Before becoming a country superstar, Dolly Parton recorded girl-group-style singles as a teenager, including one that became a hit outside the US.

Parton released her first recording at age 13

The song was written at the age of 11 with the assistance of her uncle, Bill Owens, and was released by Goldband Records in 1959, when she was 13. The rockabilly song doesn’t sound much like the country music that would make Parton famous in the next decade, but it does hint at the power of her voice.

The best Dolly Parton songs

The country icon has been recording classics for over five decades, from hits that have topped the pop charts to evergreen standards. This list, compiled by two Billboard critics, ranks the 15 best in her catalog, including “Jolene” and “9 to 5,” along with some deeper cuts like “Two Doors Down.”

Dolly Parton danced with disco in the late 1970s

As disco grew more popular, more artists experimented with the genre, including through remixes. One of them was Dolly Parton, who released the “Dance With Dolly” EP in 1978, which remixed two tracks from her “Heartbreaker” album to make them more explicitly aimed at the dancefloor.

Parton teamed up with Porter Wagoner in 1967

Wagoner was a popular country artist whose syndicated variety show debuted in 1960. When his cohost Norma Jean left in 1967, Wagoner brought in Parton as a replacement. That was the same year her debut album, “Hello, I’m Dolly,” was released. Below is a performance of “Dumb Blonde,” the lead single from that album, from her first day on the show.

Dolly Parton jumped to Hollywood in the 1980s

Costar Jane Fonda said she heard Parton’s song “Two Doors Down” on the radio while the movie was still being developed and knew she’d be a perfect fit for one of the starring roles. The success of that movie kickstarted an acting career, following up with roles in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “Steel Magnolias,” and more.

Parton recorded two albums with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris

The musicians were fans of one another and performed together on Parton’s variety show “Dolly” in 1976. Eleven years later, they released an album together, fittingly called “Trio.” A follow-up, “Trio II,” arrived in 1999.

Parton hosted two separate variety television shows called ‘Dolly’

Parton became a magnetic television performer on “The Porter Wagoner Show,” something that would pay off in dividends later in her career. Both her 1976 show “Dolly” and the 1987 series of the same name featured musical performances from Parton and various guests, along with lighthearted segments featuring contemporary stars. You can watch the fifth episode of 1987 below, with special guest Kermit the Frog.

The American girl groups of the 1950s and '60s had a profound influence on the Beatles, who frequently paid homage to acts like the Marvelettes and the Ronettes.

The classic girl group sound arrived with doo-wop

Doo-wop was a vocal-based pop music popular in the ‘50s that coincided with the rise of early rock ‘n’ roll. The mid-tempo, harmony-heavy songs about teenage life provided the template for the girl group sound, which arrived at the end of the decade.

Elvis Presley wanted to record 'I Will Always Love You,' but Dolly Parton refused

After scoring a hit with her own recording of the song, Presley made plans to record his own version, but stipulated that Parton would need to grant him 50% of the publishing rights—perhaps the most valuable asset for a songwriter. Parton politely refused.

Phil Spector’s Philles Records was home to several definitive girl group singles

The label, formed by Spector and Lester Sill, released most of Spector’s early “Wall of Sound” recordings, including the Crystals’ “Then He Kissed Me” and the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.” This 1963 compilation, “Philles Records Presents Today’s Hits,” collects some of the label’s early hits.

'9 to 5' was Dolly Parton's first No. 1 pop hit

1977’s “Here You Come Again” reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, but “9 to 5,” the 1980 song for a film of the same name (starring Parton alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin) was the first to reach the top.

Dolly Parton declined her nomination for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

The country icon was nominated in 2022 but bowed out, saying, “I don’t feel I have earned that right” and that she didn’t want votes split because of her inclusion on the ballot, though the Hall of Fame inducted her anyway. Interestingly, she also mentioned that the nomination motivated her to release a rock ‘n’ roll record in the future. She released “Rockstar,” a double-album featuring several duets and covers of popular rock songs, in 2023.

A young Dolly Parton felt confined by her partnership with Porter Wagoner

Wagoner was already an established country star when Parton became his cohost on “The Porter Wagoner Show.” According to Parton, the two often disagreed about the direction of Parton’s career. Ultimately, she decided to leave the show and their partnership in pursuit of her own career.

'Jolene' was based on a real woman who flirted with her husband

The song was Dolly Parton’s second No. 1 hit and a modern standard that’s been covered by the likes of the White Stripes and Beyoncé. According to Parton, it was based on a real-life experience about an attractive bank teller who flirted with her husband. That woman’s name wasn’t actually Jolene, though: That was the name of a young fan who’d once asked Parton for an autograph.

Read an interview with Parton conducted by Andy Warhol

Both frequented Studio 54, the chic New York club, during the disco era, and Warhol admired the country singer for her bombshell image, which he emphasized with a 1984 cover story for his Interview magazine.

Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers' 'Islands in the Stream' was written by the Bee Gees

The Gibbs originally penned the song for themselves, but the brothers didn’t think it was the right fit, so they reworked it as an R&B number with Diana Ross or Marvin Gaye in mind; however, nothing came of those ideas. It was then pitched to country star Kenny Rogers, who wasn’t sure he was the right fit, though Barry Gibb convinced him it would work as a duet with Parton, who was recording in a nearby studio.

How British youth resurrected overlooked American soul music

Motown released some of the 1960s' biggest soul records and changed the sound of pop music. The label also inspired countless smaller, regional labels that released songs by lesser-known artists that received limited attention. That changed with the rise of British Northern Soul, an underground scene that repurposed these obscure records (including several overlooked Motown releases) for all-night dance parties and, in the process, minted some unexpected American superstars.

The Shirelles' 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' was the first girl group record to reach number one

The 1960 song, composed by husband-and-wife Brill Building occupants Gerry Goffin and Carole King, was more than a little suggestive. The main character wondered if her partner would abandon her after a night of passion, leading to some stations banning the record. But it also propelled the song to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

The Beatles were not an immediate success in the US—their label rejected their first two singles, and the band was mocked on the TV show 'American Bandstand.'

'Islands in the Stream' was another massive crossover hit for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

The country stars each earned their second pop No. 1 hits with the duet, eventually selling over 3 million units. In 1998, the Fugees’ Pras scored a hit with an interpolation of the song on his track “Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are),” which was eventually certified platinum.

Parton was one of 12 children

The family lived in a one-room cabin in the Tennessee mountains, held together by her sharecropper father, who sometimes struggled to make ends meet, though Parton speaks favorably about her modest roots. She’d later detail her early life in her 1973 song, “My Tennessee Mountain Home.”

The self-titled country album hinted at what would come later

While Taylor Swift eventually crossed over to pop, a Pitchfork review of her first release hints at the ingredients that would fuel Taylor’s rapid ascent and help her connect with fans, including songs with catchy melodies, relatable themes, and deeply personal lyrics that reflect her experiences as a young woman.

Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You' was written as a goodbye for her musical collaborator

The Whitney Houston cover is the greatest-selling song by a female artist ever. It also might be one of the most misunderstood songs in country music. The song wasn't written for a lover; Parton wrote it for Porter Wagoner, her musical partner, when she decided to pursue a solo career.

Hear the first classic girl group record: the Chantels’ ‘Maybe’

While there were all-female vocal groups before the Chantels, most critics consider the group’s 1957 single “Maybe” to be the first record of the classic girl group sound because it established the model’s foundational elements: a mid-tempo backbeat, soaring harmonies, and yearning lyrics.

Parton opened the Dollywood theme park in 1986

The theme park, situated in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, offers roller coasters, games, and other family-friendly activities alongside Parton-themed exhibits, including a replica of her childhood home.

The 1927 'Bristol Sessions' birthed the modern country industry

Country music has been around since the early American colonies, but the modern country industry began in 1927 in a small town on the Tennessee-Virginia border. Here, Ralph Peer recorded songs from the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, and a dozen more artists through a 12-day stint called "The Bristol Sessions."

Dolly Parton is far more popular in the US than the world's politicians

An April 2026 survey conducted by the University of Massachusetts and YouGov found that 70% of the 1,000 Americans polled had a positive impression of the country icon. The next closest figure was former US President Barack Obama (50% favorable) and Vladimir Zelensky, the president of Ukraine (35% favorable).

Dolly Parton wrote the song '9 to 5' on the set of the movie '9 to 5'

She’d agreed to star in the film if she could write its theme song, which she began while shooting the movie. As Parton tells it, the song’s genesis was clacking her long acrylic nails together.

Dolly Parton produced the original 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' movie

Parton’s Sandollar Entertainment company was responsible for the 1992 film, which eventually led to the television series of the same name—a pop culture sensation that inspired spin-offs and a devoted fanbase. Although Parton was not listed as a producer for the show, some believe showrunner Joss Whedon paid homage to her by making the titular character’s birthday the same as Parton’s.

Watch a definitive girl group documentary

The 1983 documentary "Girl Groups: The Story of a Sound" features archival footage of some of the Shirelles, the Ronettes, the Shangri-Las, and more alongside interviews with the performers and songwriters. It's a fascinating look back at the music, told by the people who pioneered it.

Taylor Swift was 16 when she released her debut album

When Taylor Swift released her first album, she was a little-known country singer-songwriter. A decade later, she was a world-famous pop superstar. In the first 10 years of Swift's career, her songwriting talent, savvy marketing, and engagement with fans helped propel her into stardom.

Country's popularity skyrocketed in the 21st century

Thanks to the crossover success of '90s artists like Garth Brooks and Shania Twain, country music found a larger audience. By the 2000s, the genre was more popular than ever, at times accounting for nearly a quarter of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Country musicians grappled with the outlaw archetype on screen

As country grew more popular, some of its biggest stars leapt to the silver screen, with Johnny Cash in "Five Minutes to Live," Kris Kristofferson in "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid," and Dolly Parton in "9 to 5." Kristin Hunt notes that all of these films featured country stars toying with the outlaw archetype, a prevalent theme throughout the history of country music.

Taylor Swift's songwriting resonated with teenage girls around the world

One fan recalls that the themes of Swift's early songs included hope, betrayal, and a sense of being unremarkable but wanting to be special. She argues that these themes were especially powerful to young girls, regardless of where they were from.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program provides free books to kids

Parton launched the program in 1995 to benefit children in Tennessee by providing a free book every month. It began expanding across the country in 2000 and was eventually adopted in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The organization claims to provide over 1 million books to children every month.

Parton is famously apolitical

Unlike some of her contemporaries, Parton refrains from expressing her political opinions publicly or endorsing political candidates. President Donald Trump offered her the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice, but she declined both times. After Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) used Parton's song “9 to 5” at a campaign event, Parton’s team requested that Warren stop using it.

'I Will Always Love You' is a widely covered standard

The song has had multiple lives: There’s Dolly Parton’s original recording, which reached the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in 1974 and then again in 1982, thanks to the soundtrack for Parton’s film, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” Then it reached the top of the pop charts thanks to Whitney Houston’s 1992 cover on “The Bodyguard” soundtrack. Popular versions have also been released by LeAnn Rimes, Linda Ronstadt, and Kristin Chenoweth.

The ‘90s saw a resurgence of the girl group

The ‘90s saw a resurgence of the girl group, with acts like TLC, the Spice Girls, and Destiny’s Child turning the model on its head. While still strongly influenced by the ‘50s and ‘60s girl groups, these acts also worked in hip-hop and dance music. Most significantly, they emphasized female empowerment—or “girl power”—rather than adolescent yearning.