EXCLUSIVE: Dolly Parton Opens Up About Poor Upbringing & Why She Wouldn't Trade It for Anything

EXCLUSIVE: Dolly Parton on How Growing Up in Extreme Poverty Mad…

Dolly Parton Reacts to Online Rumors About Her Tattoos, Hands an…

Dionne Warwick Teases ‘Wonderful’ New Music With Dolly Parton (E…

Jane Fonda Reacts to a Possible ‘9 to 5’ Sequel and Praises ‘Kin…

Mel B Teases a Spice Girls Announcement Is Coming Soon! (Exclusi…

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Jokes She Joined MCU in Hopes to ‘Impress’ H…

Wynonna Judd Reflects on Lisa Marie Presley's Death and Opens Up…

‘Sister Wives’: Kody Shares His Hopes for Christine and Janelle …

'Seeking Brother Husband' Showcases Women Seeking Multiple Male …

'Sister Wives': Robyn 'Struggles' With Living Monogamously With …

'90 Day Fiancé’: Michael Reveals Affair With Another American Wo…

Inside the ‘NCIS’ Crossover Event With OG, 'Hawaiʻi’ and ‘Los An…

'MILF Manor': First Look at TLC's New Dating Series (Exclusive)

Golden Globes: Why Jamie Lee Curtis Called Out Paul Walter Hause…

Jessica Betts ‘So Proud of’ and ‘Constantly in Awe’ of Wife Niec…

Mischa Barton and Rachel Bilson Tear Up Watching Marissa's Death…

Brad Pitt Reveals Surprising Hobby He Shares With Daughter Shiloh

Steven Spielberg Shares Surprising Secret Behind Ke Huy Quan's C…

'Golden Globes': Janelle James on Sitting Near Brad Pitt and 'Ab…
Today, Dolly Parton is a legend who has everything she could ever ask for, but she told ET her toughest days were the ones that prepared her the most for success.
"I think my childhood made me everything I am today," said Dolly, who grew up in extreme poverty. "I would trade nothing for being brought up in the Great Smoky Mountains. I've never been ashamed of my people no matter how poor or dirty we might have been. I've always loved being from where I am, and having the folks that I've had."
WATCH: Dolly Parton Raps About Twerking
Parton's inspiring story is being told in the upcoming TV movie, Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors, named after Parton's favorite song, which details her toughest childhood years.
"It's made me what I am," Parton added. "It's that spiritual base; it's that family; love of family; it's just that simple life, feeling like part of nature."
WATCH: Dolly Parton Makes the Crowd Go Wild!
Eight-year-old Alyvia Alyn Lind was handpicked by Parton to play her in the movie, set in 1955 Tennessee.
"The big Dolly Parton and the little Dolly Parton are very alike because they're both sassy, but they're both very sweet," Lind told ET.
NEWS: NBC Is Getting Into the Dolly Parton Business!
The movie, according to the official synopsis, is "neither a biopic nor a musical about Dolly's whole life and performing career, but rather a family-oriented faith-based story about the incidents in her and her family's life around the time she was 9 years old."
Coat of Many Colors airs Dec. 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.