By their mid-thirties, they had six boys and six girls, creating a lively, noisy household. In this setting, full of music and shared chores, the children learned to make the best of what they had. But how did they manage everyday life and keep their spirits up despite the challenges?
Making Do: A Life of Simple Means
She developed her resilience and creativity at a young age. Born the fourth of twelve children, she grew up in a simple log cabin on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. The family’s home had no electricity or plumbing, and when she was born, her father paid the doctor with a sack of cornmeal.
“I’ve always joked that I’ve been raking in the dough ever since,” she said. Life in their two-room cabin was crowded and noisy. The twelve siblings shared beds, with newspapers lining the walls for insulation. Their mother sewed their clothes from scraps, and store-bought toys were out of reach. The children made up games and played outside.
The family lived in a two-room wooden house. | Source: Youtube/@TOPNEWS-BEST-OF-YOUTUBE
She was born the fourth of twelve children. | Source: Youtube/@TOPNEWS-BEST-OF-YOUTUBE
The girl and her siblings learned to make the best of what they had. | Source: Getty Images
“Outside was just an extension of our house,” she narrated. They ate meals there, played music, and did chores. Even with so little, the family found ways to stay hopeful.
“We were poor, but I never felt poor,” she shared. Her parents taught their children to be grateful and reminded them that some families had even less. This lesson in gratitude stayed with her throughout her life.
Growing up in the mountains meant learning to make the most of what they had. With twelve mouths to feed, the family often relied on hunting and farming to put food on the table. Her father, a tobacco farmer, would head into the woods with his shotgun, bringing back whatever game he could find.
“People hear me talk about eating squirrel and groundhogs, but in the mountains like that, you didn’t have much of a choice,” she explained. They ate turtles, frogs, and even groundhogs—known locally as “whistle pigs”—prepared in ways that masked their strong taste.
Despite these tough choices, the family found joy in sharing their meals. Beans, cornbread, and whatever game her father hunted were staples. The children knew the importance of working together, whether it was gathering firewood, fetching water, or helping with chores.
The girl grew up in a simple log cabin on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. | Source: Youtube/@OurShowOurStory
The family of fourteen made their home without modern conveniences. | Source: Youtube/@OurShowOurStory
In this setting, the children learned to make the best of what they had. | Source: Youtube/@OurShowOurStory
Despite the crowded space and humble circumstances, their home was full of love. | Source: Youtube/@OurShowOurStory
The family had no electricity or plumbing. | Source: Youtube/@OurShowOurStory
Without electricity, they’d catch fireflies in mason jars to light their small rooms. At the time, she and her siblings were content with what they had she would say, recalling the love and warmth that filled their home.
Singing Beyond the Mountains: Dreams That Reached Far
Even as a young girl, she saw beyond the confines of her mountain home. Standing on her porch, she’d set up a “microphone” made from a tin can on a tobacco stick and sing to an unusual audience of chickens, pigs, dogs, and her siblings.
This simple stage was where she began to imagine a life beyond the mountains. “I dreamed it, I worked for it, and God was good enough to let me have it,” she once said.
Her family’s strong musical background fueled her passion. While they didn’t have money for entertainment, music was always there. Church was not just a place of worship but also where she found inspiration and honed her natural talent.
She was known for her clear, strong voice, a gift that set her apart even in the bustling household. The porch performances were more than child’s play; they were the seeds of a career. The songs she sang spoke of hope, heartache, and dreams.
Beds were shared, and newspapers lined the walls for insulation. | Source: Youtube/@OurShowOurStory
Toys were a luxury, so the siblings played outside. | Source: Youtube/@OurShowOurStory
Life in their two-room cabin was crowded and busy. | Source: Youtube/@OurShowOurStory
This simple stage was where she began to imagine a life beyond the mountains. | Source: Youtube/@OurShowOurStory
These early days were crucial in shaping not only her voice but her storytelling, a talent that would become her signature as she rose to fame. Her music was her ticket to a world she longed to see, and with determination, she pushed forward.
The little girl from the Smoky Mountains would one day step into the spotlight that she had only imagined, carrying the spirit of her humble home with her. The cabin itself, though small and simple, was more than just a place to live—it was where she began to dream. Years later, she even had a replica of her childhood home built.
