KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI) — Long before she became the Queen of Country Music, before the sold-out concerts, Dollywood, blockbuster movies and worldwide fame, Dolly Parton was a young girl from Sevier County making the drive to Knoxville in search of a chance to sing.
Her journey to international stardom began not in Nashville, but in East Tennessee radio studios and auditoriums, where her talent quickly captured the attention of audiences and local music promoters.
A Smoky Mountain Girl With Big Dreams
Born in Sevier County in 1946, Parton grew up in a large family near Locust Ridge in the Great Smoky Mountains. Music was a part of everyday life, and by the age of 10, she was already writing songs and performing publicly.
One of the most important people in her early career was her Uncle Bill Owens, who recognized her talent and worked tirelessly to help her get opportunities to perform. Owens drove the young singer from Sevier County to Knoxville, where he sought introductions to influential figures in East Tennessee broadcasting and music.
Dolly Parton (photo courtesy of Getty Images)
The WIVK Years
Parton’s first major break came in 1956 at Knoxville radio station WIVK.
According to Parton’s official history, Owens managed to get her backstage at one of Cas Walker’s radio programs. Determined to be heard, the 10-year-old Dolly approached Walker directly and told him she wanted to work for him. Walker was impressed by her confidence and gave her a chance.
That opportunity became Parton’s first regular radio and television job.
The performances were broadcast live from WIVK’s auditorium in downtown Knoxville, where audience members crowded into the small studio to watch the young singer perform. Parton later recalled that when she finished singing, the audience erupted in applause.
“At that moment, I fell in love with the public,” she wrote years later.
Today, a historical marker in downtown Knoxville commemorates the site where the young Parton launched her broadcasting career.
Cas Walker’s Influence
No figure was more important to Knoxville entertainment during that era than Cas Walker.
A grocery store owner, politician, radio personality, and promoter, Walker used his popular Farm and Home Hour to showcase country, bluegrass, and gospel musicians. The program ran on both radio and later television and became one of East Tennessee’s most important launching pads for emerging artists.
Walker helped introduce audiences to future stars including Dolly Parton and the Everly Brothers. For Parton, the exposure was priceless.
Years later she still credited the opportunity as her first real taste of stardom.
The Midday Merry-Go-Round Connection
While Dolly’s earliest breakthrough came through Cas Walker and WIVK, Knoxville’s broader radio scene was already nationally known thanks to WNOX and its famous Midday Merry-Go-Round program.
Hosted by Lowell Blanchard, the Midday Merry-Go-Round became one of the most influential country music broadcasts in America, helping launch the careers of artists who would later become stars of the Grand Ole Opry. Performers associated with the show included Roy Acuff, Chet Atkins, Archie Campbell, Don Gibson, Kitty Wells, Bill Monroe, and many others.
The program helped establish Knoxville as one of the most important centers of country music outside Nashville. The success of shows like the Midday Merry-Go-Round and Cas Walker’s Farm and Home Hour created the music ecosystem that allowed a young Dolly Parton to gain valuable experience in front of live audiences and broadcasters.
On the Road to the Grand Ole Opry
The exposure Parton received on East Tennessee radio eventually opened additional doors.
Through relationships formed while performing on Cas Walker’s programs, Parton landed a guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry at age 13. Introduced by Johnny Cash, she received three encores after her performance, a sign that her future star power was already becoming apparent.
Just a few years later, she moved to Nashville and began the career that would ultimately make her one of the most successful and beloved entertainers in the world.
Never Forgetting East Tennessee
Despite her international fame, Parton never forgot where she started.
She often spoke about those early drives to Knoxville, the crowds at WIVK, and the opportunities created by Uncle Bill Owens and Cas Walker. The values and traditions of East Tennessee remained a central part of her identity throughout her life.
Today, her legacy can be found throughout the region, from Dollywood and the Imagination Library to the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital. But before all of that, before she became the Queen of Country Music and East Tennessee’s most famous daughter, she was simply a young girl singing into a microphone at a Knoxville radio station, hoping someone would listen.
Dolly Parton (photo courtesy of Getty Images)
