Dolly Parton opens up about why she always covers her arms

If you're a true Dolly Parton fan, you will have noticed that during her 50 years in the public eye she never wears short sleeve tops.

But why is she so set on covering her arms up?

In 2011 during an appearance on Craig Ferguson's talk show, comedian Roseanne Barr revealed Parton is hiding the fact her arms are covered in tattoos.

"Do you know who's totally tattooed?" she said. "I shouldn't even tell this. Dolly Parton is totally tattooed.

"She showed me. She's got all these awesome tattoos all over her body — no black or blue lines, all like pastel, gorgeous bows all over everything."

But only now is Parton more open to confirming her tattoos existence.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, she said: "I don't really like to make a big to-do of [the tattoos] because people make such a big damn deal over every little thing.

"But most of the tattoos, when I first started, I was covering up some scars that I had 'cause I have a tendency to have keloid scar tissue, and I have a tendency where if I have any kind of scars anywhere then they kind of have a purple tinge that I can never get rid of.

"So mine are all pastels, what few that I have, and they're meant to cover some scars. I'm not trying to make some big, bold statement."

But don't expect to see her tattoos any time soon - the 'Jolene' singer is still planning on keeping her tatts hidden!