Does Dolly Parton Wear Long Sleeves To Cover A Ton Of Tattoos?

Dolly Parton is one of country music’s most beloved icons. She’s performed for over 50 years and is an accomplished country singer, songwriter, and all-around pop culture legend. In January 2022, she turned 76 years old. It seems that she is just as loved as when she was a young starlet, no matter her age. 

One thing that has created an air of mystery around Dolly Parton is the fact that no matter what fabulous outfit she’s wearing, she’s always sporting long sleeves. Rumours suggest that Parton’s obsession with long sleeves is a way to hide some tattoos. Dolly is a confident, powerful woman. What tattoos could cause her to shy away from the spotlight. What’s really hiding under those sleeves?

Rumours say that Dolly Parton wears long sleeves in order to cover tattoos

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 18:  Dolly Parton performs live for fans on February 18, 2014 in Sydney, Australia
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images).

Fans have speculated over the years that Dolly Parton wears long sleeves because of her tattoo sleeves. Much to the internet’s surprise, Parton keeps whatever’s under those sleeves so well hidden that there are actually no photos of her arms to be found. 

Back in 2011, Rosanne Barr seemed to spill the beans about Parton’s secret ink on Craig Ferguson’s late-night show. “Do you know who’s totally tattooed? I shouldn’t even tell this. Dolly Parton is totally tattooed,” Barr told Ferguson. “She showed me. She’s got all these awesome tattoos all over her body—no black or blue lines, all like, pastel gorgeous bows all over everything.” 

2014 Parton went on the Today ShowShe tried to clear the record on her alleged tattoo sleeves. “I’m not really one to have tattoos, but I do have a few and they’re not where you can see them.” Still, since her sleeveless arms remained unseen, the rumors persisted.

The Truth About Why Dolly Parton Covers Up Her Arms

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 03:  Singer-songwriter and producer Dolly Parton, winner of the Tex Ritter Award for 'Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors,' poses in the press room during the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 3, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images).

Parton decided that 2017 was the right time. give the world the full story of her famously rumored tats. “I have a few little tattoos. My tattoos were before they were a fad. I have a tendency to scar easy and I’m so fair-skinned that I stay purple around where I’ve had a scar, so I started having little pastel tattoos, little butterflies, or little things to just cover scars,” she told E! News. “I don’t look like a biker chick or nothing, but if I was younger and could ride a bike, I might. All my pastels are mine. They’re just scattered here and there, where I need them, but they’re not the kind of thing to show on television usually. I can’t get naked, can I?” So, it sounds like Parton’s initial admission and Rosanne Barr’s inside scoop were both right.

Even so, this didn’t fully quench fans’ thirst for info about the country music darling. Dolly offered a few more details. deets about the tattoos to People in 2020. “I was very sick for a while and I had to wear a feeding tube. It left a little indention in my side and I didn’t like it because I’m so fair that scars turn purple on me,” Parton explained. ​​”I like to make positives out of negatives. I had a little beehive tattooed over it—a little yellow-and-brown beehive with a tiny little bee on top of the hive. The mouth of it is that little sinkhole.” Many fans think that this is also the reasonParton wears large rings and fingerless gloves to distract her hands.

Many people have things about themselves that make them unhappy or remind them of bad times. We love the idea to turn insecurities into works art. Leave it to Dolly Parton to take life’s lemons and make beautiful lemonade!