert F. Thomas, with a sack of cornmeal. Despite their financial struggles, the Parton family was well-fed, and music played an important role in their lives. Parton's mother, Avie Lee, entertained her children with Smoky Mountain folklore and ancient ballads passed down from her Welsh ancestors.
The cabin where Parton was born holds a special significance, and a replica of it resides at her namesake theme park, Dollywood. The theme park, located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, celebrates her Smoky Mountain upbringing and features a replica of the Locust Ridge cabin, where she spent her cherished childhood years.
Throughout her illustrious career, Parton has remained loyal to her humble beginnings in Pittman Centre. She has given back to her community in numerous ways, including through her support for various hospitals and medical causes. In 2006, she pledged $500,000 towards the construction of a hospital and cancer center in Sevierville, Tennessee, named after Dr. Robert F. Thomas. She has also been a generous donor to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, contributing to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt Pediatric Cancer Program.
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She was delivered by Dr Robert F. Thomas
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on 19 January 1946 in a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee. She was the fourth of 12 children born to Avie Lee Caroline and Robert Lee Parton Sr.
Dolly Parton was delivered by Dr Robert F. Thomas, a legend in the area. Dr Thomas travelled through the mountains on horseback, bringing medical aid to the residents of the hills and hollers of Sevier County.
In 2006, Parton pledged $500,000 toward a proposed $90 million hospital and cancer centre to be constructed in Sevierville in the name of Dr Robert F. Thomas, the physician who delivered her. She also announced a benefit concert to raise additional funds for the project.
Parton has also donated to other hospitals and medical causes. In 2025, she donated $100,000 to the construction of a healing garden on the campus of the new Union Medical Center in Union County, Tennessee. She has also been a generous donor to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, including the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt Pediatric Cancer Program.
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Dr Thomas travelled through the mountains on horseback, bringing medical aid to residents
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on 19 January 1946 in a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee. She grew up in Locust Ridge, nestled against the Great Smoky Mountains. Her father worked in the mountains of East Tennessee, first as a sharecropper and later on his own small tobacco farm.
Dr Robert F. Thomas, who delivered Parton, travelled through the mountains on horseback, bringing medical aid to residents of the hills and hollers of Sevier County. He was a legend in the area. In 2006, Parton pledged $500,000 toward a proposed $90 million hospital and cancer centre to be constructed in Sevierville and named after Dr Thomas.
Parton has been a generous donor to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), including to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt Pediatric Cancer Program. She has also donated to the construction of a new Union Medical Center in Spartanburg, a project that was particularly special to her due to her family roots in the area. Parton contributed $100,000 to the construction of a healing garden on the hospital campus, which she hoped would be a "place of peace, hope, love, and comfort for patients, families and other community members who visit the hospital".
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Parton donated $100,000 to the construction of a healing garden at Union Medical Center
Dolly Rebecca Parton, born on January 19, 1946, in a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman. She has been a generous donor to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Parton donated $1 million towards research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Parton has also donated to the construction of a new Union Medical Center in South Carolina. Parton's cousin, Donna Cudd, reached out to her for support in funding the \$55 million medical center. Within a day of receiving the message, Parton pledged to donate \$100,000 to the construction of a healing garden on the hospital campus. The new Union Medical Center officially opened on February 11, 2025, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that drew leaders from Union and Spartanburg. The nearly 100,000-square-foot building offers a range of essential medical services, including emergency care, imaging, cancer infusion services, inpatient and outpatient care, and more.
Parton's donation to the Union Medical Center holds a special significance due to her family's roots in the area. Her mother, Avie Lee Parton, was born in Lockhart, on the eastern edge of Union County. Parton's roots in Union County run deep, and she has expressed that the area holds a very special place in her heart. The healing garden that she funded is intended to be a place of peace, hope, love, and comfort for patients, their families, and the community.
Parton's philanthropy extends beyond her donations to medical centers. She has also worked to raise money for various causes, including the American Red Cross and HIV/AIDS-related charities. In 2006, she pledged \$500,000 toward the construction of a hospital and cancer center in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee, named after the physician who delivered her, Robert F. Thomas. In 2024, she donated $2 million toward Hurricane Helene relief efforts, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to supporting those in need.
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She has donated to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and other hospitals
Dolly Parton was born on 19 January 1946 in a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee. She is widely revered as a philanthropist, having donated to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and other hospitals.
In 2022, Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to fund pediatric infectious disease research. This donation was aimed at helping to fight serious infectious diseases with worldwide ramifications, such as the coronavirus. In a press release, Parton stated:
> No child should ever have to suffer. I'm willing to do my part to try and keep as many of them as I can as healthy and safe as possible.
Parton has also contributed to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt Pediatric Cancer Program in honour of her friend, Naji Abumrad, and her niece, Hannah Dennison, who was successfully treated for leukaemia as a child at the hospital.
In 2020, Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to fund research for the Moderna vaccine. She also received her COVID-19 vaccination from Naji Abumrad, MD, and urged everyone to get vaccinated when eligible.
In February 2025, Parton donated $100,000 to the construction of a healing garden at the new $55 million Union Medical Center in Spartanburg. The garden is intended to be a "place of peace, hope, love, and comfort for patients, families, and other community members who visit the hospital".
Parton has also worked to raise money for other causes, including the American Red Cross and HIV/AIDS-related charities. In 2006, she pledged $500,000 towards a proposed $90 million hospital and cancer centre to be constructed in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee.
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Frequently asked questions
Dolly Parton was born in a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee.
Dolly Parton was not born in a hospital. She was born in a one-room cabin.
Dolly Parton was delivered by Robert F. Thomas, a physician who travelled through the mountains on horseback, bringing medical aid to the residents of Sevier County.
It is unclear what hospital Robert F. Thomas worked at, but he is the namesake of a hospital and cancer center in Sevierville, Tennessee, to which Dolly Parton donated $500,000.
Yes, Dolly Parton has donated $100,000 to the Union Medical Center in Union County, South Carolina. She has also donated to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt Pediatric Cancer Program.




































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