History of Dolly Parton in Timeline
Dolly Parton is a highly acclaimed American singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman. Known as the "Queen of Country," she launched her solo career in 1967 with the album 'Hello, I'm Dolly,' after initially writing songs for other artists. Her career spans 60 years and includes 50 studio albums. She has earned numerous awards, including eleven Grammy Awards, three Emmy Awards, and nominations for Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award, solidifying her status as one of the most honored female country performers.
3 hours ago : Dolly Parton Praises 'Son of Jolene,' Sequel to Iconic Hit 'Jolene' Released
Dolly Parton lauded Belles' 'Son of Jolene,' a clever rendition of her classic hit. After 53 years, Parton is also releasing her own sequel to 'Jolene'.
1968: Released "Just Because I'm a Woman"
In 1968, Dolly Parton released "Just Because I'm a Woman" originally the title song for her first RCA album.
1969: Induction into the Grand Ole Opry
In 1969, Dolly Parton was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
1970: Construction of Brentwood Home Started
In 1970, Parton's uncle, Dot Watson, and Dean started constructing their home in Brentwood, Tennessee.
1971: Construction of Brentwood Home Continued
In 1971, Parton's uncle, Dot Watson, and Dean continued constructing their home in Brentwood, Tennessee, with Parton's brothers Denver and Randy also working on the structure.
1972: Moved into Brentwood Home
In 1972, Dean and Parton moved into their long-term home on 75 acres in Brentwood, Tennessee.
1975: Linda Ronstadt covers I Will Always Love You
In 1975, Linda Ronstadt covered the song "I Will Always Love You" on her album Prisoner In Disguise.
October 1978: Appearance on Playboy cover
In October 1978, Dolly Parton appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine wearing a Playboy bunny outfit and gave an extensive interview to Lawrence Grobel.
1978: CMA Entertainer of the Year
In 1978, Dolly Parton won the Country Music Association's highest honor, Entertainer of the Year.
1980: Release of 9 to 5 Film
Dolly Parton's feature film 9 to 5 was released in 1980.
1980: Use of fingernails as instrument on "9 to 5"
In 1980, Dolly Parton derived the beat for her song "9 to 5" by clacking her fingernails together while backstage on the set of the film 9 to 5.
1982: Recording of "I Will Always Love You" for "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"
In 1982, Dolly Parton recorded a second version of "I Will Always Love You" for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which became a number one country hit.
1984: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 1984, Dolly Parton was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her music, located at 6712 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
1986: Named one of Ms. Magazine's Women of the Year and inducted into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 1986, Dolly Parton was named one of Ms. Magazine's Women of the Year and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
1990: Honorary Doctorate from Carson-Newman College
In 1990, Dolly Parton received an honorary doctorate degree from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee.
1996: Kenny Rogers covers I Will Always Love You
In 1996, Kenny Rogers covered the song "I Will Always Love You" on his album Vote for Love.
1997: LeAnn Rimes covers I Will Always Love You
In 1997, LeAnn Rimes covered the song "I Will Always Love You" on her album Unchained Melody: The Early Years.
1998: Ranked wealthiest country music star by Nashville Business
In 1998, Nashville Business ranked Dolly Parton as the wealthiest country music star.
1999: Induction into Country Music Hall of Fame
In 1999, Dolly Parton received country music's highest honor, an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
1999: Clickbait Articles Claim Brentwood Home Purchase
Since the 2010s, many clickbait articles and videos incorrectly claimed that Dean and Parton purchased their home in Brentwood in 1999.
2000: Association of American Publishers Honors Award
In 2000, Dolly Parton received the Association of American Publishers Honors Award for her work in literacy.
2001: Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval
In 2001, Dolly Parton received the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for her work in literacy; the first time it had been awarded to a person.
2001: Induction into National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 2001, Dolly Parton was inducted into the National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame.
2001: Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 2001, Dolly Parton was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
2002: American Association of School Administrators – Galaxy Award
In 2002, Dolly Parton received the American Association of School Administrators – Galaxy Award for her work in literacy.
2002: Ranked No. 4 in CMT's 40 Greatest Women of Country Music
In 2002, Dolly Parton was ranked No. 4 in CMT's 40 Greatest Women of Country Music.
November 4, 2003: Honored as a BMI Icon at the 2003 BMI Country Awards
On November 4, 2003, Dolly Parton was honored as a BMI Icon at the 2003 BMI Country Awards.
2003: Appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show
In 2003, Dolly Parton appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and discussed her cosmetic surgery.
2003: Parents as Teachers National Center – Child and Family Advocacy Award
In 2003, Dolly Parton received the Parents as Teachers National Center – Child and Family Advocacy Award for her work in literacy.
2003: Tribute Album: Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton
In 2003, Dolly Parton was honored with a tribute album called "Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton", featuring various artists performing her songs.
2003: Partnership Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
In 2003, Dolly Parton's efforts to preserve the bald eagle through the American Eagle Foundation's sanctuary at Dollywood earned her the Partnership Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
April 14, 2004: Living Legend Medal by the U.S. Library of Congress
On April 14, 2004, Dolly Parton was awarded the Living Legend Medal by the U.S. Library of Congress for her contributions to the cultural heritage of the United States.
October 2005: Composing songs for 9 to 5: The Musical
In October 2005, Dolly Parton was in the midst of composing songs for a Broadway musical theater adaptation of the film 9 to 5.
October 29, 2005: Composing songs for 9 to 5: The Musical
In October 2005, Dolly Parton was composing songs for a Broadway musical theater adaptation of the film 9 to 5, according to Studio 360.
2005: National Medal of Arts
In 2005, Dolly Parton was honored with the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor given by the U.S. government for excellence in the arts.
2005: Academy Award nomination for "Travelin' Thru" and other awards
In 2005, Dolly Parton was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Travelin' Thru" from the film Transamerica, which also won Best Original Song at the 2005 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards.
December 3, 2006: Kennedy Center Honors
On December 3, 2006, Dolly Parton received the Kennedy Center Honors from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for her lifetime of contributions to the arts, with performances by Carrie Underwood, Alison Krauss, Shania Twain and Reba McEntire.
December 2006: Pledged to Hospital and Cancer Center
In December 2006, Dolly Parton pledged $500,000 toward a proposed hospital and cancer center in Sevierville named after Robert F. Thomas and announced a benefit concert to raise additional funds and Parton and Emmylou Harris allowed use of their music in a PETA ad campaign.
2006: Published Cookbook "Dolly's Dixie Fixin's: Love, Laughter and Lots of Good Food"
In 2006, Dolly Parton published her cookbook, "Dolly's Dixie Fixin's: Love, Laughter and Lots of Good Food".
June 2007: Industry presentation of 9 to 5: The Musical
In late June 2007, 9 to 5: The Musical was read for industry presentations.
November 8, 2007: Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service
On November 8, 2007, Dolly Parton received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution at a ceremony in Nashville.
January 2008: Closure of Orlando Stampede location
In January 2008, the Dolly Parton's Stampede location in Orlando, Florida, closed after the land and building were sold to a developer.
2008: Release of Backwoods Barbie album
Dolly Parton released her album Backwoods Barbie in 2008. The title track was written for the musical 9 to 5's character Doralee.
April 30, 2009: Opening of 9 to 5: The Musical on Broadway
On April 30, 2009, 9 to 5: The Musical, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, opened on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre in New York to mixed reviews.
May 8, 2009: Commencement Speech and Honorary Doctorate
On May 8, 2009, Dolly Parton gave the commencement speech at the graduation ceremony for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's College of Arts and Sciences, and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the university.
September 6, 2009: Closing of 9 to 5: The Musical on Broadway
On September 6, 2009, 9 to 5: The Musical closed on Broadway after 148 performances and 24 previews.
2009: Interview on CNN's Larry King Live
During a 2009 interview on CNN's Larry King Live, Dolly Parton mentioned she has written at least 3,000 songs since age seven and writes something every day.
2009: Publicly Supported Same-Sex Marriage
In 2009, Dolly Parton publicly came out in support of same-sex marriage.
2011: Lifetime Achievement Grammy
In 2011, Dolly Parton earned her Lifetime Achievement Grammy, adding to her total of 11 Grammy Awards and 55 Grammy Award nominations.
2011: Redesign of Myrtle Beach Stampede location
In 2011, the Dolly Parton's Stampede location in Myrtle Beach was redesigned under the name Pirates Voyage.
October 12, 2012: UK tour of Dolly Parton's 9 to 5: The Musical
On October 12, 2012, Dolly Parton's 9 to 5: The Musical commenced a UK tour at Manchester Opera House.
2012: Songwriting and Record Sales
As of 2012, Dolly Parton had written more than 3,000 songs and sold more than 100 million records, making her one of the best-selling female artists ever.
2012: Entered a Dolly Parton drag queen lookalike contest
In 2012, Dolly Parton said that she had entered a Dolly Parton drag queen lookalike contest and lost.
2015: New Lichen Species Named After Dolly Parton
In 2015, a new species of lichen discovered in the southern Appalachians was named Japewiella dollypartoniana to honor Dolly Parton's music and her work to bring national and global attention to the region.
2016: Telethon and "My People Fund" for Wildfire Victims
In 2016, Dolly Parton participated in a telethon and hosted her own to raise money for victims of the Great Smoky Mountains wildfires and established the "My People Fund" to provide financial assistance.
2016: Great Smoky Mountains Wildfires
In response to the 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires, Parton organized a telethon to raise money for victims of the fires.
April 2017: University of Tennessee College of Social Work professor Stacia West surveyed recipients of emergency relief funds
In April 2017, University of Tennessee College of Social Work professor Stacia West surveyed 100 recipients of the emergency relief funds to study the impact of cash transfers on poverty alleviation.
December 2017: Follow-up survey to study impact of cash transfers on poverty alleviation
In December 2017, there was a follow-up survey to the recipients of emergency relief funds in topics including housing, financial impact, physical and emotional health and sources of support.
2017: Estimated net worth of $500 million
As of 2017, Dolly Parton's net worth was estimated at $500 million.
February 2018: Donated 100 Millionth Book
In February 2018, Dolly Parton donated her 100 millionth free book, a copy of her children's picture book "Coat of Many Colors", to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and was honored by the Library of Congress.
2018: Dolly Parton Receives Second Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame and Guinness World Records Recognition
In 2018, Dolly Parton was inducted onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame alongside Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris and was recognized in the Guinness World Records 2018 Edition for Most Decades with a Top 20 hit and Most Hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart by a Female Artist.
2018: FBI Director's Community Leadership Award
In 2018, the FBI honored Dolly Parton for her wildfire aid, awarding her the 2018 Director's Community Leadership Award at a ceremony at FBI Headquarters.
2020: Grammy Award for "God Only Knows"
In 2020, Dolly Parton won a Grammy Award for her collaboration with For King & Country on the song "God Only Knows".
2020: Publication of "Songteller: My Life in Lyrics"
In her 2020 book, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, Dolly Parton wrote of her mother's musical influence and her aunt Dorothy Jo.
March 2021: COVID-19 Vaccination
In March 2021, Dolly Parton was vaccinated against COVID-19 at Vanderbilt University, encouraging everyone to get vaccinated and performing a song celebrating her vaccination.
2021: Appeared on Country Music Charts in Each of Seven Decades
As of 2021, Dolly Parton had appeared on the country music charts in each of seven decades, the most of any artist.
2021: Rejection of Statue Proposal
In 2021, Dolly Parton asked the Tennessee legislature to remove a bill from consideration that proposed erecting a statue of her, stating that it was not appropriate given the current world events.
2021: Release of duet version of "Does He Love You" with Reba McEntire
In 2021, Dolly Parton released a duet version of the song "Does He Love You" with singer Reba McEntire.
2021: Inclusion on Time 100 List
In 2021, Dolly Parton was included in the Time 100, Time magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. She was also named as one of America's Most Beloved Divas by The New York Times.
October 2022: Parton Announces She Will No Longer Tour
In October 2022, Dolly Parton stated that she would no longer tour, but would continue to play live shows occasionally.
November 5, 2022: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On November 5, 2022, Dolly Parton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2022: Asteroid Named After Dolly Parton
In 2022, Asteroid (10731) Dollyparton, formerly known as 1998 BL3, was officially named in honor of Dolly Parton.
2022: Courage and Civility Award from Jeff Bezos
In late 2022, Dolly Parton received a $100 million Courage and Civility Award from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos for her charity work focused on improving children's literacy.
December 31, 2022: Co-hosting NBC's New Year's special
On December 31, 2022, Dolly Parton co-hosted NBC's New Year's special, Miley's New Year's Eve Party.
January 17, 2023: Announcement of first rock album "Rockstar"
On January 17, 2023, Dolly Parton announced the release of her first rock album, titled Rockstar, during an interview on The View.
January 20, 2023: Release of "Gonna Be You" soundtrack single
On January 20, 2023, the soundtrack single "Gonna Be You" from the movie 80 for Brady, written by Diane Warren and performed by Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, and Gloria Estefan, was released.
May 11, 2023: Release of lead single "World on Fire"
On May 11, 2023, Dolly Parton released "World on Fire" as the lead single from her upcoming album, Rockstar, and it quickly reached number one.
November 17, 2023: Release of "Rockstar" album
On November 17, 2023, Dolly Parton's album "Rockstar" was released. The album features collaborations with several artists and received generally positive reviews.
2023: Voiced Support for the Trans Community
In 2023, Dolly Parton voiced her support for the trans community after a series of anti-trans measures came into law in Tennessee.
2023: American Library Association Honorary Membership
In 2023, Dolly Parton was awarded Honorary Membership by the American Library Association.
2023: Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers of All Time
In 2023, Dolly Parton was ranked at No. 27 on Rolling Stone's list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
June 2024: Announcement of autobiographical musical "Hello, I'm Dolly"
In June 2024, Dolly Parton announced an autobiographical musical about her life and career initially titled Hello, I'm Dolly, with plans to open on Broadway in 2026.
2024: Dollywood attendance
In 2024, Dollywood had 3.1 million visitors, making it one of the most popular theme parks in the United States.
2024: Donation to Hurricane Relief Efforts
In the aftermath of 2024's Hurricane Helene, Dolly Parton announced a donation of $2 million to relief efforts, $1 million personally and another $1 million through her various businesses and the Dollywood Foundation.
February 14, 2025: Featured on Sabrina Carpenter's "Please Please Please"
On February 14, 2025, Dolly Parton was featured on Sabrina Carpenter's song "Please Please Please" on the deluxe edition of her album Short n' Sweet and its accompanying music video.
February 2025: Indiana Governor Declined Funding Match for Imagination Library
In February 2025, Indiana Governor Mike Braun declined to continue a state 50% match for Parton's Imagination Library, leading to uncertainty about the program's future in the state.
March 7, 2025: Release of "If You Hadn't Been There" as tribute to husband
On March 7, 2025, Dolly Parton released the single "If You Hadn't Been There" as a tribute to her husband, who had passed away a week prior.
June 23, 2025: Announcement of Las Vegas residency
On June 23, 2025, Dolly Parton announced a six-date Las Vegas residency, Dolly: Live in Las Vegas, at Caesars Palace.
July 2025: Opening of "Dolly: A True Original Musical" in Nashville
In July 2025, Dolly: A True Original Musical opened at the Belmont University Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville.
December 2025: Postponement of Las Vegas residency
In December 2025, Dolly Parton's Las Vegas residency, initially scheduled for that month, was postponed until September 2026 due to health procedures.
January 16, 2026: Release of new version of "Light of a Clear Blue Morning"
On January 16, 2026, in anticipation of her 80th birthday, Dolly Parton released a new live version of the song "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" featuring several celebrity guests.
September 2026: Rescheduled Las Vegas residency
Dolly Parton's Las Vegas residency, originally set for December 2025, was rescheduled to begin in September 2026 due to health procedures.
2026: Target Broadway opening of autobiographical musical
In 2026, Dolly Parton's autobiographical musical Hello, I'm Dolly is aimed to be opening on Broadway.
Mentioned in this timeline
Jeff Bezos is an American businessman renowned as the founder...
Oprah Winfrey is an influential American talk show host television...
Cher an American singer actress and television personality is celebrated...
Whitney Houston nicknamed The Voice was a highly acclaimed American...
Linda Ronstadt is a versatile American singer renowned for her...
The Kennedy Center Honors are annual awards recognizing individuals and...
Trending
3 months ago American Eagle stock jumps 15% after Sydney Sweeney ads, raising 2025 forecast.
37 minutes ago WrestleMania 42 tickets on sale, Matt Hardy involved; TKO faces criticism.
10 months ago Koe Wetzel: Coachella 'Crazy', Stagecoach Debut & Jessie Murph's Superstardom
2 hours ago Zachary Levi Hosts 'David: King of Israel' Docudrama on Fox Nation.
2 hours ago Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda Spark Wedding Rumors at Sangeet Ceremony
3 hours ago Hilary Knight criticizes Trump's White House invite as distasteful and reacts to Trump's joke.
Popular
Jesse Jackson is an American civil rights activist politician and...
Susan Rice is an American diplomat and public official prominent...
Barack Obama the th U S President - was the...
XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...
Michael Joseph Jackson the King of Pop was a highly...
Michael Jordan widely considered one of basketball's greatest players significantly...