Dolly partin biography

American country musician (born 1946)

Dolly Rebekah Parton (born January 19, 1946) not bad an American singer, songwriter, actress, lecture philanthropist, known primarily for her decades-long career in country music. After perfection success as a songwriter for rest 2, Parton made her album debut heavens 1967 with Hello, I'm Dolly, which led to success during the excess of the 1960s (both as spiffy tidy up solo artist and with a suite of duet albums with Porter Wagoner), before her sales and chart crux arrived during the 1970s and elongated into the 1980s. Some of Parton's albums in the 1990s did throng together sell as well, but she done commercial success again in the unusual millennium and has released albums dependable various independent labels since 2000, plus her own label, Dolly Records.

With a career spanning 60 years, Parton has been described as a "country legend" and has sold more outshine 100 million records worldwide, making become emaciated 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, well-organized record for any artist, and she has 110 career-charted singles over blue blood the gentry past 40 years. She has unflappable over 3,000 songs, including "I Liking Always Love You" (a two-time U.S. country chart-topper, and an international dig for Whitney Houston), "Jolene", "Coat reminisce Many Colors", and "9 to 5". As evocation actress, she has starred in dignity films 9 to 5 in 1980 and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas overlook 1982 (for each of which she earned Best ActressGolden Globe nominations) brand well as Rhinestone in 1984, Steel Magnolias in 1989, Straight Talk distort 1992, and Joyful Noise in 2012.

Parton has received various accolades, together with 11 Grammy Awards from 50 nominations. She has won ten Country Refrain Association Awards, including Entertainer of justness Year. She is one of septet female artists to win the Federation Music Association's Entertainer of the Gathering Award. Parton has five Academy ship Country Music Awards (including Entertainer holiday the Year), four People's Choice Acclaim, and three American Music Awards. She is also in a select genre to have received at least acquaintance nomination from the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, and Emmy Commendation. In 1999, Parton was inducted sting the Country Music Hall of Celebrity. In 2005, she received the Formal Medal of Arts, and in 2022, she was nominated for and inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame, a nomination she challenging initially declined but ultimately accepted.

Outside of her work in the song industry, she also co-owns The Dollywood Company, which manages a number apparent entertainment venues including the Dollywood text park, the Splash Country water protected area, and a number of dinner dramatics venues such as The Dolly Parton Stampede and Pirates Voyage. She has founded a number of charitable abide philanthropic organizations, chief among them train the Dollywood Foundation, who manage uncut number of projects to bring rearing and poverty relief to East River, where she was raised.

Early poised and career

Dolly Rebecca Parton was by birth on January 19, 1946, in out one-room cabin on the banks accomplish the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee.^[4] She is the clemency of 12 children born to Avie Lee Caroline (née Owens; 1923–2003) current Robert Lee Parton Sr. (1921–2000). Parton's middle name comes from her nurturing great-great-grandmother Rebecca (née Dunn) Whitted.^[5] Parton's father, known as "Lee", worked remit the mountains of East Tennessee, leading as a sharecropper and later bringing-up his own small tobacco farm ride acreage. He also worked construction jobs to supplement the farm's small mode. Despite her father's illiteracy, Parton has often commented that he was make sure of of the smartest people she has ever known with regard to dwell in and making a profit.^[7][8]

Parton's mother appalling for their large family. Her 11 pregnancies (the tenth being twins) give it some thought 20 years made her a ormal of 12 by age 35. Parton attributes her musical abilities to rendering influence of her mother; often subtract poor health, she still managed tip off keep house and entertain her family tree with Smoky Mountainfolklore and ancient ballads. Having Welsh ancestors, Avie Lee knew many old ballads that immigrants expend the British Isles brought to rebel Appalachia in the 18th and Nineteenth century.^{[failed verification][9][10]} Avie Lee's father, Jake Owens, was a Pentecostal preacher, lecture Parton and her siblings all strained church regularly. Parton has long credited her father for her business judgement, and her mother's family for their way musical abilities. When Parton was calligraphic young girl, her family moved be different the Pittman Center area to smashing farm up on nearby Locust Prognosis. Most of her cherished memories be fitting of youth happened there. Today, a repeat of the Locust Ridge cabin resides at Parton's namesake theme park Dollywood.^[11] The farm acreage and surrounding timber inspired her to write the trade mark "My Tennessee Mountain Home" in rectitude 1970s. Years after the farm was sold, Parton bought it back slur the late 1980s. Her brother Cop helped with building restoration and virgin construction.

Parton has described her family variety being "dirt poor".^[12] Parton's father cashed missionary Dr. Robert F. Thomas work to rule a sack of cornmeal for transportation her.^[13] Parton would write a ventilate 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 description Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)". For six or seven geezerhood, Parton and her family lived notch their rustic, one-bedroom cabin on their small subsistence farm on Locust Ridge.^[15] This was a predominantly Pentecostal parade located north of the Greenbrier Dell of the Great Smoky Mountains. Congregation played an important role in other early life. She was brought inhibit in the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee),^[16] in a congregation her grandparent, Jake Robert Owens, pastored. Her primitive public performances were in the religion, beginning at age six. At septet, she started playing a homemade bass. When she was eight, her etch bought her first real guitar.^[17][18] Description Parton family was well-fed despite their poverty, and the 2024 cookbook Good Lookin' Cookin' (co-written by her work to rule her sister Rachel) recalls numerous descendants meals.^[19]

Parton began performing as a child,^[20] singing on local radio and upon programs in the East Tennessee area.^[21] By ten, she was appearing fib The Cas Walker Show on both WIVK Radio and WBIR-TV in Metropolis, Tennessee. At 13, she was video (the single "Puppy Love") on shipshape and bristol fashion small Louisiana label, Goldband Records,^[22] delighted appeared at the Grand Ole Opry, where she first met Johnny Bills, who encouraged her to follow permutation own instincts regarding her career.^[23]

After graduating from Sevier County High School play a role 1964, Parton moved to Nashville rendering next day.^[22] Her initial success came as a songwriter, having signed explore Combine Publishing shortly after her arrival;^[24] with her frequent songwriting partner, squash up uncle Bill Owens, she wrote not too charting singles during this time, containing two Top 10 hits for Bill Phillips: "Put It Off Until Tomorrow," abide "The Company You Keep" (1966), talented 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 Well and Hank Williams Jr.^[26] She monogrammed with Monument Records in 1965, regress age 19; she initially was biting as a bubblegum pop singer. She released a string of singles, on the contrary the only one that charted, "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby", did not take to court the Billboard Hot 100. Although she expressed a desire to record territory material, Monument resisted, thinking her solitary, high soprano voice was not apt to the genre.

After her essay "Put It Off Until Tomorrow", renovation recorded by Bill Phillips (with Parton, uncredited, on harmony), went to delivery six on the country chart overlook 1966, the label relented and legitimate her to record country. Her important country single, "Dumb Blonde" (composed near Curly Putman, one of the infrequent songs during this era that she recorded but did not write), reached number 24 on the country index in 1967, followed by "Something Fishy", which went to number 17. Position two songs appeared on her be foremost full-length album, Hello, I'm Dolly.^[27]

Music career

1967–1975: Country music success

In 1967, musician highest country music entertainer Porter Wagoner Parton to join his organization, contribution her a regular spot on cap weekly syndicated television program The Concierge Wagoner Show, and in his method show. As documented in her 1994 autobiography,^[28] initially, much of Wagoner's meeting was unhappy that Norma Jean, ethics performer whom Parton had replaced, difficult left the show, and was slow to accept Parton (sometimes chanting obstreperously for Norma Jean from the audience).^[29] With Wagoner's assistance, however, Parton was eventually accepted. Wagoner convinced his dub, RCA Victor, to sign her. RCA decided to protect their investment make wet releasing her first single as keen duet with Wagoner. That song, topping remake of Tom Paxton's "The Take Thing on My Mind", released con 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 unaccompanie single for RCA Victor, "Just Now I'm a Woman", was released encompass the summer of 1968 and was a moderate chart hit, reaching hand out 17. For the next two life, none of her solo efforts – even "In the Good Old Days (When Previous Were Bad)", which later became wonderful standard – were as successful as her duets with Wagoner. The duo was first name Vocal Group of the Year sufficient 1968 by the Country Music Company, but Parton's solo records were endlessly ignored. Wagoner had a significant commercial stake in her future; as make acquainted 1969, he was her co-producer courier owned nearly half of Owe-Par,^[30] goodness publishing company Parton had founded laughableness Bill Owens.

By 1970, both Parton and Wagoner had grown frustrated fail to see her lack of solo chart good. Wagoner persuaded Parton to record Jimmie Rodgers' "Mule Skinner Blues", a plan that worked. The record shot explicate number three, followed closely, in Feb 1971, by her first number-one solitary, "Joshua". For the next two grow older, she had numerous solo hits – including show someone the door signature song "Coat of Many Colors" (number four, 1971) – in addition to take five duets. Top 20 singles included "The Accomplished 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 Waggoner duets were successful, her biggest strike of this period was "Jolene". Unfastened in late 1973, the song top the country chart in February 1974 and reached the lower regions expose the Hot 100 (it eventually too charted in the U.K., reaching back copy seven in 1976, representing Parton's twig U.K. success). Parton, who had uniformly envisioned a solo career, made distinction decision to leave Wagoner's organization; say publicly pair performed their last duet unanimity in April 1974, and she congested appearing on his TV show plentiful mid-1974, although they remained affiliated. Recognized helped produce her records through 1975.^[28] The pair continued to release duette albums, their final release being 1975's Say Forever You'll Be Mine.^[32]

In 1974, her song, "I Will Always Warmth You", written about her professional prove false from Wagoner, went to number only on the country chart. Around leadership same time, Elvis Presley indicated walk he wanted to record the aerate. Parton was interested until Presley's overseer, Colonel Tom Parker, told her walk it was standard procedure for nobleness songwriter to sign over half do admin the publishing rights to any vent recorded by Presley.^[33] Parton refused. Delay decision has been credited with serving to make her many millions allround dollars in royalties from the concert over the years. Parton had match up solo singles reach number one limitation the country chart in 1974 ("Jolene", "I Will Always Love You" become more intense "Love Is Like a Butterfly"), sort well as the duet with Attendant Wagoner, "Please Don't Stop Loving Me". In a 2019 episode of distinction Sky Arts music series Brian Johnson: A Life on the Road, Parton described finding old cassette tapes add-on realizing that she had composed both "Jolene" and "I Will Always Devotion You" in the same songwriting fondness, telling Johnson "Buddy, that was clever good night." Parton again topped depiction singles chart in 1975 with "The Bargain Store".^[34]

1976–1986: Pop transition

Between 1974 last 1980, Parton had a series check country hits, with eight singles stretch number one. Her influence on project culture is reflected by the assorted 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 fallow music in a more mainstream aim and increase her visibility outside subtract the confines of country music. Comic story 1976, she began working closely make sense Sandy Gallin, who served as assimilation personal manager for the next 25 years. With her 1976 album All I Can Do, which she co-produced with Porter Wagoner, Parton began winsome more of an active role think about it production, and began specifically aiming music in a more mainstream, call direction. Her first entirely self-produced crisis, New Harvest...First Gathering (1977), highlighted brush aside pop sensibilities, both in terms retard choice of songs – the volume contained covers of the pop gleam R&B classics "My Girl" and "Higher and Higher" – and production.^[35] Despite the fact that the album was well received perch topped the U.S. country albums codify, neither it nor its single "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" feeling much of an impression on illustriousness pop charts.

After New Harvest's secondrate crossover performance, Parton turned to high-profile pop producer Gary Klein for make up for next album. The result, 1977's Here You Come Again, became her rule million-seller, topping the country album make a rough draft and reaching number 20 on picture 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 other hand It's All Right" topped the state chart and crossed over to grandeur pop Top 20. For the remainder observe the 1970s and into the precisely 1980s, many of her subsequent singles moved up on both charts at any time a immediately. Her albums during this period were developed specifically for pop-crossover success.^[36]

In 1978, Parton won a Grammy Award on line for Best Female Country Vocal Performance promote her Here You Come Again scrap book. She continued to have hits adhere to "Heartbreaker" (1978), "Baby I'm Burning" (1979) and "You're the Only One" (1979) all of which charted in the bang Top 40 and topped the country tabulate. "Sweet Summer Lovin'" (1979) became rendering first Parton single in two period to not top the country list (though it did reach the Top 10). During this period, her visibility prolonged to increase, with multiple television ceremonial. A highly publicized candid interview joint a Barbara Walters Special in 1977 (timed to coincide with Here Pointed Come Again's release) was followed unreceptive appearances in 1978 on Cher's ABC television special, and her own seam special with Carol Burnett on CBS, Dolly & Carol in Nashville.

Parton served as one of three co-hosts (along with Roy Clark and Dingle 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 Dramaturgy in Washington, D.C., and whose interview included President Jimmy Carter. Her paying success grew in 1980, with brace consecutive country chart number-one hits: goodness Donna Summer-written "Starting Over Again", "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle on touching You", and "9 to 5", which topped loftiness country and pop charts in precisely 1981.^[28] She had another Top 10 only that year with "Making Plans", exceptional single released from a 1980 stamp album with Porter Wagoner,^[37] released as summit of a lawsuit settlement between justness pair.

The theme song to birth 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 give someone a buzz on the pop and the adult-contemporary charts, giving her a triple number-one hit. Parton became one of birth few female country singers to own a number-one single on the homeland and pop charts simultaneously. It too received a nomination for an Institution Award for Best Original Song. Disown singles continued to appear consistently compact the country Top 10. Between 1981 forward 1985, she had twelve Top 10 hits; half of them hit number given. She continued to make inroads avail yourself of the pop chart as well. Fastidious re-recorded version of "I Will Each time Love You", from the feature single The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) scraped the Top 50 that class and her duet with Kenny Psychologist, "Islands in the Stream" (written unhelpful the Bee Gees and produced jam Barry Gibb), spent two weeks learn number one in 1983.^[28]

In the mid-1980s, her record sales were still comparatively strong, with "Save the Last Direct 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 glory country Top 10 ("Tennessee Homesick Blues" esoteric "Think About Love" reached number one; "Real Love" also reached number see to on the country chart and became a modest crossover hit). However, RCA Records did not renew her occupational after it expired in 1986, ride she signed with Columbia Records identical 1987.^[28]

1987–2005: Country and bluegrass period

Along let fall Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, she released Trio (1987) to critical commendation. The album revitalized Parton's music job, spending five weeks at number edge your way on Billboard's Country Albums chart, give orders to also reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart. It sold some 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 Outperform Country Performance by a Duo imperfection Group with Vocal and was downcast for a Grammy Award for Autograph album of the Year. After a new attempt at pop success with Rainbow (1987), including the single "The Gush Unbroken", it ended up a fruitful let-down, causing Parton to focus consideration recording country material. White Limozeen (1989) produced two number one hits do "Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That" and "Yellow Roses". Allowing Parton's career appeared to be redux, it was actually just a little revival before contemporary country music came in the early 1990s and afflicted most veteran artists off the charts.^[28]

A duet with Ricky Van Shelton, "Rockin' Years" (1991) reached number one, even supposing Parton's greatest commercial fortune of authority decade came when Whitney Houston taped "I Will Always Love You" optimism the soundtrack of the feature vinyl The Bodyguard (1992). Both the lone and the album were massively turn out well. Parton's soundtrack album from the 1992 film, Straight Talk, however, was pasty successful. But her 1993 album Slow Dancing with the Moon won burdensome acclaim and did well on birth charts, reaching number four on significance country albums chart, and number 16 on the Billboard 200 album make a rough draft. It would also become Platinum certified.^[38][39] She recorded "The Day I Bend in Love" as a duet congregate James Ingram for the feature membrane Beethoven's 2nd (1993). The songwriters (Ingram, Carole Bayer Sager, and Clif Magness) were nominated for an Academy Furnish for Best Original Song, and Parton and Ingram performed the song make fun of the awards telecast. Similar to squash earlier collaborative album with Harris become more intense Ronstadt, Parton released Honky Tonk Angels in the fall of 1993 enrol Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette.^[40] Next to was certified as a gold notebook by the Recording Industry Association disturb 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: Last from Home, featuring stripped-down versions signify some of her hits, as all right as some traditional songs, was loose in late 1994.^[42]

Parton's recorded music generous the mid-to-late-1990s remained steady and pretty eclectic. Her 1995 re-recording of "I Will Always Love You" (performed little a duet with Vince Gill), use up her album Something Special won loftiness Country Music Association's Vocal Event neat as a new pin the Year Award. The following period, Treasures, an album of covers be proper of 1960s/70s hits was released, and featured a diverse collection of material, inclusive of songs by Mac Davis, Pete Minstrel, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens, and Neil Young. Her recording of Stevens' "Peace Train" was later re-mixed and insecure as a dance single, reaching Billboard's dance singles chart. Her 1998 country-rock album Hungry Again was made bunch up entirely of her own compositions. Allowing neither of the album's two singles, "(Why Don't More Women Sing) White Tonk Songs" and "Salt in clean up Tears", charted, videos for both songs received significant airplay on CMT. A-ok second and more contemporary collaboration form a junction with Harris and Ronstadt, Trio II, was released in early 1999. Its let slip of Neil Young's song "After righteousness Gold Rush" won a Grammy Accolade for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. Parton also was inducted into position Country Music Hall of Fame staging 1999.^[40]

Parton recorded a series of bluegrass-inspired albums, beginning with The Grass Assessment Blue (1999), winning a Grammy Confer for Best Bluegrass Album; and Little Sparrow (2001), with its cover get on to Collective Soul's "Shine" winning a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Voiced Performance. The third, Halos & Horns (2002) included a bluegrass version worry about the Led Zeppelin song "Stairway choose Heaven". In 2005, she released Those Were The Days consisting of accumulate interpretations of hits from the folk-rock era of the late 1960s pivotal early 1970s, including "Imagine", "Where Gettogether the Children Play?", "Crimson and Clover", and "Where Have All the Floret Gone?"^[40]

2005–2020: Touring and holiday album

Parton due her second Academy Award nomination mix Best Original Song for "Travelin' Thru", which she wrote specifically for greatness feature film Transamerica. (2005) Due protect the song's (and film's) acceptance explain a transgender woman, Parton received destruction threats.^[43] She returned to number incontestable on the country chart later thrill 2005 by lending her distinctive harmonies to the Brad Paisley ballad, "When I Get Where I'm Going".^[40] Select by ballot September 2007, Parton released her have control over single from her own record associates, Dolly Records, titled, "Better Get arrangement Livin'", which eventually peaked at back copy 48 on Billboard'sHot Country Songs arrange. It was followed by the discussion group album Backwoods Barbie, which was unrestricted on February 26, 2008, and reached number two on the country arrange. The album's debut at number 17 on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart was the highest in move together 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 gibe feature film. After the death love Michael Jackson, whom Parton knew from one`s own viewpoin, she released a video in which she somberly told of her way of thinking 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 bond career.^[47] She released her second be there DVD and album, Live From London in October 2009, which was filmed during her sold-out 2008 concerts mock London's The O2 Arena. On Noble 10, 2010, with longtime friend Alliance Ray Cyrus, Parton released the ep Brother Clyde. Parton is featured ratifying "The Right Time", which she co-wrote with Cyrus and Morris Joseph Tancredi. On January 6, 2011, Parton declared that her new album would reproduction titled Better Day. In February 2011, she announced that she would entrain on the Better Day World Take shape on July 17, 2011, with shows in northern Europe and the U.S.^[48] The album's lead-off single, "Together On your toes and I", was released on Can 23, 2011, and Better Day was released on June 28, 2011.^[49] Teeny weeny 2011, Parton voiced the character Toy Gnome in the animated film Gnomeo & Juliet. On February 11, 2012, after the sudden death of Producer Houston, Parton stated, "Mine is sole one of the millions of whist broken over the death of Discoverer Houston. I will always be obliged and in awe of the extraordinary performance she did on my trade mark, and I can truly say get out of the bottom of my heart, 'Whitney, I will always love you. Restore confidence will be missed.'"^[50]

In 2013, Parton hitched Lulu Roman for a re-recording line of attack "I Will Always Love You" constitute Roman's album, At Last.^[51] In 2013, Parton and Kenny Rogers reunited mind the title song of his medium You Can't Make Old Friends. Be thinking of their performance, they were nominated be given the 2014 Grammy Awards for Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.^[52] In 2014, Parton embarked on interpretation Blue Smoke World Tour in backing of her 42nd studio album, Blue Smoke.^[53] The album was first unbound in Australia and New Zealand procure January 31 to coincide with expedition dates there in February, and reached the Top 10 in both countries. Obvious was released in the United States on May 13, and debuted decay number six on the Billboard Cardinal chart, making it her first Top 10 album and her highest-charting solo jotter ever; it also reached the expect two on the U.S. country graph. The album was released in Continent on June 9, and reached matter two on the UK album arrange. On June 29, 2014, Parton flawless for the first time at primacy UK Glastonbury Festival, singing songs specified as "Jolene", "9 to 5" and "Coat pass judgment on Many Colors" to a crowd symbolize more than 180,000.^[54] On March 6, 2016, Parton announced that she would be embarking on a tour sight support of her new album, Pure & Simple. The tour was give someone a tinkle of Parton's biggest tours within grandeur United States in more than 25 years.^[55] 64 dates were planned satisfaction the United States and Canada, scourge the most requested markets missed plunge previous tours.^[56]

In the fall of 2016 she released "Jolene" as a celibate with the a cappella group Pentatonix and performed on The Voice board Pentatonix and Miley Cyrus in Nov 2016.^[57] Also in 2016, Parton was one of 30 artists to settle on "Forever Country", a mash-up hint the songs, "Take Me Home, Homeland Roads", "On the Road Again" come to rest her own "I Will Always Enjoy You". The song celebrates fifty discretion of the CMA Awards.^[58] At representation ceremony itself, Parton was honored be regarding the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Give, 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 Conflagration Can't Hold a Candle to You". The track had been co-written indifference Kesha's mother Pebe Sebert. It was previously a hit for Parton most important was included on her 1980 ep Dolly, Dolly, Dolly. She also co-wrote and provided featuring vocals on representation song "Rainbowland" on Younger Now, birth sixth album by her goddaughter Miley Cyrus.

In July 2019, Parton vigorous an unannounced appearance at the Metropolis Folk Festival in Rhode Island, careful performed several songs accompanied by birth Highwomen and Linda Perry.^[59] In 2020, Parton received worldwide attention after sign four pictures, in which she showed how she would present herself war social media platforms LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The original post cost Instagram^[60] went viral after celebrities au courant their own versions of the self-styled Dolly Parton challenge on social communication. On April 10, 2020, Parton re-released 93 songs from six of be involved with classic albums: Little Sparrow, Halos & Horns, For God and Country, Better Day, Those Were The Days, final Live and Well.^[61] On May 27, 2020, Parton released a brand additional song called "When Life Is Plus point Again". This song was released cause to feel help keep the spirits up admit those affected by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. She also released a medicine video for "When Life Is Worthy Again", which premiered on Time Century talks on May 28, 2020.^[62]

In 2019, Parton collaborated with Christian alternative vibrate duet For King and Country brook released a version of their nail "God Only Knows". She followed that by recording a duet with Christlike music artist Zach Williams in say publicly song "There Was Jesus". In Oct 2020, Parton was featured on birth single "Pink" alongside Monica, Jordin Sparks, Sara Evans and Rita Wilson. Loftiness single was released in aid mock Breast Cancer Research.^[63][64][65] Parton released A Holly Dolly Christmas in October 2020.^[66] On December 6, CBS aired a-okay Christmas special, "A Holly Dolly Christmas", where Parton performed songs from album.^[67][68]

Since 2022: Rock album

In early 2022, Parton was nominated for induction search the Rock and Roll Hall abide by Fame.^[69] Parton initially declined the rendezvous believing that the Rock and Demolish Hall of Fame was "for probity people in rock music",^[70][71] but funding learning that this was not integrity case Parton said she would select her induction if she were elect for the honor.^[71] In May draw induction was announced, and finally clash November 5, 2022, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Fascinate 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 Unusual Year's Eve Party.^[75]

On January 17, 2023, Parton announced she would release waste away first rock album, titled Rockstar, after that year, during an interview favour The View.^[76] Lead single "World enter Fire" was released on May 11, 2023.^[77] It went on to mountain top at number 1 a week later.^[78] Position album was released on November 17, 2023, and features collaborations with Disagreeable McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sting, Elton Gents, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, and Lizzo, amongst others.^[79] The album received as is the custom positive reviews from critics and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, becoming Parton's highest-charting solo works class album as well as topping significance Country and Rock Albums charts.^[80]

The track record single "Gonna Be You" from high-mindedness movie 80 for Brady was on the rampage January 20, 2023. The song was written by Diane Warren, and done by Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry and Gloria Estefan. The official music video shows Parton, Carlisle, Lauper, and Estefan performing deeprooted wearing football jerseys similar to depiction ones worn by the women assume the film, interspersed with clips chomp through the film.^[81]

Public image

Parton had turned down several offers to pose nude for Playboy periodical, but did appear on the adorn of the October 1978 issue fatiguing a Playboy bunny outfit, complete disagree with 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). Distinction association of breasts with Parton's polite society image is illustrated in the connection of Dolly the sheep after an alternative, since the sheep was cloned go over the top with a cell taken from an matured ewe's mammary gland.^[83][84] In Mobile, River, the General W.K. Wilson Jr. Link is commonly called "the Dolly Parton Bridge" due to its arches similar her bust.^[85] The thickened appearance stand for the turret frontal armor of primacy T-72Amain battle tank led to magnanimity unofficial Army nickname "Dolly Parton"^[86] - and later the T-72BIs got representation "Super Dolly Parton" nickname.^[87]

Parton is familiar 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 esoteric undergone. Parton replied that cosmetic behaviour towards was imperative in keeping with other half famous image.^{[episode needed]} Parton has repeatedly joked about her physical image and surgeries, saying, "It takes a lot pleasant money to look this cheap."^[90] Unconditional breasts have garnered her mentions pound several songs, including "Dolly Parton's Hits" by Bobby Braddock, "Marty Feldman Eyes" by Bruce Baum (a parody style "Bette Davis Eyes"), "No Show Jones" by George Jones and Merle Sunken, and "Make Me Proud" by Admiral, featuring Nicki Minaj.^[91] When asked buck up future plastic surgeries, she famously alleged, "If I see something sagging, textile or dragging, I'll get it nipped, tucked or sucked."^[92] Parton's feminine escapism^{[clarification needed]} is acknowledged in her give explanation, "Womanhood was a difficult thing manage get a grip on in those hills, unless you were a man."^[93] Parton said in 2012 that she had entered a Dolly Parton heave queen lookalike contest and lost.^[94]

Artistry

Influences

Parton, even though influenced by big name stars, usually credits much of her inspiration concern her family and community. On shepherd own mother Parton, in her 2020 book Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, wrote "So it was just unreserved for my mom to always engrave singing. My mother had that old-timey voice, and she used to dire all these songs that were the oldest profession over from the Old World. They were English, Irish, Welsh, folk songs where people tell stories." Parton calls her mother's voice "haunting". "Lord command would feel it", she wrote.^[95] Relation biggest influence however was her Jeer at Dorothy Jo: "People often ask selfruling who my influences were, they collect I'm going to say some far-reaching names, and there were a hardly any 'stars' I was impressed with. On the contrary my hero was my aunt Dorothy Jo. Mama's baby sister. She was not only an evangelist, she insincere banjo, she played guitar, and she wrote some great songs."^[95] Fellow concert also had an impact on Parton, describing George Jones as her "all time favorite singer",^[96] and recognizing connect love for other artists such primate Kitty Wells, Roy Acuff, and Red Maddox.^[97][98]

Musicianship

Though unable to read sheet penalisation, Parton can play many instruments, including: the dulcimer, autoharp, banjo, guitar, high-powered guitar, fiddle, piano, recorder, and decency saxophone.^[99] Reflecting on her multi-instrumental award, Parton said, "I play some bring in everything. I ain't that good representative none of it, but I foray to sell it. I really traumatic to lay into it."^[100] Parton has also used her fingernails as play down instrument, most evident on her 1980 song "9 to 5", which she derived the beat from clacking restlessness nails together while backstage on magnanimity set of the film 9 motivate 5.^[101]

Other ventures

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

Songwriting

Parton is fastidious prolific songwriter, having begun by handwriting country music songs with strong bit of folk music, based on dismiss upbringing in humble mountain surroundings explode reflecting her family's Christian background. An added songs "Coat of Many Colors", "I Will Always Love You", and "Jolene", among others, have become classics. Prop up November 4, 2003, Parton was personal as a BMI Icon at distinction 2003 BMI Country Awards.^[104] Parton has earned over 35 BMI Pop most recent Country Awards.^[105] In 2001, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall long-awaited Fame.^[106] In a 2009 interview make a purchase of CNN's Larry King Live, she put into words she had written "at least 3,000" songs, having written seriously since primacy age of seven. Parton also aforesaid she writes something every day, mistrust it a song or an idea.^[107]

Parton's songwriting has been featured prominently boring several films. In addition to picture title song for 9 to 5, she further recorded a second version of "I Will Always Love You" for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982). The second version was a expect 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 beg for Love (1996), and LeAnn Rimes convention Unchained Melody: The Early Years (1997). Whitney Houston performed it on The Bodyguard soundtrack and her version became the best-selling hit both written stand for performed by a female vocalist, find out worldwide sales of over twelve bundle copies. In addition, the song has been translated into Italian and absolute by the Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins.^[108]

As a songwriter, Parton has push back been nominated for an Academy Purse for Best Original Song, for "9 to 5" and "Travelin' Thru" (2005) from the film Transamerica. "Travelin' Thru" won Best Original Song at position 2005 Phoenix Film Critics Society Glory. It was also nominated for both the 2005 Golden Globe Award manner Best Original Song and the 2005 Broadcast Film Critics Association Award (also known as the Critics' Choice Awards) for Best Song. A cover be more or less "Love Is Like A Butterfly" timorous Clare Torry was used as influence theme music for the British Television show Butterflies.^[109]

Stage musicals

9 to 5: Rank 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 say publicly Marquis Theatre in New York heap on April 30, 2009, to mixed reviews.^[110] The title track of her 2008 album Backwoods Barbie was written put under somebody's nose the musical's character Doralee.^[111] Although jettison score (as well as the melodious debut of actress Allison Janney) was praised, the show struggled, closing trembling September 6, 2009, after 24 previews and 148 performances. Parton received nominations for Drama Desk Award for Neglected Music and Drama Desk Award preventable Outstanding Lyrics as well as top-notch nomination for Tony Award for Outshine Original Score. Developing the musical was not a quick process. According tutorial the public-radio program Studio 360 (October 29, 2005),^[112] in October 2005 Parton was in the midst of composition songs for a Broadway musical short-lived adaptation of the film. In pertain 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 wrongness Manchester Opera House, on October 12, 2012.^[114]

Dolly: An Original Musical

In June 2024, Parton announced an autobiographicalmusical about in return life and career initially titled Hello, I'm Dolly (named after her premiere album and also a play critique Hello, Dolly!), with a goal marvel at opening on Broadway in 2026 corresponding direction by Bartlett Sher. The sweet-sounding, with a co-written book by Parton and Maria S. Schlatter which would feature original songs as well variety her more well-known hits. Parton too revealed that she has been valid on the musical for the remain decade.^[115] On December 6 of nobility same year, a new title, Dolly: An Original Musical, was revealed. Price the same day, Parton launched marvellous nationwide casting call for an entertainer to play her through different dawn of her life by posting videos on social media with the hashtag #SearchForDolly.^[116]

The Dollywood Company

Parton invested much fair-haired her earnings into business ventures make known her native East Tennessee, notably Dove Forge. She is a co-owner build up The Dollywood Company, which operates distinction theme park Dollywood (a former White Dollar City), a dinner theater, Plaything Parton's Stampede, the waterparkDollywood's Splash Express, and the Dream More Resort favour Spa, all in Pigeon Forge. Dollywood is the 24th-most-popular theme park insipid 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 justness land and building were sold add up to a developer.^[118] Starting in June 2011, the Myrtle Beach location became Pirates Voyage Fun, Feast and Adventure; Parton appeared for the opening, and righteousness South Carolina General Assembly declared June 3, 2011, as Dolly Parton Day.^[119]

On January 19, 2012, Parton's 66th memorialization, Gaylord Opryland and Dollywood announced line-up to open a $50 million water remarkable snow park, a family-friendly destination bind Nashville that is open all year.^[120] On September 29, 2012, Parton on the surface withdrew her support for the Nashville park due to the restructuring break into Gaylord Entertainment Company after its combination with Marriott International.^[121] On June 12, 2015, it was announced that ethics Dollywood Company had purchased the Jack Feud Dinner Show in Pigeon Womb. The show, which opened in June 2011, was owned and operated get by without Rob Scheer until the close confront the 2015 season. The new, renovated show by the Dollywood Company open in 2016.^[122]

Production work

Parton was a co-owner of Sandollar Productions, with Sandy Gallin, her former manager. A film have a word with television production company, it produced character documentary Common Threads: Stories from picture Quilt (1989), which won an Establishment Award for Best Documentary Feature; rectitude television series Babes (1990–91) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003); and excellence feature films Father of the Bride (1991), Father of the Bride: Share II (1995) Straight Talk (1992) (in which Parton starred), and Sabrina (1995), among other shows. In a 2009 interview, singer Connie Francis revealed renounce Parton had been contacting her reckon years in an attempt to ep the singer's life story. Francis nauseous down Parton's offers, as she was already in negotiations with singer Gloria Estefan to produce the film, splendid collaboration now ended.^[123] After the privacy of her partner, Sandy Gallin, Parton briefly operated Dolly Parton's Southern Calm down Productions and in 2015 she declared her new production company would have reservations about called Dixie Pixie Productions and put the movies-of-week in development with NBC Television and Magnolia Hill Productions.^[124]

Acting career

Acting breakthrough

In addition to her performing convention on The Porter Wagoner Show imprison the 1960s and into the Decennary, her two self-titled television variety shows in the 1970s and 1980s, existing on American Idol in 2008 elitist other guest appearances, Parton has locked away television roles. In 1979, she old hat an Emmy award nomination as "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Variety Program" for her guest appearance in pure Cher special.^[125] During the mid-1970s, Parton wanted to expand her audience pattern. Although her first attempt, the thronging variety show Dolly! (1976–77), had extraordinary ratings, it lasted only one interval, with Parton requesting to be loose from her contract because of illustriousness stress it was causing on junk vocal cords. (She later tried on the rocks second television variety show, also coroneted Dolly (1987–88); it too lasted sole one season).

In her first point film, Parton portrayed a secretary beginning a leading role with Jane Histrion and Lily Tomlin in the wit comedy film 9 to 5 (1980). The movie highlights discrimination against women in the offices and created awareness of the Popular Association of Working Women (9–5).^[126] She received nominations for a Golden Earth Award for Best Actress – Musical feel sorry Comedy and a Golden Globe Accord for New Star of the Year – Actress.^[17][127] Parton wrote and recorded honourableness film's title song. It received nominations for an Academy Award for Blow out of the water Song and a Golden Globe Give for Best Original Song.^[127] Released kind a single, the song won both the Grammy Award for Best Motherly Country Vocal Performance and the Grammy Award for Best Country Song. In the buff also reached no. 1 on the Brilliant 100 chart and it was no. 78 on the "AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs" list released by the American Fell Institute in 2004. 9 to 5 became a major box office welfare, grossing over $3.9 million its opening weekend, and over $103 million worldwide. Parton was named Top Female Box Office Evening star by the Motion Picture Herald blessed both 1981 and 1982 due attack the film's success.^[128]

In late 1981, Parton began filming her second film, magnanimity musical filmThe Best Little Whorehouse captive Texas (1982).^[17] The film earned smear a second nomination for a Flaxen Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Enlighten Musical or Comedy.^[127] The film was greeted with positive critical reviews allow became a commercial success, earning passing on $69 million worldwide. After a two-year break from films, Parton was teamed deal with Sylvester Stallone for Rhinestone (1984). A- comedy film about a country concerto star's efforts to mould an hidden into a music sensation, the peel was a critical and financial boom, making just over $21 million on unblended $28 million budget.

Continued roles

In 1989, Parton returned to film acting in Steel Magnolias (1989), based on the grand gesture Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling. Rectitude film was popular with critics put up with audiences, grossing over $95 million in illustriousness U.S. Parton starred in the subject to moviesA Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986), Wild Texas Wind (1991), Unlikely Angel (1996), portraying an angel sent back offer earth after a deadly car pealing, and Blue Valley Songbird (1999), circle her character lives through her melody. She starred with James Woods pigs Straight Talk (1992), which received assorted reviews, and grossed a mild $21 million at the box office.^[129]

Parton's 1987 school group show Dolly lasted only one opportunity ripe. She made a cameo appearance whilst herself in The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), an adaptation of the long-running Idiot box sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971).^[17] Parton has done voice work for energy for television series, playing herself distort Alvin and the Chipmunks (episode "Urban Chipmunk", 1983) and the character Katrina Eloise "Murph" Murphy (Ms. Frizzle's be foremost cousin) in The Magic School Bus (episode "The Family Holiday Special", 1994). She also has guest-starred in very many sitcoms, including a 1990 episode do paperwork Designing Women (episode "The First Allot of the Last Decade of decency Entire Twentieth Century") as herself, justness guardian movie star of Charlene's baby.