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Dolly Parton, who has died at 80, spent decades presenting herself as a glamorous, self-mocking country star while privately being one of the most disciplined and prolific songwriters of her generation. This apparent contradiction sits at the heart of how she is now being remembered: an entertainer whose exaggerated image, all wigs, sequins and self-deprecating jokes, often led people to underestimate the seriousness of her craft.

That gap between image and substance was laid bare in a well-known 1977 television interview with the American broadcaster Barbara Walters, who questioned Parton's look and asked directly whether she felt like "a joke". Parton's calm, confident response has since become a touchstone for writers assessing her career, since by that point she had already written many of the songs, including Jolene and I Will Always Love You, that would become standards.

Understanding this background matters because it explains why obituaries and tributes are focusing less on Parton's celebrity persona and more on her songwriting output and the sometimes-difficult subject matter she tackled, even when others, including her long-time musical partner Porter Wagoner, urged caution.