Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is an American singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist and businesswoman from Locust Ridge, Tennessee. Born in 1946, she grows up in a large, poor Appalachian family and begins performing in church as a child. She also starts playing guitar young and appears on local radio and television in East Tennessee before leaving for Nashville after graduating from Sevier County High School in 1964.

Early career and breakthrough

Parton begins her professional career as a child performer and songwriter. She records her first single, “Puppy Love”, at 13 and later writes songs for other artists after signing with Combine Publishing, including the Top 10 country hits “Put It Off Until Tomorrow” and “The Company You Keep”. She signs with Monument Records in 1965 and is first promoted as a pop singer before moving more firmly into country music. Her early recordings include “Dumb Blonde” and “Something Fishy”, both of which appear on her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly (1967).

In 1967 she joins Porter Wagoner’s television programme, which gives her wider exposure. She records duet material with Wagoner, including “The Last Thing on My Mind”, and the pair are named Vocal Group of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1968. Wagoner also co-produces her work and has a financial stake in her publishing company during this period. Parton’s first major solo success follows with “Mule Skinner Blues” in 1970 and her first number-one country single, “Joshua”.

Songwriting and major hits

Parton writes more than 3,000 songs. Among her best-known compositions are “I Will Always Love You”, “Jolene”, “Coat of Many Colors” and “9 to 5”. “Coat of Many Colors” becomes a breakthrough song in 1971, while “Jolene” becomes a major hit in 1973 and later gains international reach. “I Will Always Love You” reaches number one on the country chart and later becomes widely known through other recordings.

From the mid-1970s, Parton broadens her audience beyond country music. Here You Come Again (1977) marks a shift towards more pop-oriented production and brings crossover success. It also earns her a Grammy Award. She continues to chart on both country and pop lists with songs including “Heartbreaker”, “Baby I’m Burning” and “9 to 5”. The last of these is written for the film 9 to 5 and reaches number one on both country and pop charts, while also receiving an Academy Award nomination.

Albums, collaborations and styles

Parton’s output spans country, country pop, pop, bluegrass, Nashville sound and folk-influenced material. She records more than 50 studio albums across a career of around six decades. Her catalogue includes White Limozeen (1989), The Grass Is Blue (1999), Little Sparrow (2001), Backwoods Barbie (2008), Blue Smoke (2014), A Holly Dolly Christmas (2020), Run, Rose, Run (2022) and Rockstar (2023).

She works with Porter Wagoner on a series of duet recordings and later collaborates with Kenny Rogers on “Islands in the Stream”. In 1987 she releases Trio with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt; the album is both a critical and commercial success and wins a Grammy Award. She also records with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette on Honky Tonk Angels (1993). Her bluegrass-influenced albums The Grass Is Blue and Little Sparrow both win Grammy Awards in their categories. Rockstar becomes her highest-charting solo studio album on the Billboard 200, reaching number three.

Acting, awards and honours

Parton also acts in films including 9 to 5 (1980), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Rhinestone (1984), Steel Magnolias (1989), Straight Talk (1992) and Joyful Noise (2012). She receives numerous major honours, including 11 Grammy Awards, three Emmy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award. She also receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and honorary Academy Award recognition.

She is inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986, the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. She is also included in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021 and is ranked by Rolling Stone among the greatest singers of all time in 2023.

Other work and business interests

Parton is associated with Dollywood and related entertainment ventures operated through The Dollywood Company. Her career also includes releases on Blue Eye Records, Dolly Records, Velvet Apple Music, Butterfly Records and Song-A-Billy Music.