Dolly Parton’s niece has spoken for the first time about how she has drawn inspiration from the country legend’s amazing strength of character, saying she often asks herself: “What would Dolly do?” Jada Star, the daughter of one of Dolly’s younger sisters, Frieda, says some of her happiest childhood moments were with the singer. And she recalls how she nicknamed her “Auntie Granny” because of how she spoiled her and her cousins, even letting her into her closet to try on her iconic country queen costumes. But Jada admits that despite their closeness, she has never seen her aunt without make-up – although she has tried hard to do so.
Jada says: “The thing Dolly has taught me, and the rest of the world , is to be unapologetically yourself. She dresses the way that makes her feel good – despite people trying to paint her as a dumb blonde. I love watching her old interviews, especially from the 70s.
You see interviewers try to cut her down and make fun of her for her appearance. “And you see the way she handles those situations with humour and love – and no bite. That’s one of the best lessons I could learn from her.
I try to think, ‘What would Dolly do?’ She never wants to hurt anyone. She just wants to have a good time.” Jada found her voice working at Dollywood resort Jada thinks of herself as a late bloomer, given her family heritage.
While Dolly released her first album at 21, Jada has just recorded her own debut at more than twice that age. B.
