One of twelve siblings was born, a small girl, on a chilly day in 1946 in the Tennessee highlands, at the start of this engrossing tale.

Though her family was poor, her siblings thought she was the most beautiful baby.

The family’s deep affection kept them going during difficult times. Neighbors disputed this, saying her family was no poorer than others in the neighborhood, despite her claims that poverty plagued her early life. The daughter, who was born into a household where having many children was customary, received her father’s driven, business-focused nature and her mother’s creativity and spirituality. She says she inherited her achievements by having the best traits from both of her parents.

Driven by a stubborn and tough-as-nails attitude, she started singing in church when she was a little child and soon realized she had the ability.
Her life has always revolved around being true to herself. Her mother used to make outfits for her out of sacks and leftover fabric before she became famous. She was influenced by a flashy local town model and persisted in her quest to dress differently despite being reprimanded by her father and grandfather.