How Dolly Parton built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Dolly Parton is a celebrated American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist. Primarily known for her contributions to country music, she launched her solo career in 1967 with the album 'Hello, I'm Dolly'. Her career has spanned six decades and includes 49 studio albums. Notably, her 2023 album, 'Rockstar', achieved significant success, reaching number three on the Billboard 200 chart.
Dolly Parton is relying on her faith after the death of her husband, Carl Dean, after nearly 60 years of marriage. She is navigating life's challenges with resilience and faith.
In 1964, Dolly Parton graduated from Sevier County High School and moved to Nashville the next day to pursue her music career.
In 1965, at the age of 19, Dolly Parton signed with Monument Records and was initially pitched as a bubblegum pop singer.
In 1966, "Put It Off Until Tomorrow", recorded by Bill Phillips featuring Dolly Parton, reached number six on the country chart.
In 1966, Dolly Parton, with her songwriting partner Bill Owens, wrote several charting singles including "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" and "The Company You Keep" for Bill Phillips.
In 1967, Dolly Parton's debut album, Hello, I'm Dolly, was released, marking the beginning of her successful career.
In 1967, Dolly Parton's first country single, "Dumb Blonde", reached number 24 on the country chart, followed by "Something Fishy", and the two songs appeared on her first full-length album, Hello, I'm Dolly.
In 1967, Porter Wagoner invited Dolly Parton to join his organization, offering her a spot on The Porter Wagoner Show and in his road show.
In 1967, Skeeter Davis had a hit with "Fuel to the Flame", co-written by Dolly Parton and Bill Owens, reaching number 11.
In January 1968, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner's remake of Tom Paxton's "The Last Thing on My Mind" reached the country Top 10, beginning a six-year streak of Top 10 singles for the pair.
In 1968, Dolly Parton originally released "Just Because I'm a Woman" as the title song for her first RCA album. She later re-recorded the song for the 2003 tribute album.
In 1968, Dolly Parton released her first solo single for RCA Victor, "Just Because I'm a Woman", and the duo with Wagoner was named Vocal Group of the Year by the Country Music Association.
By 1969, Porter Wagoner had a significant financial stake in Dolly Parton's future, co-producing her records and owning nearly half of Owe-Par, the publishing company Parton founded with Bill Owens.
In 1969, Dolly Parton was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1970, Porter Wagoner persuaded Dolly Parton to record Jimmie Rodgers' "Mule Skinner Blues", which became a successful gimmick.
In February 1971, Dolly Parton achieved her first number-one single with "Joshua".
The biographical documentary, Here I Am, a co-production of Netflix and the BBC, takes its name from Dolly Parton's 1971 song.
In 1972, Dolly Parton released "Touch Your Woman" as a solo single, continuing her chart success.
In 1973, Dolly Parton had numerous solo hits, including "My Tennessee Mountain Home" and "Travelin' Man", as well as duets with Porter Wagoner.
In late 1973, Dolly Parton released "Jolene".
In February 1974, the song "Jolene" by Dolly Parton, topped the country chart.
In April 1974, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner performed their last duet concert, marking Parton's departure from Wagoner's organization.
Between 1974 and 1980, Dolly Parton had a series of country hits, with eight singles reaching number one, influencing pop culture.
In 1974, Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You", written about her break from Porter Wagoner, went to number one. Elvis Presley wanted to record it, but Parton refused to sign over half of the publishing rights to Colonel Tom Parker.
In 1975, Dolly Parton again topped the singles chart with "The Bargain Store".
In 1975, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner released their final duet album, Say Forever You'll Be Mine.
In 1975, Linda Ronstadt covered "I Will Always Love You" on her album 'Prisoner In Disguise'.
In 1976, Dolly Parton began a crossover campaign to aim her music in a more mainstream direction, working closely with Sandy Gallin as her manager. She also began co-producing her albums with Porter Wagoner, starting with All I Can Do, taking a more active role in production.
In 1976, Dolly Parton's "Jolene" charted in the U.K., reaching number seven and representing Parton's first U.K. success.
In 1976, Dolly Parton's first television variety show, Dolly!, premiered.
In 1977, Dolly Parton had a highly publicized candid interview on a Barbara Walters Special to coincide with Here You Come Again's release.
In 1977, Dolly Parton released the album Here You Come Again, produced by Gary Klein, which became her first million-seller and achieved success on both country and pop charts. The title track topped the country charts and became Parton's first Top 10 pop single.
In 1977, Dolly Parton's first entirely self-produced effort, New Harvest...First Gathering, highlighted her pop sensibilities with covers of "My Girl" and "Higher and Higher."
In October 1978, Dolly Parton appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine wearing a Playboy bunny outfit.
In 1978, Dolly Parton won a Grammy Award for her album Here You Come Again. She also appeared on Cher's ABC television special and her own special with Carol Burnett on CBS, Dolly & Carol in Nashville.
In 1978, Dolly Parton won the Country Music Association's highest honor, Entertainer of the Year.
In 1979, Dolly Parton continued to have hits with "Baby I'm Burning" and "You're the Only One", and made multiple television appearances.
In 1979, Dolly Parton received an Emmy award nomination as "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Variety Program" for her guest appearance in a Cher special.
Between 1974 and 1980, Dolly Parton had a series of country hits, with eight singles reaching number one, influencing pop culture.
In 1980, Dolly Parton derived the beat for her song "9 to 5" from clacking her fingernails together while backstage on the set of the film 9 to 5.
In 1980, Dolly Parton released the feature film 9 to 5.
In 1980, Dolly Parton starred in her first feature film, 9 to 5, alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, playing a secretary. The movie highlighted discrimination against women in the workplace. Parton also wrote and recorded the film's title song.
In 1981, Dolly Parton was named Top Female Box Office Star by the Motion Picture Herald due to the success of the film 9 to 5.
In late 1981, Dolly Parton began filming her second film, the musical film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
In 1982, Dolly Parton recorded a second version of "I Will Always Love You" for the film 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'.
In 1982, Dolly Parton starred in the film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, earning another Best Actress Golden Globe nomination.
In 1982, Dolly Parton was named Top Female Box Office Star again by the Motion Picture Herald due to the success of the film 9 to 5.
In 1983, Dolly Parton voiced herself in the Alvin and the Chipmunks episode "Urban Chipmunk".
In 1984, Dolly Parton starred in the film Rhinestone, continuing her acting career.
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.
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.
In 1986, Parton starred in the television movie A Smoky Mountain Christmas.
In 1987, Dolly Parton tried a second television variety show, also titled Dolly.
In 1987, Dolly Parton's variety show Dolly lasted only one season.
In 1989, Dolly Parton returned to film acting in Steel Magnolias, based on the play of the same name by Robert Harling.
In 1989, Dolly Parton starred in the film Steel Magnolias, adding to her filmography.
In 1989, Sandollar Productions produced the documentary Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt, which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
In 1990, Dolly Parton guest-starred in an episode of Designing Women as herself.
In 1990, Sandollar Productions produced the television series Babes.
In 1991, Sandollar Productions produced the feature film Father of the Bride.
In 1992, Dolly Parton starred in the film Straight Talk, further establishing her presence in the film industry.
In 1992, Sandollar Productions produced the film Straight Talk, in which Dolly Parton starred.
In 1993, Dolly Parton made a cameo appearance as herself in The Beverly Hillbillies, an adaptation of the TV sitcom.
In 1994, Dolly Parton documented her early career challenges and experiences, including audience reluctance, in her autobiography.
In 1994, Dolly Parton voiced the character Katrina Eloise "Murph" Murphy in The Magic School Bus episode "The Family Holiday Special".
In 1995, Sandollar Productions produced the feature films Father of the Bride: Part II and Sabrina.
In 1996, Kenny Rogers covered "I Will Always Love You" on his album 'Vote for Love'.
In 1996, Parton starred in the television movie Unlikely Angel, portraying an angel sent back to earth after a deadly car crash.
In 1997, LeAnn Rimes covered "I Will Always Love You" on her album 'Unchained Melody: The Early Years'.
In 1997, Sandollar Productions produced the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
In 1999, Dolly Parton received country music's highest honor with her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 1999, Parton starred in the television movie Blue Valley Songbird, where her character lives through her music.
In 1999, she made a guest appearance on The Simpsons (episode "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday").
In 2000, Dolly Parton appeared as herself on the Halloween episode of Bette Midler's short-lived sitcom Bette.
In 2000, Dolly Parton received the Association of American Publishers Honors Award for her work in literacy.
In 2001, Dolly Parton received the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, marking the first time the seal had been awarded to a person, in recognition of her literacy work.
In 2001, Dolly Parton was inducted into the National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 2001, Dolly Parton was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 2002, Dolly Parton ranked No. 4 in CMT's 40 Greatest Women of Country Music.
In 2002, Dolly Parton was honored with two awards for her literacy work: the American Association of School Administrators – Galaxy Award and the National State Teachers of the Year – Chasing Rainbows Award.
In 2002, Parton appeared as an overprotective mother in the comedy Frank McKlusky, C.I..
On November 4, 2003, Dolly Parton was honored as a BMI Icon at the 2003 BMI Country Awards.
In 2003, Dolly Parton received the Parents as Teachers National Center – Child and Family Advocacy Award for her contributions to literacy.
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.
In 2003, a tribute album called "Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton" was released, featuring various artists covering Parton's songs.
In 2003, the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, produced by Sandollar Productions, ended.
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.
In October 2005, Dolly Parton was composing songs for a Broadway musical theater adaptation of the film '9 to 5'.
According to the public-radio program Studio 360, in October 2005 Dolly Parton was in the midst of composing songs for a Broadway musical theater adaptation of the film 9 to 5.
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.
In 2005, Dolly Parton's song "Travelin' Thru" from the film Transamerica was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song and won Best Original Song at the 2005 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards.
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.
In December 2006, Dolly Parton pledged $500,000 towards a proposed $90 million hospital and cancer center in Sevierville named after Robert F. Thomas, and she also announced a benefit concert to raise additional funds for the project. That same year, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris allowed use of their music in a PETA ad campaign encouraging pet owners to keep their dogs indoors rather than chained outside.
In 2006, Dolly Parton appeared on the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana as "Aunt Dolly", visiting Hannah and her family.
In 2006, Dolly Parton published her cookbook, "Dolly's Dixie Fixin's: Love, Laughter and Lots of Good Food".
In late June 2007, industry presentations for '9 to 5: The Musical' were held, starring Megan Hilty, Allison Janney, Stephanie J. Block, Bebe Neuwirth, and Marc Kudisch.
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.
In 2007, Dolly Parton appeared on the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana as "Aunt Dolly", visiting Hannah and her family.
In 2008, Dolly Parton appeared on American Idol as a performer.
In 2008, Dolly Parton was featured in The Book Lady, a documentary about her campaign for children's literacy.
On April 30, 2009, Dolly Parton's "9 to 5: The Musical" opened on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre in New York to mixed reviews.
On May 8, 2009, Dolly Parton delivered the commencement speech at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's College of Arts and Sciences graduation ceremony, where she also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the university.
On September 6, 2009, Dolly Parton's "9 to 5: The Musical" closed on Broadway after a short run.
In 2009, Dolly Parton publicly came out in support of same-sex marriage, solidifying her long history of openly supporting the gay community.
In 2009, Parton expected to reprise her television role as Hannah's godmother in the musical comedy film Hannah Montana: The Movie, but the character was omitted from the screenplay.
In 2009, singer Connie Francis revealed that Dolly Parton had been contacting her for years in an attempt to film the singer's life story, but Francis declined.
In a 2009 interview on CNN's Larry King Live, Dolly Parton said she had written "at least 3,000" songs and writes something every day.
In 2010, Dolly Parton appeared on the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana as "Aunt Dolly", visiting Hannah and her family.
On June 3, 2011, Dolly Parton appeared for the opening of Pirates Voyage Fun, Feast and Adventure in Myrtle Beach, and the South Carolina General Assembly declared June 3, 2011, as Dolly Parton Day.
In June 2011, the Lumberjack Feud Dinner Show in Pigeon Forge opened.
In June 2011, the Myrtle Beach location of Dolly Parton's Stampede became Pirates Voyage Fun, Feast and Adventure.
In 2011, Dolly Parton had a voice role in the comedy family film Gnomeo & Juliet, an animated film with garden gnomes about William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
In 2011, Dolly Parton received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, adding to her total of 11 Grammy Awards and 55 nominations.
On January 19, 2012, Dolly Parton's 66th birthday, Gaylord Opryland and Dollywood announced plans to open a $50 million water and snow park in Nashville.
On September 29, 2012, Dolly Parton officially withdrew her support for the Nashville park due to the restructuring of Gaylord Entertainment Company after its merger with Marriott International.
Ambassador Theatre Group announced a 2012 UK tour for Dolly Parton's 9 to 5: The Musical, commencing at Manchester Opera House, on October 12, 2012.
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 of all time.
In 2012, Dolly Parton co-starred with Queen Latifah in the musical film Joyful Noise, playing a choir director's widow who joins forces with Latifah's character to save a small Georgia town's gospel choir.
On June 12, 2015, it was announced that the Dollywood Company had purchased the Lumberjack Feud Dinner Show in Pigeon Forge.
In December 2015, Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors, a made-for-TV film based on Parton's song "Coat of Many Colors", aired on NBC, with narration by Parton.
In 2015, Dolly Parton announced that her new production company would be called Dixie Pixie Productions and would produce movies-of-week in development with NBC Television and Magnolia Hill Productions.
In November 2016, Dolly Parton also had a cameo in the sequel to Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors.
In 2016, Dolly Parton participated in a telethon to raise money for victims of the Great Smoky Mountains wildfires, held in Nashville on December 9. Additionally, Parton hosted her own telethon on December 13 and reportedly raised around $9 million. Her "My People Fund" provided financial assistance to affected families.
In 2016, the Great Smoky Mountains wildfires prompted Dolly Parton to launch the "My People Fund" to provide financial relief to victims.
In 2016, the new, renovated Lumberjack Feud Dinner Show by the Dollywood Company opened.
In April 2017, University of Tennessee College of Social Work professor Stacia West surveyed 100 recipients of the 'My People Fund' emergency relief funds to study the fund's financial impact on wildfire victims.
In December 2017, a follow-up survey was conducted by University of Tennessee College of Social Work on recipients of the 'My People Fund' to study the fund's financial impact on wildfire victims.
In February 2018, Dolly Parton donated her 100 millionth free book, a copy of Parton's 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 on account of the "charity sending out its 100 millionth book".
In June 2018, Dolly Parton announced an eight-part Netflix series, featuring her music career, where she is its executive producer and co-star.
In 2018, Dolly Parton received a second star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, inducted alongside Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris in recognition of their work as a trio. Parton was also recognized in the Guinness World Records for holding records for the Most Decades with a Top 20 hit and Most Hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart by a Female Artist.
In 2018, the FBI honored Dolly Parton with the 2018 Director's Community Leadership Award at a ceremony at FBI Headquarters in Washington for her wildfire aid work.
In November 2019, Dolly Parton's Heartstrings aired on Netflix.
In December 2019, the biographical documentary Here I Am was added to the catalog of the Netflix streaming service.
On April 10, 2020, Dolly Parton re-released 93 songs from six of her classic albums: Little Sparrow, Halos & Horns, For God and Country, Better Day, Those Were The Days, and Live and Well.
On May 27, 2020, Dolly Parton released a new song called "When Life Is Good Again" to uplift spirits during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 28, 2020, Dolly Parton's music video for "When Life Is Good Again" premiered on Time 100 talks.
In October 2020, Dolly Parton was featured on the single "Pink" alongside Monica, Jordin Sparks, Sara Evans and Rita Wilson, released for Breast Cancer Research. Also, in October 2020, she released the album 'A Holly Dolly Christmas'.
In November 2020, Dolly Parton produced and starred in the Netflix musical film Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square, which won her a Primetime Emmy Award.
In 2020, Dolly Parton received a Grammy award for her collaboration with For King & Country on their song, "God Only Knows".
In March 2021, Dolly Parton was vaccinated against COVID-19 at Vanderbilt University, labeling social media accounts of the occasion "Dolly gets a dose of her own medicine." Parton strongly encouraged everyone to get vaccinated when eligible and performed a song celebrating her vaccination, set to the tune of her song "Jolene".
In November 2021, Dolly Parton was confirmed to be appearing in the final season of Grace and Frankie in a guest-starring role, reuniting with her 9 to 5 co-stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.
As of 2021, Dolly Parton had appeared on the country music charts in each of seven decades, the most of any artist.
In 2021, a duet version of the song "Does He Love You" with singer Reba McEntire was released.
In July 2022, Dolly Parton appeared as a simulation of herself on the sci-fi show The Orville in the episode "Midnight Blue".
In October 2022, Dolly Parton stated in an interview that she would no longer tour, but would continue to play live shows occasionally.
On November 5, 2022, Dolly Parton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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 around the world.
On December 31, 2022, Dolly Parton co-hosted NBC's New Year's special, Miley's New Year's Eve Party.
On January 17, 2023, Dolly Parton announced on The View that she would release her first rock album, titled Rockstar, later that year.
On January 20, 2023, the soundtrack single "Gonna Be You" from the movie 80 for Brady was released. The song was written by Diane Warren, and performed by Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry and Gloria Estefan.
On May 11, 2023, Dolly Parton released "World on Fire", the lead single from her upcoming album, Rockstar. The song reached number 1 a week later.
On November 17, 2023, Dolly Parton released her rock album, Rockstar, featuring collaborations with various artists. The album received positive reviews and achieved high chart positions.
In 2023, Dolly Parton was awarded American Library Association Honorary Membership.
In 2023, Dolly Parton was ranked at No. 27 on Rolling Stone′s list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
In 2023, Dolly Parton's forty-ninth solo studio album, Rockstar, was released, achieving the position of her highest-charting Billboard 200 album.
On Thanksgiving 2023, Dolly Parton performed songs during halftime at the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys NFL football game.
In June 2024, Dolly Parton announced an autobiographical musical about her life and career initially titled Hello, I'm Dolly.
In 2024, following Hurricane Helene, Dolly Parton announced a donation of $2 million to relief efforts, with $1 million coming personally and another $1 million through her businesses and the Dollywood Foundation.
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.
In February 2025, Indiana Governor Mike Braun declined to support a state 50% match for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Dollywood Foundation President Jeff Conyers expressed hope that Braun and the Indiana Legislature would restore the state's funding match. Braun subsequently tasked his wife Maureen with finding ways to keep the Imagination Library's Indiana chapter alive.
On March 7, 2025, Dolly Parton released the single "If You Hadn't Been There", as a tribute to her husband, who had died a week before; in the United Kingdom, single peaked at number 21 on the sales and downloads chart components.
In 2026, Dolly Parton aims to open her autobiographical musical, Dolly: An Original Musical, on Broadway.
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