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The surprising inspiration behind Dolly Parton’s signature look

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Instagram/dollyparton

There are few women that have braved the entertainment world quite like Dolly Parton. Her decades worth of contributions to the music industry have won her countless accolades, and now with the release of her 43rd studio album, “Pure & Simple,” Parton once again proves why she’s a Hall of Fame-inducted singer and songwriter with a new rainbow of love songs.

But it wasn’t always about the spotlight for the small town, working class girl from Tennessee who grew up with 11 siblings. Her confidence, which radiates from her eyes to her voice, comes from years of life lessons, many of which were experienced alongside her husband of 50 years, Carl Thomas Dean.

“Pure & Simple” reverts back to humble beginnings – those trivial teenage moments of lust as well as the savoury love stories that spray the heart.

When it comes to self-esteem and managing one’s life, Dolly told Yahoo Canada that it’s important to “embrace yourself and pace yourself, and don’t wear yourself out.”

Looking back at her legendary career and thinking of what she would say to sixteen year old Dolly, the eight-time Grammy winner furthered: “You should do as much as you can, but you don’t want to burn that candle down before other people get to see it glow.”

The country music icon comes with a signature look, one that was adopted from a woman she knew long ago. “I’ve modelled myself after the town tramp from my hometown,” she said. “I thought she was beautiful even though she was a bit overdone. I wasn’t a natural beauty so that was beauty to me.”

From her bleach blonde locks to accessory-heavy, flashy outfits complete with sky-high heels, Dolly Parton’s look may come off as too much to some, but she could care less what anyone views her as.

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Instagram/dollyparton

“I just feel comfortable the way I dress. I’ve never been uncomfortable with myself and frankly if I’m comfortable with me then other people that are around me are too,” she says with cheeky confidence. “I know I look artificial, but I like to think I’m totally real where it really counts.”

“I think everybody should just work and live within their own comfort zone,” she adds. “You should dress yourself and do whatever makes you feel more comfortable in your own skin and in your own personality.”

After all, it’s about “being true to yourself, to your basic principles, values, and buckling up and going for it.”

She recently told “Larry King Now” that the two most important characteristics to her are “honesty and being on time.”

As for her true beauty secret? In a press conference held in Toronto, Dolly jokingly credited “good makeup, good lighting, good doctors,” to keeping her youthful glow in check.

Dolly Parton is currently on her extensive tour which crosses into 60-cities including multiple stops across Canada.

Let us know what you think by tweeting @YahooStyleCA.