"You had to have big hair and a Cadillac." - DOLLY PARTON

It all began in the hallways of Sevier County High School, where a teenage Dolly Parton crossed paths with Colleen Owens, a kindred spirit who loved Elvis Presley almost as much as she loved fixing hair. Colleen had an eye for flair and a hand steady enough to tease even the most stubborn strands into submission. Back then, Dolly’s hair was all hers, a modest puff she styled for local TV appearances on The Cas Walker Show. But Colleen saw something more. “Dolly,” she said one day, scrutinizing her friend’s hair like an artist appraising a blank canvas, “we can take this higher. And honey, if you want to be a star, your hair’s gotta get there first.”

Colleen wasn’t kidding. As Dolly’s career began to soar, so did her hair. After marrying Dolly’s Uncle Louis and graduating from beauty school, Colleen became Dolly’s full-time stylist in Nashville. With each performance and public appearance, Dolly’s hairdos grew taller, wider, and more elaborate, an ode to the grandeur of country music itself. By the time Dolly teamed up with Porter Wagoner, her big blond hair perfectly complemented his artistic style. Together, they looked like the king and queen of honky-tonk, and Dolly’s hair became her signature. Colleen, now a master of wig styling, realized wigs were the answer to Dolly’s grueling schedule. She began creating what could only be described as wearable works of art.

Every wig was a spectacle, a labor of love, and often a logistical marvel. There were cascading curls, towering beehives, and shimmering blond clouds that looked like spun sugar. Colleen maintained a detailed chart to keep track of Dolly’s growing collection, over 200 wigs by the time Dolly hit the road for her first major tour.
Colleen was always there, though, crafting styles that could stop traffic and defy gravity. As Dolly’s clothes got flashier and her fame skyrocketed, the wigs became even more flamboyant. Back then, Dolly’s husband, Carl Dean, loved to tease her about her hair. “From a distance, you look like a Q-tip,” he would joke, watching her tiny frame disappear under a sea of blond curls. But Dolly reveled in the over-the-top looks. “You can’t be a star without big hair and a Cadillac,” she’d declare. And she had both in spades.

For the past 40 plus years, hair stylist Cheryl Riddle had been mastering Dolly’s hair. With time, the hairdos decreased in their size but Dolly continues to amaze the world with her timeless beauty and charm. You can view Dolly’s wigs at her museum in Dollywood.