History of Dolly Parton in Timeline
Dolly Parton is a highly successful American singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman. Her career began in 1967 with the release of her debut album, "Hello, I'm Dolly," and has spanned six decades, producing 50 studio albums. Known as the "Queen of Country," she is one of the most celebrated female country performers, with numerous awards including eleven Grammy Awards and three Emmy Awards. She has also been nominated for Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award, recognizing her diverse talents and contributions to music, film, and television.
1968: RCA Album Song
In 2003, Dolly Parton re-recorded the song "Just Because I'm a Woman", which was originally the title song for her first RCA album in 1968.
1969: Induction into the Grand Ole Opry
In 1969, Dolly Parton was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, marking a significant milestone in her career.
1970: Home Construction Begins
In 1970, Dolly Parton's uncle, Dot Watson, and Dean began constructing their home in Brentwood, Tennessee.
1971: Home Construction Continues
In 1971, Dolly Parton's uncle, Dot Watson, and Dean continued constructing their home in Brentwood, Tennessee.
1972: Move to Brentwood Home
In 1972, Dolly Parton and her husband Dean moved into their current home on 75 acres in Brentwood, Tennessee.
1975: Linda Ronstadt covers "I Will Always Love You"
In 1975, Linda Ronstadt covered "I Will Always Love You" on the album "Prisoner In Disguise".
October 1978: Playboy Cover Appearance
In October 1978, Dolly Parton appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine wearing a Playboy bunny outfit, which included an extensive interview inside.
1978: CMA Entertainer of the Year
In 1978, Dolly Parton won the Country Music Association's highest honor, Entertainer of the Year.
1979: Emmy Award Nomination
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.
1980: Release of the film '9 to 5'
Dolly Parton's feature film 9 to 5 was released in 1980
1980: Dolly Parton's first film 9 to 5
In 1980, Dolly Parton portrayed a secretary in her first feature film, 9 to 5, alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, a comedy addressing workplace discrimination against women.
1980: Fingernails as Instrument on "9 to 5"
In 1980, Dolly Parton used her fingernails as an instrument to create the beat for her song "9 to 5", clacking them together backstage during the filming of the movie "9 to 5".
1981: Began filming her second film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
In late 1981, Dolly Parton began filming her second film, the musical film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. The film earned her a second nomination for a Golden Globe Award.
1982: Second Version of "I Will Always Love You"
In 1982, Dolly Parton recorded a second version of "I Will Always Love You" for "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas".
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.
1986: Ms. Magazine's Women of the Year and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction
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.
1987: Variety show Dolly lasted only one season
In 1987, Dolly Parton's variety show Dolly lasted only one season.
1989: Dolly Parton returned to film acting in Steel Magnolias
In 1989, Dolly Parton returned to film acting in Steel Magnolias, based on the play by Robert Harling. The film was popular with critics and audiences, grossing over $95 million in the U.S.
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 "I Will Always Love You" on the album "Vote for Love".
1997: LeAnn Rimes covers "I Will Always Love You"
In 1997, LeAnn Rimes covered "I Will Always Love You" on the album "Unchained Melody: The Early Years".
1998: Ranked Wealthiest Country Music Star
In 1998, Nashville Business ranked Dolly Parton as the wealthiest country music star.
1999: Country Music Hall of Fame Induction
In 1999, Dolly Parton received country music's highest honor with an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
1999: Misinformation on Home Purchase
Since the 2010s, there have been inaccurate clickbait articles claiming that in 1999 Dolly Parton and Dean purchased their current home in Brentwood, Tennessee.
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, the first time the seal had been awarded to a person, for her contributions to literacy.
2001: National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction
In 2001, Dolly Parton was inducted into the National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame.
2001: Induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 2001, Dolly Parton was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
2002: Ranked in CMT's 40 Greatest Women of Country Music
In 2002, Dolly Parton ranked no. 4 in CMT's 40 Greatest Women of Country Music.
2002: American Association of School Administrators – Galaxy Award & National State Teachers of the Year – Chasing Rainbows Award
In 2002, Dolly Parton received the American Association of School Administrators – Galaxy Award and the National State Teachers of the Year – Chasing Rainbows Award for her literacy efforts.
November 4, 2003: Honored as a BMI Icon
On November 4, 2003, Dolly Parton was honored as a BMI Icon at the 2003 BMI Country Awards.
2003: Partnership Award from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
In 2003, Dolly Parton earned the Partnership Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for her efforts to preserve the bald eagle through the American Eagle Foundation's sanctuary at Dollywood.
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 literacy advocacy.
2003: Tribute Album Release
In 2003, a tribute album called "Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton" was released, featuring various artists performing versions of Dolly Parton's songs.
2003: Cosmetic Surgery Discussion on The Oprah Winfrey Show
In 2003, on an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dolly Parton discussed her cosmetic surgery, stating it was important for maintaining her image.
April 14, 2004: Living Legend Medal from 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 29, 2005: Composition of Songs for Broadway Musical
According to 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".
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: Awards for "Travelin' Thru"
In 2005, Dolly Parton's song "Travelin' Thru" from the film "Transamerica" won Best Original Song at the 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 contributions to the arts.
December 2006: Pledge and Benefit Concert for Hospital
In December 2006, Dolly Parton pledged $500,000 toward a proposed hospital and cancer center in Sevierville and announced a benefit concert to raise additional funds for the project. In the same year, Parton and Emmylou Harris collaborated on a PETA ad campaign.
2006: Publication of "Dolly's Dixie Fixin's"
In 2006, Dolly Parton published a cookbook titled "Dolly's Dixie Fixin's: Love, Laughter and Lots of Good Food".
June 2007: Industry Presentations of "9 to 5: The Musical"
In late June 2007, industry presentations were held for "9 to 5: The Musical" with Megan Hilty, Allison Janney, Stephanie J. Block, Bebe Neuwirth and Marc Kudisch.
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.
2008: Featured in The Book Lady documentary
In 2008, Dolly Parton was featured in The Book Lady, a documentary about her campaign for children's literacy.
2008: Release of Album "Backwoods Barbie"
The title track of Dolly Parton's 2008 album, "Backwoods Barbie", was written for the character Doralee in the musical "9 to 5: The Musical".
April 30, 2009: Broadway Opening of "9 to 5: The Musical"
On April 30, 2009, Dolly Parton's "9 to 5: The Musical" opened on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre in New York.
May 8, 2009: Honorary Doctorate from the University of Tennessee
On May 8, 2009, Dolly Parton delivered 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 24 previews and 148 performances.
2009: Support for Same-Sex Marriage
In 2009, Dolly Parton publicly came out in support of same-sex marriage, adding to her long history of openly supporting the gay community.
2009: Songwriting Statistics on Larry King Live
In a 2009 interview on CNN's Larry King Live, Dolly Parton stated that she had written at least 3,000 songs and writes something every day.
June 3, 2011: Myrtle Beach location became Pirates Voyage Fun, Feast and Adventure
Starting in June 3, 2011, the Myrtle Beach location of Dolly Parton's Stampede became Pirates Voyage Fun, Feast and Adventure. Parton appeared for the opening, and the South Carolina General Assembly declared June 3, 2011, as Dolly Parton Day.
2011: Comments on Marriage
In 2011, Dolly Parton commented on her marriage with Dean, stating they were proud it was the first and last for both of them.
2011: Dolly Parton had a voice role in the animated film Gnomeo & Juliet
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.
2011: Lifetime Achievement Grammy
In 2011, Dolly Parton received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, adding to her total of 11 Grammy Awards and 55 nominations.
October 12, 2012: UK Tour of Dolly Parton's 9 to 5: The Musical
On October 12, 2012, the UK tour for Dolly Parton's "9 to 5: The Musical" commenced at Manchester Opera House.
2012: Songwriting and Sales Milestone
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.
2012: Participation in a Dolly Parton Drag Queen Lookalike Contest
In 2012, Dolly Parton mentioned that she had entered a Dolly Parton drag queen lookalike contest and did not win.
June 12, 2015: Dollywood Company purchased the Lumberjack Feud Dinner Show
On June 12, 2015, The Dollywood Company purchased the Lumberjack Feud Dinner Show in Pigeon Forge. The show opened in June 2011, was owned and operated by Rob Scheer until the close of the 2015 season. The new, renovated show by the Dollywood Company opened in 2016.
2015: Dixie Pixie Productions was announced as the name of Parton's new company
In 2015, Parton announced her new production company would be called Dixie Pixie Productions and produce the movies-of-week in development with NBC Television and Magnolia Hill Productions.
2015: Lichen Species Named After Dolly Parton
In 2015, a newly discovered species of lichen found growing in the southern Appalachians was named Japewiella dollypartoniana to honor Dolly Parton's music and her efforts to bring national and global attention to that region.
May 6, 2016: Vow Renewal Announcement
On May 6, 2016, Dolly Parton announced that she and her husband Dean would renew their vows in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary later in the month.
2016: Telethons for Wildfire Relief
In 2016, Dolly Parton participated in a telethon and hosted her own to raise money for victims of the Great Smoky Mountains wildfires. Her fund, the "My People Fund", provided financial assistance to affected families.
2016: Response to Great Smoky Mountains Wildfires
In 2016, Dolly Parton responded to the Great Smoky Mountains wildfires by participating in telethons and creating the "My People Fund" to provide financial relief to victims.
April 2017: Survey of "My People Fund" Recipients
In April 2017, a survey was conducted by University of Tennessee professor Stacia West on 100 recipients of the "My People Fund" emergency relief funds related to the 2016 wildfires.
December 2017: Follow-Up Survey of "My People Fund" Recipients
In December 2017, a follow-up survey was conducted by University of Tennessee professor Stacia West on recipients of the "My People Fund" emergency relief funds related to the 2016 wildfires.
2017: Estimated Net Worth of $500 Million
As of 2017, Dolly Parton's net worth was estimated at $500 million.
February 2018: 100 Millionth Book Donation
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.
June 2018: Dolly Parton announced an eight-part Netflix series
In June 2018, Dolly Parton announced an eight-part Netflix series, featuring her music career. She is its executive producer and co-star.
2018: Hollywood Walk of Fame Recognition and Guinness World Records
In 2018, Dolly Parton received a second star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted alongside Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris in recognition of their work as a trio. In 2018, she 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.
2018: FBI Honors Parton for Wildfire Aid
In 2018, the FBI honored Dolly Parton with the 2018 Director's Community Leadership Award for her wildfire aid work.
July 2019: Unannounced Appearance at Newport Folk Festival
In July 2019, Dolly Parton made an unannounced appearance at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island. She performed several songs accompanied by The Highwomen and Linda Perry.
April 10, 2020: Re-release of Classic Albums
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.
May 27, 2020: Release of "When Life Is Good Again"
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.
May 28, 2020: Music Video Premiere on Time 100 Talks
On May 28, 2020, Dolly Parton's music video for "When Life Is Good Again" premiered on Time 100 Talks.
October 2020: Featured on "Pink" and Release of "A Holly Dolly Christmas"
In October 2020, Dolly Parton was featured on the single "Pink" alongside Monica, Jordin Sparks, Sara Evans, and Rita Wilson, released to aid Breast Cancer Research. She also released "A Holly Dolly Christmas" in October 2020.
November 2020: Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square released on Netflix
In November 2020, Dolly Parton produced and starred in the Netflix musical film Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square, which later won her a Primetime Emmy Award.
2020: Grammy Award for Collaboration
In 2020, Dolly Parton received a Grammy award for her collaboration with For King & Country on their song, "God Only Knows".
2020: Inspiration Credits in "Songteller: My Life in Lyrics"
In her 2020 book, "Songteller: My Life in Lyrics", Dolly Parton credited her family and community, especially her mother and Aunt Dorothy Jo, as major inspirations for her music.
March 2021: COVID-19 Vaccination
In March 2021, Dolly Parton was vaccinated against COVID-19 at Vanderbilt University, encouraging others to get vaccinated and performing a song celebrating her vaccination.
2021: Chart Appearances Over 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: Inclusion on Time 100 and America's Most Beloved Divas
In 2021, Dolly Parton was included on the Time 100, Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Also in 2021, The New York Times called her one of America's Most Beloved Divas.
2021: Requests to Remove Statue Bill
In response to a 2021 proposal by the Tennessee legislature to erect a statue of Dolly Parton, she released a statement asking the legislature to remove the bill from consideration, stating that she didn't think it was appropriate with all that was going on in the world.
October 2022: Announcement of Not Touring Anymore
In October 2022, Dolly Parton stated in an interview 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, the former 1998 BL3, was named in Dolly Parton's honor.
2022: $100-Million Courage and Civility Award
In late 2022, Dolly Parton received a $100-million Courage and Civility Award from the founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos. According to Bezos, the award was given to Parton because of her charity work focused on improving children's literacy around the world.
December 31, 2022: Co-hosted Miley's New Year's Eve Party
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 Rock Album "Rockstar"
On January 17, 2023, Dolly Parton announced during an interview on "The View" that she would release her first rock album, titled "Rockstar", later that year.
January 20, 2023: Release of Soundtrack Single "Gonna Be You"
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.
May 11, 2023: Release of Lead Single "World on Fire"
On May 11, 2023, Dolly Parton released the lead single "World on Fire" from her upcoming album "Rockstar".
November 17, 2023: Release of "Rockstar" Album
On November 17, 2023, Dolly Parton released her rock album "Rockstar", which features collaborations with various artists, and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200.
2023: American Library Association Honorary Membership
In 2023, Dolly Parton was awarded American Library Association Honorary Membership.
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.
January 2024: Dolly Parton talked about her faith
In the January 2024 issue of New Humanist magazine, Dolly Parton discussed her liberal approach to faith.
June 2024: Dolly Parton announces autobiographical musical
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: Donation to Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts
In 2024, Dolly Parton announced a donation of $2 million to relief efforts for Hurricane Helene, with $1 million personally and another $1 million through her 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 Declines Support for Imagination Library
In February 2025, Indiana Governor Mike Braun declined to support a state 50% match for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, leading to efforts to find alternative funding to keep the Indiana chapter alive.
March 7, 2025: Release of "If You Hadn't Been There"
On March 7, 2025, Dolly Parton released the single "If You Hadn't Been There" as a tribute to her late husband.
June 23, 2025: Announcement of Las Vegas Residency
On June 23, 2025, it was announced that Dolly Parton would be embarking on a six-date Las Vegas residency, Dolly: Live in Las Vegas, at Caesars Palace.
December 2025: Scheduled Start of Las Vegas Residency
December 2025 was the originally scheduled start date for Dolly Parton's Las Vegas residency, "Dolly: Live in Las Vegas," at Caesars Palace.
2025: Las Vegas Residency Postponed
In 2025, Dolly Parton postponed her Las Vegas residency. A Facebook post from her sister mentioned that she was recovering from health problems and asked for prayers.
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