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Dolly PartonDolly Parton is an American singer, songwriter, actress, author, and entrepreneur widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in country music history, responsible for writing several songs that have become modern standards, including "I Will Always Love You" and "Jolene." Parton was born in 1946 and released her first single at age 13, the same year she performed on the Grand Ole Opry alongside her uncle, Bill Owens. At 20, she began appearing on "The Porter Wagoner Show," an opportunity that introduced her to millions of viewers and helped propel her solo career. Throughout the '70s and '80s, Parton became a country superstar and crossed over to the pop charts with several hit singles. She also became a star of the screen, starring in successful Hollywood movies and her own eponymous television shows. Since then, Parton has remained popular, becoming well known for her philanthropy, including a childhood literacy initiative, her theme park, Dollywood, and the continued relevance of her music.Explore Dolly Parton
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A 2026 survey found that Dolly Parton is far more popular in the US than the world's politicians. the GuardianA Tennessee children's hospital changed its name to Dolly Parton Children's HospitalIn 2026, East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville changed its name to Dolly Parton Children's Hospital. According to an announcement from Parton and the hospital's CEO, Parton will collaborate with the hospital to ensure it continues providing care for children in the Knoxville area. TODAY.comDolly Parton produced the original 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' movieParton’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. Taste of CountryDolly Parton's Imagination Library program provides free books to kidsParton 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. Imagination Library'9 to 5' was Dolly Parton's first No. 1 pop hit1977’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 PartonDolly 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. Harry Connick, Jr.Dolly Parton jumped to Hollywood in the 1980sCostar 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. Wide Open CountryDolly Parton danced with disco in the late 1970sAs 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. Dolly Parton'Islands in the Stream' was another massive crossover hit for Kenny Rogers and Dolly PartonThe 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. Dolly PartonDolly Parton and Kenny Rogers' 'Islands in the Stream' was written by the Bee GeesThe 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. Backstage CountryElvis Presley wanted to record 'I Will Always Love You,' but Dolly Parton refusedAfter 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. AXS TVDolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You' is a widely covered standard that's been a No. 1 hit multiple times. WhoSampledA young Dolly Parton felt confined by her partnership with Porter WagonerWagoner 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. NewsweekBefore becoming a country superstar, Dolly Parton recorded girl group-style singles as a teenager, including one that became a hit outside the US Dolly PartonDolly Parton released her first recording at age 13, a rockabilly number she cowrote called 'Puppy Love.' Dolly PartonDolly Parton declined her nomination for the Rock & Roll Hall of FameThe 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. PitchforkThe best Dolly Parton songsThe 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.” BillboardDolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You' was written as a goodbye for her musical collaboratorThe 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. Dolly Parton’s AmericaParton recorded two albums with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou HarrisThe 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. littlesparrow185Parton 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. Rosa Mannen'Jolene' was based on a real woman who flirted with her husbandThe 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. NPRParton teamed up with Porter Wagoner in 1967Wagoner 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 HDCountry musicians grappled with the outlaw archetype on screenAs 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. JSTOR DailyAn online presence provides a means of grieving and honoring individuals after deathShifting perspectives toward the increasing importance of digital profiles of the dead have made anticipatory management of one's digital legacy more critical. Experts suggest choosing a tech-savvy relative—such as a cousin—over a spouse to reduce confusion about what to preserve or discard, as well as how to access password-protected content. Science Friday
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