Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. For many people, dressing as her this year is a way of saying thank you. It's also one of the easiest and most joyful costumes there is, because Dolly built her look to be recognized from the back row: big blonde curls, a tiny waist, rhinestones, and a smile.
How to Make a Dolly Parton Costume
Red Plaid Western ShirtDark Bell-Bottom High-Waist JeansRed Cowboy BootsBrown Western BeltBig Platinum Blonde Curly WigCream Cowboy HatRed Button EarringsPlayground BallsInflatable GuitarPink Fringe Country Singer CostumeSaveTap any item in the photo to shop itClick any item in the photo to shop it
| # | Item | Description | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Plaid Western Shirt | A red-and-black plaid shirt with pearl snaps, like the one in her best-loved 1980s photos. Roll the sleeves to the elbow. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 2 | Dark Bell-Bottom High-Waist Jeans | High-waisted, dark and flared. Tuck the shirt in so the belt shows. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 3 | Red Cowboy Boots | Embroidered red boots with a pointed toe. Dolly was rarely seen without a heel, so go for one with a lift. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 4 | Brown Western Belt | Tooled brown leather with a silver western buckle, worn at the natural waist over the tucked-in shirt. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 5 | Big Platinum Blonde Curly Wig | The most important piece. Dolly wore wigs for most of her career and said so happily — the bigger and curlier, the better. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 6 | Cream Cowboy Hat | A cream or white cattleman hat, set back on the head so the curls frame the face. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 7 | Red Button Earrings | Bold red button earrings. Dolly never did understated jewelry, so add rings and bracelets too. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 8 | Playground Balls | Dolly joked about her figure more than anyone. If you want the full silhouette, two small balls under a padded bra do it — keep it affectionate, the way she did. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 9 | Inflatable Guitar | A blow-up guitar to carry. She wrote more than 3,000 songs, many of them on guitar. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 10 | Pink Fringe Country Singer Costume | A ready-made pink fringe "Queen of Country" set, if you would rather buy one outfit than build the plaid look. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
This is Dolly at her most down-home: a red plaid western shirt tucked into high-waisted flared jeans, a tooled belt, red cowboy boots, a cream cowboy hat and, above all, the hair. It's the look from her best-known 1980s photos, and it needs no sewing.
Getting the hair and makeup right
Start with the wig and work outward — everything else is secondary. Brush it out and tease it at the crown for height, then pin curls around the face. A little hairspray keeps the volume through a long night. Dolly's makeup was never subtle either: defined brows, lined eyes, a lot of lashes, rosy cheeks and a bright pink or red lip. Finish with long, polished nails. She wore hers long her whole career, and she played guitar with them.
For a DIY Dolly on a budget, you probably own half of it already: any red plaid shirt, flared jeans and a belt with a big buckle. Spend the money on the wig. The western shirt above comes in extended sizes, so the look works just as well for a plus-size Dolly.
More Dolly Parton Costume Ideas
80s stage Dolly
For the rhinestone Dolly of her TV specials and concerts, trade the plaid for sparkle: a pink or white fringe jumpsuit, a sequin country singer costume, or anything covered in rhinestones, with the same big wig and a microphone instead of a guitar.
9 to 5 Dolly
Doralee Rhodes, the secretary Dolly played in 9 to 5 (1980), is a good pick if you're going with two friends — the film's three leads make an easy group costume. Think 1980 office wear: a blouse, a skirt, heels, the big blonde hair, and a coffee mug.
Coat of Many Colors
"Coat of Many Colors" is the song Dolly wrote about the coat her mother sewed for her from rags. A multicolored patchwork jacket over a simple dress, with the wig, makes a heartfelt tribute costume that fans will recognize straight away.
Dolly and Kenny Rogers
"Islands in the Stream" made Dolly and Kenny Rogers one of the most famous duets in country music, and they are one of the most-searched couples costumes. Put your partner in a white beard and a western jacket with our Kenny Rogers costume. A Willie Nelson costume works for a duo too.
Dolly for your dog
Yes, there are Dolly Parton dog costumes. A blonde curly pet wig and a little pink bandana is all it takes.
If you want a younger take, Dolly also played Aunt Dolly on Hannah Montana — see our Hannah Montana costume.
About Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on January 19, 1946, and grew up poor in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, one of twelve children. She wrote her first song at six and released her debut album, Hello, I'm Dolly, in 1967. Over nearly sixty years she released 49 studio albums and wrote more than 3,000 songs, including "Jolene", "Coat of Many Colors", "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You" — which became one of the best-selling singles of all time in Whitney Houston's version.
She won eleven Grammy Awards, earned two Academy Award nominations, and starred in films including 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Steel Magnolias. Beyond music, she built Dollywood in her home county and founded Dolly's Imagination Library, which mails free books to young children. She was godmother to Miley Cyrus.
Dolly died in Nashville on August 25, 2026, after a brief battle with cancer. Her look — the wigs, the rhinestones, the nails and the laugh — was something she created on purpose and joked about freely. "It costs a lot of money to look this cheap," she liked to say. Dressing as her is one of the warmest ways to remember her.
