Dolly Parton & Rachel Parton George Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George were raised in a family of twelve children in East Tennessee, surrounded by the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. Life in their large family wasn't easy, but it was rich with love, faith, music, laughter—and delicious food. Dolly and Rachel learned to cook at a young age from their Mama, a gifted cook who fed not only her kids but also the neighbors, friends, and whoever else was hungry. When Rachel was five, Mama taught her to bake her first cornbread, sparking a lifelong passion for cooking. Dolly, ever the helper, would step into the kitchen whenever Mama was sick or just too busy with the demands of raising a dozen kids. Today, both sisters bring their culinary talents to the kitchen, though Dolly insists that Rachel is the true star, with a knack for making everything taste good and look pretty. Some of their most cherished times are at gatherings surrounded by good food, cooking up dishes that are longtime Parton family favorites. Allrecipes is thrilled to have Dolly and Rachel as honorary Allstars. Their first cookbook, Good Lookin' Cookin': A Year of Meals, will be out on September 17, 2024 and available wherever books are sold. When not in the kitchen, Dolly and Rachel are busy with professional endeavors that are extensions of their show business roots. Dolly, the most celebrated female singer-songwriter of all time, is a best-selling author and philanthropist, donating over 200 million books with her Imagination Library. She also launched a baking line in 2024 and co-owns The Dollywood Company, which manages several entertainment venues. Rachel, who retired from performing, serves as the executive director of Dolly's business operations and, as Dolly says, “pretty much runs my life.”Some fun facts about Dolly and Rachel:One of their favorite things to make is biscuits. Dolly swears the secret behind their great flavor (and her glowing skin!) is bacon grease.They still have—and use—their Mama’s cast iron skillets that have made cornbread more times than they’ll ever know. About Allrecipes Home cooks are our heroes; it's as simple as that. Allrecipes, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is the world’s largest community-driven food site, providing trusted resources to more than 60 million home cooks each month. Every day, cooks from around the world publish doably delicious recipes, while our team of editorial and kitchen professionals cover the world's top food news and trends. Learn more about us and our editorial process.