Dolly Parton was never lost for words.Along with being one of the most decorated performers of all time, Parton had a remarkable ability to impart wisdom wrapped in her signature southern wit.With the news of her death at 80, here are Parton's thoughts on life, love and loss — in her own words.On growing up"I'd put a tin can on a stick as my microphone and pretend the front porch was my stage. Then I'd sing to whatever was in the front yard — human, animal or dirt."— November, 2020 A nine-year-old Dolly Parton pictured in 1955.(Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Dolly Parton (centre) with her parents and some of her siblings.(Supplied: DollyParton.com)On her first performance"Now I was just a kid and I was nervous then too and I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to deliver what the audience wanted from me but I did sing and they did applaud. They did want more. Only trouble was they wanted an encore and I had only one song. So I just started up and sang the same song again."— May 2009On her signature look"The way I look is a country girl's idea of glamour. It came from a very serious place. There was what you call a town trollop in our town, up in Sevierville. Well, I thought she was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen when I was a little girl and every chance I had to go to town, I'd see her and I would say, 'Oh she's just so pretty.' and they'd say, 'Oh she's just trash.' I thought that's what I'm going be when I grow up."— May 2009 Dolly Parton at an event honouring her as the MusiCares person of the year, ahead of the Grammy Awards in 2019.(Reuters: Mario Anzuoni)On going mainstream"I haven't turned my back on Nashville. I will be able to do more for the name of country music by going ahead and doing what I feel I should do, by reaching a broader audience and as many people as I can, and by having a universal appeal. I'll be able to do more for Nashville than I ever could have done had I stayed there."— May 1977 Dolly Parton signs autographs and poses with fans in 1976.(Reuters: USA Today Network/Dan Loftin)On going to Hollywood for 9 to 5"I never thought of myself as a movie star. I knew I'd be a star, but as a singer or as a writer of songs or books or poetry. I wanted to be a famous performer and wear flashy clothes, but singing in movies was not one of my ambitions. My family lived in the mountains and we didn't see movies. I can't act a part, but if they allow me to be myself, then I can handle it. If they find me a story that allows me to be me, then I'm interested; if they don't, I'm not."— July 1979On kissing president Jimmy Carter at the White House"My husband wants a picture of this, too."— October 1979 Dolly Parton greets then-US president Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter at the White House in 1979.(AP: Harvey Georges)On set of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"I'll admit I had some misgivings about the title of the movie. After all, my granddaddy was a preacher, and I'm a spiritual person myself. I didn't want to do anything that might be considered offensive. Then I saw the play and I realised it was just a foot-stompin' good time."— December 1981 Dolly Parton performs with a choir during the Country Music Awards in 1991.(Reuters: The Tennessean/USA Today Network/Rick Musacchio)On opening Dollywood"It's something I want to take pride in, to preserve the Smoky Mountain heritage rather than have Hollywood portray us as they often do."— July 1985On meeting her husband, Carl Dean"It was love at first sight. I see people who turn my head all the time. It's just that nobody's turned my head around as much as him."— May 1992 Dolly Parton and her husband Carl Dean, who died aged 82. (Instagram: Dolly Parton )On never retiring"I'll be like Bob Hope, touring when I'm 100. I love being busy … I will never retire. I hope to fall dead in the middle of some great event or some great song I'm singing. Then they'll say, 'Oh well, she went happy and doing what she loves.'"— April 2004On her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus"I'm her fairy godmother. … I'm just real proud of her. She does not need my advice, but she's often asking for information and advice, and I tell her what I know, but I think the girl's doing all right without me."— July 2010 Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus perform Jolene at the Grammys in 2019.(Reuters: Mike Blake)On writing I Will Always Love You"People always tell me, 'I thought that was Whitney's song. I didn't know you wrote it. I thought she wrote it.' And I tell them, 'She can have the credit. I'll just take the cash.'"— December 2018On her charity work"I don't do it for attention. But look! I'm getting a lot of attention by doing it. … I just give from my heart. I never know what I'm going to do or why I'm gonna do it. I just see a need and if I can fill it, then I will."— October 2022On her family album"My grandpa used to say, when I got famous, he said, 'Well, she came out crying in the key of D.' I think we all did. I hope that a lot of my songs may last that long. And I hope I'll be remembered as somebody that tried to do some good in the world and left, you know, a few good things."— November 2024 Dolly Parton arrives for the West End debut of 9TO5 The Musical in London in 2019.(Reuters: Peter Nicholls)On faith and fame"I am a person of faith, and I truly believe that I'm going to see [my husband] again someday. And I see him every day in my memories and in my heart, and in all the things that we used to do and all the things that we've built together. You just kind of have to learn to kind of make new plans — but that's the hardest part. I don't think about my life in terms of 'superstar.' I'm just a workin' girl. I always say — and it's the truth — that I am a workhorse that looks like a show horse. But I gotta keep it all up and I enjoy all of it. My husband always said, 'If anybody was ever born to be a star, it's you.'"— May 2025On her legacy"I feel like I'm closest to God when I write. A great line will just come to me, and I'll go, 'Hey, thank You, Lord. I know I didn't think of that.' At the end of the day, I hope that I will be remembered as a good songwriter. The songs are my legacy."— November 2020 Dolly Parton smiles as she performs at Glastonbury in 2014.(Reuters: Cathal McNaughton)