What is Dolly Parton’s secret to success?

Dolly Parton opened up about the secret to her marriage and why her dad was prouder of her book charity than her singing fame on ITV today.

During an interview with entertainment correspondent Tyler West, for the Lorraine Kelly show, the country music queen admitted she often sleeps in her make-up, during a quick-fire quiz.

She said: “Dolly would [wear make-up at night] and Dolly does.” She added: “I don’t want to go to bed with rollers and Clearasil on my face with my husband. That’s why we’ve been married for 59 years.”

She also talked about the importance of her book charity and why it was so personal because of her late father Robert Lee Parton.

“That is one of the things that I’m proudest of but that started out of a serious place in my heart – with my dad, who couldn’t read and write, because we’re just country people, and a lot of mountain people didn’t get a chance to do that.

“He got to live long enough to see that doing good and he got such a kick about them calling me the book lady. He was prouder about that than saying I’m a star.” 

During the interview to promote her latest album Rockstar, she also joked about her eclectic fashion sense over the years.

She said: “I’ve always laughed when people say that I’m fashionable. I was always just kind of over-exaggerated and I always made a joke about when people say ‘less is more’.

“I laughed sometimes when we were putting this book together. There were some [pictures] of my hair and I thought ‘What was I thinking?’. I had to think I looked good at the time but now I think, ‘Oh my god’.”

“My husband always said because I’m so little that I look like a cue tube – just a stick with hair!”

Speaking about the 30-track album, she admitted one of the proudest songs was Wrecking Ball with her god-daughter Miley Cyrus. “I love the song and I love Miley – so that one’s a great one. But the fact that I’ve got Paul McCartney and Ringo on the same song – Let It Be…[is great too]”.

It seems Dolly’s secret to success is sleeping in her make-up and, of course, a great deal of talent and remaining down to earth.

Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV1 & ITVX