Dolly Parton Reveals Her Smart Reason For Always Looking Her Best

"It costs a lot of money to look this cheap!" she once famously intoned (via Metro). But even though her now-iconic look was based on the town tramp, there's no denying Dolly Parton has it down pat. She's the kind of woman it's inconceivable to imagine at home, with her hair tied up in a scrunchie, bent over the sink washing her face off. As far as long-time fans are concerned, Parton goes to bed and wakes up looking exactly the same — and we refuse to hear anything different.

The country icon might seem slightly high maintenance to outsiders (read: men), but she's a down-home girl at heart and always will be. Not that she needs to justify herself — particularly considering how hard Parton fought for a place in the male-dominated industry she's since made her own by being one of the most prolific songwriters in history — but we now know why Parton always looks 100 percent like herself, 100 percent of the time.

Parton sat down (virtually) with fellow big-haired glamour puss RuPaul Charles for a lively chat in the latest issue of Marie Claire, during which the duo bonded over getting up insanely early every day and their expansive wig collections, among many other things. However, when it came to being glammed up full-time, they differed completely. Charles noted he doesn't wear heels constantly at home, choosing instead to de-drag and get comfortable, whereas Parton is always dressed up even if she has no place to go — actually, especially then. "I have to always stay ready — street ready, I always say. I have to keep my makeup on and keep my hair done," she revealed.

The 9 to 5 star explained that if she's somewhere like L.A., where a natural disaster could strike at any time, or there's the possibility she could fall ill and have to be carted off in an ambulance, looking like anybody but herself simply won't do. Likewise, there's a practical element, because as Parton explained, "I'm little. I'm short. And I have to wear heels in order to reach my cabinets." However, the "Jolene" hit-maker admitted she enjoys dressing up because she feels more herself that way. Parton can take it down a notch, though, when necessary, advising, "I'm comfortable in my own skin; I'm comfortable with my image." Overall, though, the country star dresses up for herself rather than to impress anybody else.