The Rare Times The World Saw Dolly Parton In Short Sleeves (Or None At All)

Dolly Parton used to say that the reason for her signature look — sky-high wigs and flashy costumes — was because she liked being noticed, but the country icon never really explained why she always chose to wear long sleeves. The answer to that remains a mystery, though rumor has it that Parton could've been hiding tattoos beneath those sleeves — something she later clarified wasn't the case. "I do [have some tattoos], but they're not tattoos that are for big statements, bold statements," the "Jolene" hitmaker explained on "Larry King Now" in 2016.

Parton elaborated that her body art covered up some scars she developed over the years, noting, "I have a tendency to have keloid scar scarring. And so I have scarring sometimes that they won't ever lose the purple." But she wasn't exactly covered in tattoos either. "I wouldn't be a biker chick or anything," the Grammy winner added. These days, you'd be hard-pressed to find pictures of Parton with her arms on full display, but once upon a time, she wasn't afraid to show them off (albeit still only ever occasionally). And naturally, the singer always looked great.

At the red carpet premiere of "9 to 5"  — the hit comedy in which Dolly Parton starred opposite Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin — in 1980 the country legend put her bare arms on full display in a lacy pink number featuring off-the-shoulder sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. Designed by Ann Roth, the costume designer on the movie, Parton's custom dress also included a fitted bodice and a pink satin sash that wrapped around her hips to create a more defined silhouette. Looking back at the iconic look for Vogue's "Life in Looks" YouTube series, she shared, "I got to dress up like I was a city girl in this. [...] I thought it was a beautiful dress. I remember feeling really pretty."

Back when she wasn't always so covered up, Dolly Parton wasn't as shy about going sleeveless, as seen in this throwback snapshot of the beloved country music superstar, who died at the age of 80 in August 2026 after being diagnosed with cancer. She was pictured walking on stage during the taping of the 3rd Annual Rock Awards TV show in 1977 wearing a white dress with a see-through cape instead of sleeves that left her arms partly exposed. Notably, there was not a trace of ink in sight — at least not in those days. Is it just us, or did she look like an angel here?

Dolly Parton was also partial to quarter-length sleeves — case in point: the glitzy number she rocked to perform her hit original composition, "I Will Always Love You" (which was later covered and popularized by Whitney Houston), on CMT's "100 Greatest Love Songs" special in 2004. The prolific singer-songwriter chose a lavender dress with sleeves that stopped just past her elbows, giving the audience a rare glimpse of Parton's forearms. Custom-made by celebrity stylist and designer Robert Behar, alongside the country star's team, it also included a deep V-neckline with a cinched waist and a flouncy hem that landed just a couple of inches above Parton's knees.

In yet another rare display of her arms, Dolly Parton attended the 43rd Annual BMI Pop Awards in 1994 in a navy-blue velvety dress with a low scoop neckline and long sleeves, save for a tasteful cut around her shoulders. The gown hugged her body perfectly, with crystal rhinestones lining the singer's neckline and arms for some added glitz. She was honored with a BMI Pop Award for her mega-hit song "I Will Always Love You" during the annual ceremony. To finish off Parton's look, she added a pair of sparkly silver earrings and open-toed heels that effortlessly matched her dress.

In addition to being a Grammy winner many times over, Dolly Parton was also an Academy Award honoree, having been bestowed with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2025, just seven months before passing away. She was also nominated for Best Original Song twice, once for "9 to 5" and again for "Travelin' Thru" (as featured in the 2005 film "Transamerica"). In 1980, she attended her first Oscars ceremony to present an award alongside Broadway actor and dancer Ben Vereen. For the glitzy occasion, Parton opted for a sleeveless gown that showcased her arms (and more!) in all their glory. Who knew she was hiding such impressive guns under her sleeves?

Dolly Parton wasn't just a music and style icon — she was also a philanthropist, businesswoman, actor, author, and — lest we forget — a sex symbol. In 1978, Parton became the first country singer to grace the cover of Playboy, wearing a black corset bodysuit and matching bunny ears with a sparkly pink bow-tie collar and matching cuffs. "I was afraid at first," Parton confessed in her accompanying interview. "Then I thought, 'It isn't something I should be ashamed of. [...] And I mean, who else but Dolly Parton should be on the cover of Playboy?" The racy shoot marked one of the rare times the country icon showed serious flesh, including a glimpse of her bare arms.