By Michaela Gordoni
Legendary singer Dolly Parton grew up in a poor family in East Tennessee, and her parents had to sacrifice a lot — including their Christmas presents.
“The church had thrown in a little money to where everybody could have a little grab bag,” Parton recalled in her HOLLY DOLLY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. “Cuz we had services, and everybody around our parts were very poor, so everybody was gonna get a little Christmas present. Even the grown-ups, the women, and you know, especially the kids.”
“So I remember this one particular time that Mama had so many kids that they were giving all the presents out to all Mama’s kids, so Mama didn’t get one,” the Teddy Bear Award® winner continued.
Because Parton’s mom had so many children, a woman asked her if it was okay if she didn’t receive a present. Of course, Parton’s mom said that was just fine. But later, she cried, Whiskey Riff reported.
So Parton decided to do something. She went over to her mom and gave her the present the church had given to Parton.
Related: Does Dolly Parton’s Latest Christmas Endeavor Deliver Christmas Joy?
“She said, ‘No, no, honey, I don’t want yours. But I love you because of your good heart.’ So because of Mama, I’ve always tried to have a good heart,” Parton said.
Christmas is a special time for Parton.
“I’ve never missed Christmas,” she told E! News. “I try to book all my things beforehand [and] say, ‘Do not book me, certainly for the week of Christmas, ’cause I need to be home with my family.'”
She told PEOPLE that she has never not been home for Christmas.
“I love being home for Christmas, and so far I’ve missed all kinds of holidays,” but not Christmas, she said.
“[I love] the tradition of being home for Christmas, and being with family, and having all the good food and all the different dishes that different family members make, and just the music, and just all the festivities of the lights and the sounds, and everything to do with Christmas,” she said.
“When I have a lot of my nieces and nephews over for what we call ‘cookie night,’ I keep them for a day and a half — from one afternoon all night until like the next day,” she noted. “They drive around the farm on the golf carts and all that.”
The whole time, Parton dresses like Santa Claus, complete with glamorous accessories, of course.
“I gotta have my earrings that light up, I’ve gotta have lights in my hair, festive, sweaters that light up,” she said. “So, yeah, I’m all about it.”
Read Next: When Does Dolly Parton Decorate for Christmas?
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