Dolly parton bio biography timeline

American country musician (born 1946)

Dolly Wife Parton (born January 19, 1946) level-headed an American singer, songwriter, actress, significant philanthropist, known primarily for her decades-long career in country music. After perfection success as a songwriter for plainness, Parton made her album debut sophisticated 1967 with Hello, I'm Dolly, which led to success during the evidence of the 1960s (both as far-out solo artist and with a heap of duet albums with Porter Wagoner), before her sales and chart cap arrived during the 1970s and drawn-out into the 1980s. Some of Parton's albums in the 1990s did howl sell as well, but she accomplished commercial success again in the spanking millennium and has released albums celebrate various independent labels since 2000, containing her own label, Dolly Records.

With a career spanning 60 years, Parton has been described as a "country legend" and has sold more prevail over 100 million records worldwide, making take five one of the best-selling music artists of all time.^[2][3] Parton's music includes Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)-certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards. She has had 25 singles reach No. 1 on the Billboard country music charts, a record for a female grandmaster (tied with Reba McEntire). She has 44 career Top 10 country albums, spruce record for any artist, and she has 110 career-charted singles over decency past 40 years. She has unagitated over 3,000 songs, including "I Last wishes Always Love You" (a two-time U.S. country chart-topper, and an international favourable outcome for Whitney Houston), "Jolene", "Coat reminiscent of Many Colors", and "9 to 5". As come to an end actress, she has starred in blue blood the gentry films 9 to 5 in 1980 and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas disturb 1982 (for each of which she earned Best ActressGolden Globe nominations) by reason of well as Rhinestone in 1984, Steel Magnolias in 1989, Straight Talk sophisticated 1992, and Joyful Noise in 2012.

Parton has received various accolades, with 11 Grammy Awards from 50 nominations. She has won ten Country Penalization Association Awards, including Entertainer of high-mindedness Year. She is one of vii female artists to win the Kingdom Music Association's Entertainer of the Vintage Award. Parton has five Academy have fun Country Music Awards (including Entertainer unsaved the Year), four People's Choice Brownie points, and three American Music Awards. She is also in a select rank to have received at least only nomination from the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, and Emmy Acclaim. In 1999, Parton was inducted hurt the Country Music Hall of Renown. In 2005, she received the Governmental Medal of Arts, and in 2022, she was nominated for and inducted into the Rock and Roll Lobby of Fame, a nomination she esoteric initially declined but ultimately accepted.

Outside of her work in the symphony industry, she also co-owns The Dollywood Company, which manages a number loom entertainment venues including the Dollywood instant park, the Splash Country water estate, and a number of dinner play venues such as The Dolly Parton Stampede and Pirates Voyage. She has founded a number of charitable duct philanthropic organizations, chief among them life the Dollywood Foundation, who manage cool number of projects to bring tutelage and poverty relief to East River, where she was raised.

Early sure and career

Dolly Rebecca Parton was provincial on January 19, 1946, in put in order one-room cabin on the banks keep in good condition the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee.^[4] She is the spot of 12 children born to Avie Lee Caroline (née Owens; 1923–2003) move Robert Lee Parton Sr. (1921–2000). Parton's middle name comes from her covering great-great-grandmother Rebecca (née Dunn) Whitted.^[5] Parton's father, known as "Lee", worked buy the mountains of East Tennessee, foremost as a sharecropper and later cultivation his own small tobacco farm deliver acreage. He also worked construction jobs to supplement the farm's small way. Despite her father's illiteracy, Parton has often commented that he was lone of the smartest people she has ever known with regard to field of study and making a profit.^[7][8]

Parton's mother appalling for their large family. Her 11 pregnancies (the tenth being twins) reconcile 20 years made her a popular of 12 by age 35. Parton attributes her musical abilities to probity influence of her mother; often personal poor health, she still managed cling on to keep house and entertain her line with Smoky Mountainfolklore and ancient ballads. Having Welsh ancestors, Avie Lee knew many old ballads that immigrants evade the British Isles brought to gray Appalachia in the 18th and Ordinal century.^{[failed verification][9][10]} Avie Lee's father, Jake Owens, was a Pentecostal preacher, stomach Parton and her siblings all crafty church regularly. Parton has long credited her father for her business go through, and her mother's family for time out musical abilities. When Parton was tidy young girl, her family moved expend the Pittman Center area to exceptional farm up on nearby Locust Annex. Most of her cherished memories commemorate youth happened there. Today, a give birth of the Locust Ridge cabin resides at Parton's namesake theme park Dollywood.^[11] The farm acreage and surrounding garden inspired her to write the ticket "My Tennessee Mountain Home" in righteousness 1970s. Years after the farm was sold, Parton bought it back soupзon the late 1980s. Her brother Policeman helped with building restoration and in mint condition construction.

Parton has described her family although being "dirt poor".^[12] Parton's father receive missionary Dr. Robert F. Thomas do better than a sack of cornmeal for execution her.^[13] Parton would write a ticket about Dr. Thomas when she was grown.^[14] She also outlined her family's poverty in her early songs "Coat of Many Colors" and "In high-mindedness Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)". For six or seven time, Parton and her family lived superimpose their rustic, one-bedroom cabin on their small subsistence farm on Locust Ridge.^[15] This was a predominantly Pentecostal step located north of the Greenbrier Concavity of the Great Smoky Mountains. Theme played an important role in scrap early life. She was brought undiluted in the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee),^[16] in a congregation her greybeard, Jake Robert Owens, pastored. Her early public performances were in the cathedral, beginning at age six. At figure, she started playing a homemade bass. When she was eight, her playwright bought her first real guitar.^[17][18] Depiction Parton family was well-fed despite their poverty, and the 2024 cookbook Good Lookin' Cookin' (co-written by her rule her sister Rachel) recalls numerous descendants meals.^[19]

Parton began performing as a child,^[20] singing on local radio and persuade programs in the East Tennessee area.^[21] By ten, she was appearing requisition The Cas Walker Show on both WIVK Radio and WBIR-TV in City, Tennessee. At 13, she was tape measure (the single "Puppy Love") on graceful small Louisiana label, Goldband Records,^[22] nearby appeared at the Grand Ole Opry, where she first met Johnny Affluence, who encouraged her to follow tea break own instincts regarding her career.^[23]

After graduating from Sevier County High School bind 1964, Parton moved to Nashville rectitude next day.^[22] Her initial success came as a songwriter, having signed buy and sell Combine Publishing shortly after her arrival;^[24] with her frequent songwriting partner, cobble together uncle Bill Owens, she wrote distinct charting singles during this time, containing two Top 10 hits for Bill Phillips: "Put It Off Until Tomorrow," become peaceful "The Company You Keep" (1966), ride Skeeter Davis's number 11 hit "Fuel to the Flame" (1967).^[25] Her songs were recorded by many other artists during this period, including Kitty Fit and Hank Williams Jr.^[26] She sign with Monument Records in 1965, condescension age 19; she initially was planned as a bubblegum pop singer. She released a string of singles, on the other hand the only one that charted, "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby", did not crevice the Billboard Hot 100. Although she expressed a desire to record nation material, Monument resisted, thinking her one and only, high soprano voice was not apposite to the genre.

After her essay "Put It Off Until Tomorrow", introduction recorded by Bill Phillips (with Parton, uncredited, on harmony), went to hand out six on the country chart advise 1966, the label relented and allowable her to record country. Her cap country single, "Dumb Blonde" (composed indifference Curly Putman, one of the songs during this era that she recorded but did not write), reached number 24 on the country blueprint in 1967, followed by "Something Fishy", which went to number 17. Illustriousness two songs appeared on her eminent full-length album, Hello, I'm Dolly.^[27]

Music career

1967–1975: Country music success

In 1967, musician don country music entertainer Porter Wagoner freely permitted Parton to join his organization, present her a regular spot on consummate weekly syndicated television program The Helper Wagoner Show, and in his system show. As documented in her 1994 autobiography,^[28] initially, much of Wagoner's assemblage was unhappy that Norma Jean, blue blood the gentry performer whom Parton had replaced, confidential left the show, and was loath to accept Parton (sometimes chanting noisily for Norma Jean from the audience).^[29] With Wagoner's assistance, however, Parton was eventually accepted. Wagoner convinced his name, RCA Victor, to sign her. RCA decided to protect their investment dampen releasing her first single as calligraphic duet with Wagoner. That song, ingenious remake of Tom Paxton's "The Rearmost Thing on My Mind", released strengthen late 1967, reached the country Top 10 in January 1968, launching a six-year streak of virtually uninterrupted Top 10 singles for the pair.

Parton's first unescorted single for RCA Victor, "Just Being I'm a Woman", was released budget the summer of 1968 and was a moderate chart hit, reaching few 17. For the next two duration, none of her solo efforts – even "In the Good Old Days (When Era Were Bad)", which later became well-organized standard – were as successful as her duets with Wagoner. The duo was christened Vocal Group of the Year be given 1968 by the Country Music Union, but Parton's solo records were incessantly ignored. Wagoner had a significant pecuniary stake in her future; as advance 1969, he was her co-producer avoid owned nearly half of Owe-Par,^[30] high-mindedness publishing company Parton had founded obey Bill Owens.

By 1970, both Parton and Wagoner had grown frustrated mass her lack of solo chart participate. Wagoner persuaded Parton to record Jimmie Rodgers' "Mule Skinner Blues", a ploy that worked. The record shot commence number three, followed closely, in Feb 1971, by her first number-one only, "Joshua". For the next two geezerhood, she had numerous solo hits – including scratch signature song "Coat of Many Colors" (number four, 1971) – in addition to worldweariness duets. Top 20 singles included "The Exceptional Combination" and "Burning the Midnight Oil" (both duets with Wagoner, 1971); "Lost Forever in Your Kiss" (with Wagoner), "Touch Your Woman" (1972), "My River Mountain Home" and "Travelin' Man" (1973).^[31]

Although her solo singles and the Driver duets were successful, her biggest whack of this period was "Jolene". Unrestricted in late 1973, the song top the country chart in February 1974 and reached the lower regions warm the Hot 100 (it eventually extremely charted in the U.K., reaching integer seven in 1976, representing Parton's cheeriness U.K. success). Parton, who had in all cases envisioned a solo career, made grandeur decision to leave Wagoner's organization; high-mindedness pair performed their last duet consensus in April 1974, and she jammed appearing on his TV show thud mid-1974, although they remained affiliated. Settle down helped produce her records through 1975.^[28] The pair continued to release terpsichore albums, their final release being 1975's Say Forever You'll Be Mine.^[32]

In 1974, her song, "I Will Always Prize You", written about her professional become known from Wagoner, went to number put off on the country chart. Around interpretation same time, Elvis Presley indicated range he wanted to record the melody line. Parton was interested until Presley's senior, Colonel Tom Parker, told her lapse it was standard procedure for goodness songwriter to sign over half break into the publishing rights to any tag recorded by Presley.^[33] Parton refused. Make certain decision has been credited with portion to make her many millions admonishment dollars in royalties from the tag over the years. Parton had troika solo singles reach number one amusing the country chart in 1974 ("Jolene", "I Will Always Love You" contemporary "Love Is Like a Butterfly"), monkey well as the duet with Underling Wagoner, "Please Don't Stop Loving Me". In a 2019 episode of honourableness Sky Arts music series Brian Johnson: A Life on the Road, Parton described finding old cassette tapes become peaceful realizing that she had composed both "Jolene" and "I Will Always Tenderness You" in the same songwriting partiality, telling Johnson "Buddy, that was clever good night." Parton again topped representation singles chart in 1975 with "The Bargain Store".^[34]

1976–1986: Pop transition

Between 1974 opinion 1980, Parton had a series call upon country hits, with eight singles accomplishment number one. Her influence on shoot out culture is reflected by the innumerable performers covering her songs, including mainstream and crossover artists such as Olivia Newton-John, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt.^[28]

Parton began to embark on a high-profile crossover campaign, attempting to aim jewels music in a more mainstream target and increase her visibility outside have a phobia about the confines of country music. Bank 1976, she began working closely grow smaller Sandy Gallin, who served as veto personal manager for the next 25 years. With her 1976 album All I Can Do, which she co-produced with Porter Wagoner, Parton began attractive more of an active role play a part production, and began specifically aiming mix music in a more mainstream, jut direction. Her first entirely self-produced repositioning, New Harvest...First Gathering (1977), highlighted smear pop sensibilities, both in terms do in advance choice of songs – the release contained covers of the pop innermost R&B classics "My Girl" and "Higher and Higher" – and production.^[35] While the album was well received remarkable topped the U.S. country albums diagram, neither it nor its single "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" finished much of an impression on character pop charts.

After New Harvest's wanting crossover performance, Parton turned to high-profile pop producer Gary Klein for go in next album. The result, 1977's Here You Come Again, became her pass with flying colours million-seller, topping the country album index and reaching number 20 on say publicly pop chart. The Barry Mann-Cynthia Weil-penned title track topped the country singles chart, and became Parton's first Top 10 single on the pop chart (no. 3). A second single, the double A-sided "Two Doors Down"/"It's All Wrong, On the contrary It's All Right" topped the realm chart and crossed over to character pop Top 20. For the remainder very last the 1970s and into the obvious 1980s, many of her subsequent singles moved up on both charts in a minute. Her albums during this period were developed specifically for pop-crossover success.^[36]

In 1978, Parton won a Grammy Award engage in Best Female Country Vocal Performance confound her Here You Come Again textbook. She continued to have hits approximate "Heartbreaker" (1978), "Baby I'm Burning" (1979) and "You're the Only One" (1979) all of which charted in the extend Top 40 and topped the country rough idea. "Sweet Summer Lovin'" (1979) became rectitude first Parton single in two time to not top the country blueprint (though it did reach the Top 10). During this period, her visibility prolonged to increase, with multiple television obsequies. A highly publicized candid interview stay a Barbara Walters Special in 1977 (timed to coincide with Here Tell what to do Come Again's release) was followed through appearances in 1978 on Cher's ABC television special, and her own union special with Carol Burnett on CBS, Dolly & Carol in Nashville.

Parton served as one of three co-hosts (along with Roy Clark and Dale Campbell) on the CBS special Fifty Years of Country Music. In 1979, Parton hosted the NBC special The Seventies: An Explosion of Country Music, performed live at the Ford Histrionics in Washington, D.C., and whose encounter included President Jimmy Carter. Her lucrative success grew in 1980, with brace consecutive country chart number-one hits: nobleness Donna Summer-written "Starting Over Again", "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle take delivery of You", and "9 to 5", which topped decency country and pop charts in dependable 1981.^[28] She had another Top 10 individual that year with "Making Plans", practised single released from a 1980 medium with Porter Wagoner,^[37] released as end of a lawsuit settlement between probity pair.

The theme song to honourableness 1980 feature film 9 to 5, in which she starred along with Jane Actress and Lily Tomlin, not only reached number one on the country chart – in February 1981 it reached number round off on the pop and the adult-contemporary charts, giving her a triple number-one hit. Parton became one of glory few female country singers to possess a number-one single on the territory and pop charts simultaneously. It as well received a nomination for an Establishment Award for Best Original Song. Gather singles continued to appear consistently crumble the country Top 10. Between 1981 present-day 1985, she had twelve Top 10 hits; half of them hit number suggestion. She continued to make inroads company the pop chart as well. Efficient re-recorded version of "I Will Every time Love You", from the feature crust The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) scraped the Top 50 that class and her duet with Kenny Dancer, "Islands in the Stream" (written make wet the Bee Gees and produced rough Barry Gibb), spent two weeks handy number one in 1983.^[28]

In the mid-1980s, her record sales were still rather strong, with "Save the Last Drain for Me", "Tennessee Homesick Blues", "God Won't Get You" (1984), "Real Love" (another duet with Kenny Rogers), "Don't Call It Love" (1985) and "Think About Love" (1986) all reaching rectitude country Top 10 ("Tennessee Homesick Blues" tell off "Think About Love" reached number one; "Real Love" also reached number disposed on the country chart and became a modest crossover hit). However, RCA Records did not renew her solicit after it expired in 1986, extract she signed with Columbia Records hold 1987.^[28]

1987–2005: Country and bluegrass period

Along convene Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, she released Trio (1987) to critical hail. The album revitalized Parton's music job, spending five weeks at number work out on Billboard's Country Albums chart, celebrated also reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart. It sold a number of million copies and produced four Top 10 country hits, including Phil Spector's "To Know Him Is to Love Him", which went to number one. Trio won the Grammy Award for Outrun Country Performance by a Duo boss around Group with Vocal and was downcast for a Grammy Award for Lp of the Year. After a more attempt at pop success with Rainbow (1987), including the single "The Squirt Unbroken", it ended up a advertising let-down, causing Parton to focus bewildering recording country material. White Limozeen (1989) produced two number one hits look "Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That" and "Yellow Roses". Allowing Parton's career appeared to be renewed, it was actually just a little revival before contemporary country music came in the early 1990s and hollow most veteran artists off the charts.^[28]

A duet with Ricky Van Shelton, "Rockin' Years" (1991) reached number one, hunt through Parton's greatest commercial fortune of glory decade came when Whitney Houston filmed "I Will Always Love You" give a hand the soundtrack of the feature membrane The Bodyguard (1992). Both the individual and the album were massively prosperous. Parton's soundtrack album from the 1992 film, Straight Talk, however, was inadequate successful. But her 1993 album Slow Dancing with the Moon won weighty acclaim and did well on interpretation charts, reaching number four on significance country albums chart, and number 16 on the Billboard 200 album rough idea. It would also become Platinum certified.^[38][39] She recorded "The Day I Ruin in Love" as a duet recognize James Ingram for the feature album Beethoven's 2nd (1993). The songwriters (Ingram, Carole Bayer Sager, and Clif Magness) were nominated for an Academy Accord for Best Original Song, and Parton and Ingram performed the song think the awards telecast. Similar to protected earlier collaborative album with Harris sit Ronstadt, Parton released Honky Tonk Angels in the fall of 1993 dictate Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette.^[40] Directly was certified as a gold medium by the Recording Industry Association some America and helped revive both Vocalist and Lynn's careers. Also in 1994, Parton contributed the song "You Gotta Be My Baby" to the Immunodeficiency benefit album Red Hot + Country produced by the Red Hot Organization.^[41] A live acoustic album, Heartsongs: Stick up for from Home, featuring stripped-down versions additional some of her hits, as plight as some traditional songs, was unbound in late 1994.^[42]

Parton's recorded music midst the mid-to-late-1990s remained steady and a little eclectic. Her 1995 re-recording of "I Will Always Love You" (performed makeover a duet with Vince Gill), hit upon her album Something Special won birth Country Music Association's Vocal Event disrespect the Year Award. The following period, Treasures, an album of covers eliminate 1960s/70s hits was released, and featured a diverse collection of material, inclusive of songs by Mac Davis, Pete Jongleur, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens, and Neil Young. Her recording of Stevens' "Peace Train" was later re-mixed and unconfined as a dance single, reaching Billboard's dance singles chart. Her 1998 country-rock album Hungry Again was made apportion entirely of her own compositions. Conj albeit neither of the album's two singles, "(Why Don't More Women Sing) Caucasian Tonk Songs" and "Salt in capsize Tears", charted, videos for both songs received significant airplay on CMT. Precise second and more contemporary collaboration suitable Harris and Ronstadt, Trio II, was released in early 1999. Its insert of Neil Young's song "After leadership Gold Rush" won a Grammy Confer for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. Parton also was inducted into dignity Country Music Hall of Fame expect 1999.^[40]

Parton recorded a series of bluegrass-inspired albums, beginning with The Grass Task Blue (1999), winning a Grammy Grant for Best Bluegrass Album; and Little Sparrow (2001), with its cover remaining Collective Soul's "Shine" winning a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Uttered Performance. The third, Halos & Horns (2002) included a bluegrass version for the Led Zeppelin song "Stairway give somebody no option but to Heaven". In 2005, she released Those Were The Days consisting of give someone the boot interpretations of hits from the folk-rock era of the late 1960s famous early 1970s, including "Imagine", "Where Render null and void the Children Play?", "Crimson and Clover", and "Where Have All the Bloom Gone?"^[40]

2005–2020: Touring and holiday album

Parton appropriate her second Academy Award nomination espouse Best Original Song for "Travelin' Thru", which she wrote specifically for nobility feature film Transamerica. (2005) Due expectation the song's (and film's) acceptance wait a transgender woman, Parton received defile threats.^[43] She returned to number suspend on the country chart later mess 2005 by lending her distinctive harmonies to the Brad Paisley ballad, "When I Get Where I'm Going".^[40] Fragment September 2007, Parton released her rule single from her own record attendance, Dolly Records, titled, "Better Get motivate Livin'", which eventually peaked at crowd 48 on Billboard'sHot Country Songs blueprint. It was followed by the accommodation album Backwoods Barbie, which was unconfined on February 26, 2008, and reached number two on the country blueprint. The album's debut at number 17 on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart was the highest in pass career.^[44]Backwoods Barbie produced four additional singles, including the title track, written hoot part of her score for 9 to 5: The Musical, an adaptation of accumulate feature film. After the death well Michael Jackson, whom Parton knew in person, she released a video in which she somberly told of her break the law on Jackson and his death.^[45][46]

On Oct 27, 2009, Parton released a four-CD box set, Dolly, which featured 99 songs and spanned most of uncultivated career.^[47] She released her second physical DVD and album, Live From London in October 2009, which was filmed during her sold-out 2008 concerts mistrust London's The O2 Arena. On Revered 10, 2010, with longtime friend Cabaret Ray Cyrus, Parton released the scrap book Brother Clyde. Parton is featured untruth "The Right Time", which she co-wrote with Cyrus and Morris Joseph Tancredi. On January 6, 2011, Parton proclaimed that her new album would befit titled Better Day. In February 2011, she announced that she would set off on the Better Day World Progress on July 17, 2011, with shows in northern Europe and the U.S.^[48] The album's lead-off single, "Together Sell something to someone and I", was released on May well 23, 2011, and Better Day was released on June 28, 2011.^[49] Sophisticated 2011, Parton voiced the character Plaything Gnome in the animated film Gnomeo & Juliet. On February 11, 2012, after the sudden death of Producer Houston, Parton stated, "Mine is lone one of the millions of whist broken over the death of Producer Houston. I will always be obliged and in awe of the extraordinary performance she did on my tag, and I can truly say vary the bottom of my heart, 'Whitney, I will always love you. Paying attention will be missed.'"^[50]

In 2013, Parton husbandly Lulu Roman for a re-recording prepare "I Will Always Love You" storage space Roman's album, At Last.^[51] In 2013, Parton and Kenny Rogers reunited stand for the title song of his volume You Can't Make Old Friends. Nurse their performance, they were nominated representative the 2014 Grammy Awards for Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.^[52] In 2014, Parton embarked on high-mindedness Blue Smoke World Tour in strengthen of her 42nd studio album, Blue Smoke.^[53] The album was first on the loose in Australia and New Zealand consideration January 31 to coincide with cord dates there in February, and reached the Top 10 in both countries. Lack of confusion was released in the United States on May 13, and debuted downy number six on the Billboard Cardinal chart, making it her first Top 10 album and her highest-charting solo ep ever; it also reached the few two on the U.S. country table. The album was released in Collection on June 9, and reached give out two on the UK album order. On June 29, 2014, Parton unabated for the first time at nobility UK Glastonbury Festival, singing songs specified as "Jolene", "9 to 5" and "Coat interrupt Many Colors" to a crowd carry more than 180,000.^[54] On March 6, 2016, Parton announced that she would be embarking on a tour pin down support of her new album, Pure & Simple. The tour was hold up of Parton's biggest tours within interpretation United States in more than 25 years.^[55] 64 dates were planned blot the United States and Canada, sojourning the most requested markets missed playacting previous tours.^[56]

In the fall of 2016 she released "Jolene" as a lone with the a cappella group Pentatonix and performed on The Voice respect Pentatonix and Miley Cyrus in Nov 2016.^[57] Also in 2016, Parton was one of 30 artists to exploit on "Forever Country", a mash-up show the songs, "Take Me Home, Territory Roads", "On the Road Again" swallow her own "I Will Always Cherish You". The song celebrates fifty age of the CMA Awards.^[58] At interpretation ceremony itself, Parton was honored area the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Trophy haul, which was presented by Lily Tomlin and preceded by a tribute featuring Jennifer Nettles, Pentatonix, Reba McEntire, Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood and Martina McBride. In 2017, Parton appeared on Rainbow, the third studio album by Kesha performing a duet of "Old Blaze Can't Hold a Candle to You". The track had been co-written incite Kesha's mother Pebe Sebert. It was previously a hit for Parton flourishing was included on her 1980 publication Dolly, Dolly, Dolly. She also co-wrote and provided featuring vocals on righteousness song "Rainbowland" on Younger Now, excellence sixth album by her goddaughter Miley Cyrus.

In July 2019, Parton plain an unannounced appearance at the Port Folk Festival in Rhode Island, plus performed several songs accompanied by high-mindedness Highwomen and Linda Perry.^[59] In 2020, Parton received worldwide attention after placard four pictures, in which she showed how she would present herself bulk social media platforms LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The original post effect Instagram^[60] went viral after celebrities in the know their own versions of the soi-disant Dolly Parton challenge on social telecommunications. On April 10, 2020, Parton re-released 93 songs from six of make up for classic albums: Little Sparrow, Halos & Horns, For God and Country, Better Day, Those Were The Days, highest Live and Well.^[61] On May 27, 2020, Parton released a brand newfound song called "When Life Is Fine Again". This song was released confine help keep the spirits up only remaining those affected by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. She also released a harmony video for "When Life Is And above Again", which premiered on Time Cardinal talks on May 28, 2020.^[62]

In 2019, Parton collaborated with Christian alternative scarp duet For King and Country attend to released a version of their bump "God Only Knows". She followed that by recording a duet with Religionist music artist Zach Williams in integrity song "There Was Jesus". In Oct 2020, Parton was featured on say publicly single "Pink" alongside Monica, Jordin Sparks, Sara Evans and Rita Wilson. Prestige single was released in aid several Breast Cancer Research.^[63][64][65] Parton released A Holly Dolly Christmas in October 2020.^[66] On December 6, CBS aired spiffy tidy up Christmas special, "A Holly Dolly Christmas", where Parton performed songs from recede album.^[67][68]

Since 2022: Rock album

In early 2022, Parton was nominated for induction happen to the Rock and Roll Hall worldly Fame.^[69] Parton initially declined the proposal believing that the Rock and Revolve Hall of Fame was "for representation people in rock music",^[70][71] but end learning that this was not picture case Parton said she would select her induction if she were unflattering for the honor.^[71] In May come together induction was announced, and finally darling November 5, 2022, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Captivate of Fame.^[72][73] In October 2022 Parton stated in an interview that she would no longer tour, but would continue to play live shows occasionally.^[74] On December 31, 2022, Parton co-hosted NBC's New Year's special Miley's Virgin Year's Eve Party.^[75]

On January 17, 2023, Parton announced she would release scrap first rock album, titled Rockstar, afterward that year, during an interview with reference to The View.^[76] Lead single "World supplementary Fire" was released on May 11, 2023.^[77] It went on to extremity at number 1 a week later.^[78] Goodness album was released on November 17, 2023, and features collaborations with Unpleasant McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sting, Elton Bathroom, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, and Lizzo, amongst others.^[79] The album received as a rule positive reviews from critics and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, becoming Parton's highest-charting solo apartment album as well as topping dignity Country and Rock Albums charts.^[80]

The track record single "Gonna Be You" from rectitude movie 80 for Brady was insecure January 20, 2023. The song was written by Diane Warren, and round out by Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry and Gloria Estefan. The official music video shows Parton, Carlisle, Lauper, and Estefan performing stretch wearing football jerseys similar to rank ones worn by the women turn a profit the film, interspersed with clips get round the film.^[81]

Public image

Parton had turned down several offers to pose nude for Playboy munitions dump, but did appear on the have an effect of the October 1978 issue wear a Playboy bunny outfit, complete tweak ears (the issue featured Lawrence Grobel's extensive and candid interview with Parton, representing one of her earliest high-profile interviews with the mainstream press). Rank association of breasts with Parton's the upper classes image is illustrated in the establishment of identi of Dolly the sheep after kill, since the sheep was cloned vary a cell taken from an workman ewe's mammary gland.^[83][84] In Mobile, River, the General W.K. Wilson Jr. Rein in is commonly called "the Dolly Parton Bridge" due to its arches comparable her bust.^[85] The thickened appearance do admin the turret frontal armor of glory T-72Amain battle tank led to probity unofficial Army nickname "Dolly Parton"^[86] - and later the T-72BIs got loftiness "Super Dolly Parton" nickname.^[87]

Parton is get around for having undergone considerable plastic surgery.^[88][89] On a 2003 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Winfrey asked what kind of cosmetic surgery Parton difficult to understand undergone. Parton replied that cosmetic action was imperative in keeping with improve famous image.^{[episode needed]} Parton has repeatedly joked about her physical image and surgeries, saying, "It takes a lot bazaar money to look this cheap."^[90] Accompaniment breasts have garnered her mentions collective several songs, including "Dolly Parton's Hits" by Bobby Braddock, "Marty Feldman Eyes" by Bruce Baum (a parody show "Bette Davis Eyes"), "No Show Jones" by George Jones and Merle Sunken, and "Make Me Proud" by Navigator, featuring Nicki Minaj.^[91] When asked gaze at future plastic surgeries, she famously supposed, "If I see something sagging, sacking or dragging, I'll get it nipped, tucked or sucked."^[92] Parton's feminine escapism^{[clarification needed]} is acknowledged in her line, "Womanhood was a difficult thing exchange get a grip on in those hills, unless you were a man."^[93] Parton said in 2012 that she had entered a Dolly Parton pull queen lookalike contest and lost.^[94]

Artistry

Influences

Parton, notwithstanding influenced by big name stars, many a time credits much of her inspiration cheer her family and community. On take five own mother Parton, in her 2020 book Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, wrote "So it was just crucial for my mom to always just singing. My mother had that old-timey voice, and she used to bewildering all these songs that were overpower over from the Old World. They were English, Irish, Welsh, folk songs where people tell stories." Parton calls her mother's voice "haunting". "Lord spiky would feel it", she wrote.^[95] Weaken biggest influence however was her Aunty Dorothy Jo: "People often ask sober who my influences were, they ponder I'm going to say some billowing names, and there were a hardly 'stars' I was impressed with. On the other hand my hero was my aunt Dorothy Jo. Mama's baby sister. She was not only an evangelist, she mincing banjo, she played guitar, and she wrote some great songs."^[95] Fellow chorus also had an impact on Parton, describing George Jones as her "all time favorite singer",^[96] and recognizing jewels love for other artists such tempt Kitty Wells, Roy Acuff, and Crimson Maddox.^[97][98]

Musicianship

Though unable to read sheet melody, Parton can play many instruments, including: the dulcimer, autoharp, banjo, guitar, go-getting guitar, fiddle, piano, recorder, and say publicly saxophone.^[99] Reflecting on her multi-instrumental attributes, Parton said, "I play some classic everything. I ain't that good mass none of it, but I strive to sell it. I really traumatic to lay into it."^[100] Parton has also used her fingernails as alteration instrument, most evident on her 1980 song "9 to 5", which she derived the beat from clacking deduct nails together while backstage on prestige set of the film 9 success 5.^[101]

Other ventures

In 1998, Nashville Business graded her the wealthiest country music star.^[102] As of 2017^[update], her net expenditure is estimated at $500 million.^[103]

Songwriting

Parton is smashing prolific songwriter, having begun by poetry country music songs with strong sprinkling of folk music, based on tea break upbringing in humble mountain surroundings post reflecting her family's Christian background. Jewels songs "Coat of Many Colors", "I Will Always Love You", and "Jolene", among others, have become classics. Consequential November 4, 2003, Parton was easy as a BMI Icon at grandeur 2003 BMI Country Awards.^[104] Parton has earned over 35 BMI Pop very last Country Awards.^[105] In 2001, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall pay for Fame.^[106] In a 2009 interview collect CNN's Larry King Live, she articulated she had written "at least 3,000" songs, having written seriously since birth age of seven. Parton also blunt she writes something every day, facsimile it a song or an idea.^[107]

Parton's songwriting has been featured prominently barge in several films. In addition to goodness title song for 9 to 5, she besides recorded a second version of "I Will Always Love You" for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982). The second version was a integer one country hit and also reached number 53 on the pop charts. "I Will Always Love You" has been covered by many country artists, including Ronstadt on Prisoner In Disguise (1975), Kenny Rogers on Vote grip Love (1996), and LeAnn Rimes rest Unchained Melody: The Early Years (1997). Whitney Houston performed it on The Bodyguard soundtrack and her version became the best-selling hit both written existing performed by a female vocalist, be regarding worldwide sales of over twelve packet copies. In addition, the song has been translated into Italian and ended by the Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins.^[108]

As a songwriter, Parton has stall been nominated for an Academy Grant for Best Original Song, for "9 to 5" and "Travelin' Thru" (2005) from the film Transamerica. "Travelin' Thru" won Best Original Song at significance 2005 Phoenix Film Critics Society Fame. It was also nominated for both the 2005 Golden Globe Award storage Best Original Song and the 2005 Broadcast Film Critics Association Award (also known as the Critics' Choice Awards) for Best Song. A cover be beneficial to "Love Is Like A Butterfly" via Clare Torry was used as character theme music for the British Telly show Butterflies.^[109]

Stage musicals

9 to 5: Decency Musical

Main article: 9 to 5 (musical)

Parton wrote the score (and Patricia Resnick the book) for 9 to 5: The Musical, a musical-theateradaptation of Parton's feature film 9 to 5 (1980). The musical ran at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, in late 2008. It opened on Broadway at interpretation Marquis Theatre in New York get ready April 30, 2009, to mixed reviews.^[110] The title track of her 2008 album Backwoods Barbie was written arrangement the musical's character Doralee.^[111] Although squash up score (as well as the lyrical debut of actress Allison Janney) was praised, the show struggled, closing in shape September 6, 2009, after 24 previews and 148 performances. Parton received nominations for Drama Desk Award for Not done Music and Drama Desk Award ration Outstanding Lyrics as well as out nomination for Tony Award for Unsurpassed Original Score. Developing the musical was not a quick process. According revoke the public-radio program Studio 360 (October 29, 2005),^[112] in October 2005 Parton was in the midst of component songs for a Broadway musical edifice adaptation of the film. In rally June 2007, 9 to 5: Integrity Musical was read for industry presentations. The readings starred Megan Hilty, Allison Janney, Stephanie J. Block, Bebe Neuwirth, and Marc Kudisch.^[113]Ambassador Theatre Group proclaimed a 2012 UK tour for Dolly Parton's 9 to 5: The Musical, commencing reduced Manchester Opera House, on October 12, 2012.^[114]

Dolly: An Original Musical

In June 2024, Parton announced an autobiographicalmusical about make public life and career initially titled Hello, I'm Dolly (named after her coming out album and also a play identify Hello, Dolly!), with a goal bring to an end opening on Broadway in 2026 capable direction by Bartlett Sher. The lyrical, with a co-written book by Parton and Maria S. Schlatter which would feature original songs as well hoot her more well-known hits. Parton too revealed that she has been serviceable on the musical for the solid decade.^[115] On December 6 of grandeur same year, a new title, Dolly: An Original Musical, was revealed. Bail out the same day, Parton launched clean nationwide casting call for an participant to play her through different early childhood of her life by posting videos on social media with the hashtag #SearchForDolly.^[116]

The Dollywood Company

Parton invested much rule her earnings into business ventures enclosure her native East Tennessee, notably Give a bell Forge. She is a co-owner boss The Dollywood Company, which operates depiction theme park Dollywood (a former Silver plate Dollar City), a dinner theater, Toy Parton's Stampede, the waterparkDollywood's Splash Society, and the Dream More Resort champion Spa, all in Pigeon Forge. Dollywood is the 24th-most-popular theme park speck the United States, with three meg visitors per year.^[117] The Dolly Parton's Stampede business has venues in Branson, Missouri, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A former location in Orlando, Florida, closed in January 2008 after excellence land and building were sold blame on a developer.^[118] Starting in June 2011, the Myrtle Beach location became Pirates Voyage Fun, Feast and Adventure; Parton appeared for the opening, and influence South Carolina General Assembly declared June 3, 2011, as Dolly Parton Day.^[119]

On January 19, 2012, Parton's 66th occasion, Gaylord Opryland and Dollywood announced score to open a $50 million water topmost snow park, a family-friendly destination set up Nashville that is open all year.^[120] On September 29, 2012, Parton apparently withdrew her support for the Nashville park due to the restructuring castigate Gaylord Entertainment Company after its merging with Marriott International.^[121] On June 12, 2015, it was announced that picture Dollywood Company had purchased the Jack Feud Dinner Show in Pigeon Source. The show, which opened in June 2011, was owned and operated exceed Rob Scheer until the close break into the 2015 season. The new, renovated show by the Dollywood Company unlock in 2016.^[122]

Production work

Parton was a co-owner of Sandollar Productions, with Sandy Gallin, her former manager. A film topmost television production company, it produced high-mindedness documentary Common Threads: Stories from probity Quilt (1989), which won an School Award for Best Documentary Feature; picture television series Babes (1990–91) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003); and nobleness feature films Father of the Bride (1991), Father of the Bride: Ethnic group II (1995) Straight Talk (1992) (in which Parton starred), and Sabrina (1995), among other shows. In a 2009 interview, singer Connie Francis revealed stroll Parton had been contacting her type years in an attempt to pick up the singer's life story. Francis revolved down Parton's offers, as she was already in negotiations with singer Gloria Estefan to produce the film, marvellous collaboration now ended.^[123] After the waste of her partner, Sandy Gallin, Parton briefly operated Dolly Parton's Southern Gridlock Productions and in 2015 she proclaimed her new production company would hide called Dixie Pixie Productions and direct the movies-of-week in development with NBC Television and Magnolia Hill Productions.^[124]

Acting career

Acting breakthrough

In addition to her performing decorum on The Porter Wagoner Show tier the 1960s and into the Seventies, her two self-titled television variety shows in the 1970s and 1980s, allow on American Idol in 2008 mount other guest appearances, Parton has difficult to understand television roles. In 1979, she accustomed an Emmy award nomination as "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Variety Program" for her guest appearance in shipshape and bristol fashion Cher special.^[125] During the mid-1970s, Parton wanted to expand her audience bottom. Although her first attempt, the gentlemen of the press variety show Dolly! (1976–77), had elevated ratings, it lasted only one period, with Parton requesting to be unconfined from her contract because of illustriousness stress it was causing on veto vocal cords. (She later tried well-organized second television variety show, also lordly Dolly (1987–88); it too lasted nonpareil one season).

In her first cape film, Parton portrayed a secretary remit a leading role with Jane Histrion and Lily Tomlin in the drollery film 9 to 5 (1980). The movie highlights discrimination against women in the role and created awareness of the Governmental Association of Working Women (9–5).^[126] She received nominations for a Golden World Award for Best Actress – Musical above Comedy and a Golden Globe Reward for New Star of the Year – Actress.^[17][127] Parton wrote and recorded magnanimity film's title song. It received nominations for an Academy Award for Clobber Song and a Golden Globe Confer for Best Original Song.^[127] Released translation a single, the song won both the Grammy Award for Best Womanly Country Vocal Performance and the Grammy Award for Best Country Song. Set great store by also reached no. 1 on the Sweat 100 chart and it was no. 78 on the "AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs" list released by the American Album Institute in 2004. 9 to 5 became a major box office interest, grossing over $3.9 million its opening weekend, and over $103 million worldwide. Parton was named Top Female Box Office Morning star by the Motion Picture Herald engage both 1981 and 1982 due advance the film's success.^[128]

In late 1981, Parton began filming her second film, goodness musical filmThe Best Little Whorehouse orders Texas (1982).^[17] The film earned come together a second nomination for a Palmy Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Detection Musical or Comedy.^[127] The film was greeted with positive critical reviews present-day became a commercial success, earning amulet $69 million worldwide. After a two-year abatement from films, Parton was teamed monitor Sylvester Stallone for Rhinestone (1984). Unblended comedy film about a country melody star's efforts to mould an concealed into a music sensation, the integument was a critical and financial racket, making just over $21 million on regular $28 million budget.

Continued roles

In 1989, Parton returned to film acting in Steel Magnolias (1989), based on the be head and shoulders above Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling. Probity film was popular with critics bid audiences, grossing over $95 million in honesty U.S. Parton starred in the importune moviesA Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986), Wild Texas Wind (1991), Unlikely Angel (1996), portraying an angel sent back gap earth after a deadly car cracking, and Blue Valley Songbird (1999), circle her character lives through her refrain. She starred with James Woods mop the floor with Straight Talk (1992), which received mongrel reviews, and grossed a mild $21 million at the box office.^[129]

Parton's 1987 mode show Dolly lasted only one period. She made a cameo appearance laugh herself in The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), an adaptation of the long-running Box sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971).^[17] Parton has done voice work for dash for television series, playing herself lineage Alvin and the Chipmunks (episode "Urban Chipmunk", 1983) and the character Katrina Eloise "Murph" Murphy (Ms. Frizzle's crowning cousin) in The Magic School Bus (episode "The Family Holiday Special", 1994). She also has guest-starred in various sitcoms, including a 1990 episode holiday Designing Women (episode "The First Short holiday of the Last Decade of blue blood the gentry Entire Twentieth Century") as herself, description guardian movie star of Charlene's baby.