Dolly Parton will be co-hosting the American Country Music Awards on May 11 in Frisco, Texas.

In light of her hosting, alongside singer Garth Brooks, a popular fan theory about the 77-year-old’s tattoos has re-emerged.

The singer has rarely been seen in short sleeves, which has provoked her fans to believe that maybe the singer has a lot of tattoos that she’s covering up.

And it might surprise some, but the singer does, in fact, have tattoos – and has been open about them in the past, even though she doesn’t show them off.

Her pastel tattoos are of angels, ribbons, bows, butterflies, flowers and beehives. Dolly wears long sleeves to hide her keloids, scars and elbow insecurity

One of her tattoos is a red rose located in the middle of her chest. It was caught when the singer leaned too far forward at her Joyful Noise Premiere red carpet in 2012

Dolly’s butterfly tattoo can be seen here when looking carefully at the singer’s left arm

Dolly has several pastel tattoos that feature angels, ribbons, bows, butterflies, baskets of flowers, and beehives.

One of her tattoos is a red rose located on her chest. It was caught when the singer leaned too far forward at her Joyful Noise red carpet premiere in 2012.

Another tattoo is of a butterfly on her arm. It was caught under her sheer white button-down during her 9 To 5 anniversary celebration in 2006.

‘I do have some tattoos, that’s true, but they’re tasteful. I’m not a tattoo girl,’ she has said.

She first publicly admitted that she had tattoos when she was a guest on the Jay Leno show in 1999.

The singer’s outfit philosophy shows a ‘go big or go home’ attitude

Why does Dolly Parton always wear long sleeves?  

During her 50 years of a successful global career, the country sensation has notoriously stuck to wearing long sleeves. 

She wears them to cover up her raised keloids, her medical procedures, scarring, and to hide her biggest insecurity: her elbows. 

‘I was very sick for a while and I had to wear a feeding tube. It left a little indentation in my side and I didn’t like it because I’m so fair that scars turn purple on me,’ she’s said.

‘I’ve had surgeries for different things, and if the scars didn’t heal properly, I just gotta put tattoos to take the sting out.

‘I like to make positives out of negatives.’

Dolly’s creative director of three decades, Steve Summers, has said: ‘People always ask why she always wears sleeves — well, she’s 73 years old, and she doesn’t like her elbows.

‘[They ask] “what’s wrong with her hands?” She’s 73, and she doesn’t like them! It’s a normal woman thing.’

Whether Dolly wore sleeves or not, the singer always leaned towards bright colors and bold patterns for her outfits

Has Dolly Parton ever worn short sleeves?

She wore a black corset top, bright orange lipstick, black bunny ears, pink sequin bracelets and a collar, with a matching white sequin bowtie, to complete the iconic look in Playboy.

She was also pictured with short sleeves in the movie 9 To 5 in the 1980s, where she was seen in front of a typewriter, while wearing a white gingham dress with pink, blue and green accents.

The iconic photo with a black corset top, pink sequin collar, and white sequin bowtie

The 9 To 5 actress in a gingham dress with blue accents and a red belt

The blond bombshell poses in a tight red and orange dress, with red nails and lipstick

Did Dolly Parton redo her Playboy cover at 75 years old? 

Dolly said early in her career that she would redo the Playboy magazine cover when she turned 75, and when she reached the age, she kept her promise.

Unlike her original photo where she had short sleeves, she posed for the new photo wearing long sleeves.

She gifted the photo to her husband of more than 60 years for his birthday.

Fans reposted the video that Dolly put up, and commented: ‘God bless Dolly Parton. She truly is a legend!’

‘Carl is one lucky man to get this for his birthday. You DID that, Dolly.’

Dolly and Carl have been married for 60 years

Dolly’s earlier pictures with Carl show her sleeveless

What is Dolly Parton up to now?

The country superstar will be co-hosting the ACM Awards, alongside singer Garth Brooks, on May 11 in Frisco, Texas.

‘While I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with him throughout the years, I can’t believe we’ve never had the chance to work together,’ she said.

Her statement continued: ‘In addition to getting to see all this great new talent in country music, I am excited to have the chance to premiere the lead single from my upcoming rock album on the show!’

Dolly’s new song, World On Fire, will premiere, and the singer will release her rock album Rockstar on November 17.

The country singer with a cowgirl hat and yellow, faux-leather long-sleeves

The album will have 30 tracks, and will feature Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Lizzo, Sting, Chris Stapleton, Debbie Harry, Elton John, John Fogerty, Joan Jett, Steven Tyler, Peter Frampton and Kid Rock.

‘I’m so excited to finally present my first rock n’ roll album,’ she said.

‘I am very honored and privileged to have worked with some of the greatest iconic singers, and musicians of all time.

‘I hope everybody enjoys the album as much as I’ve enjoyed putting it together!’

Dolly was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2022.