Dolly Parton sets record straight on tattoo rumours while revealing real reason for her ink

Dolly Parton has set the record straight on the long-standing rumour her body is covered in tattoos.

Word on the street is the country music star wears long sleeves to cover up the ink running up and down her arms. Not so, the 74-year-old told People magazine. 

"I do have some tattoos, that's true. But they're tasteful. I'm not a tattoo girl," she said. 

The legendary singer goes on to explain that she was unwell for a period of time and required a feeding tube, which left her with a scar on her side. She didn't want a constant reminder of her health woes, so she decided to "make positives out of negatives" by covering it with some artwork.

"My tattoos are pretty, they're artful and they usually started out to cover some scar, not to make a big statement," she revealed. "Ribbons and bows and butterflies are the things that I have. I was very sick for a while and I had to wear a feeding tube. It left a little indention in my side and I didn't like it because I'm so fair that scars turn purple on me.

"I had a little beehive tattooed over it — a little yellow-and-brown beehive with a tiny little bee on top of the hive. The mouth of it is that little sinkhole."

But Parton joked that she never says never, and there's still time to live up to the tattoo hype.

"Who knows, I may get some more later. I may just have to get covered with tattoos just so everybody could be right!" she said.