Dolly Parton's Success and Achievements in Timeline

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Dolly Parton

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Dolly Parton. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

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.

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1968: Release of "Just Because I'm a Woman" and Vocal Group of the Year Award

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.

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1969: Induction into the Grand Ole Opry

In 1969, Dolly Parton was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

February 1971: First Number-One Single with Joshua

In February 1971, Dolly Parton achieved her first number-one single with "Joshua".

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February 1974: Jolene Tops the Charts

In February 1974, the song "Jolene" by Dolly Parton, topped the country chart.

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1974: "I Will Always Love You" tops chart and Elvis request

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.

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1975: The Bargain Store tops chart

In 1975, Dolly Parton again topped the singles chart with "The Bargain Store".

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1977: Release of Here You Come Again

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.

1978: Grammy Award and TV Appearances

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.

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1978: Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year

In 1978, Dolly Parton won the Country Music Association's highest honor, Entertainer of the Year.

1979: Emmy nomination for Cher special guest appearance

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 9 to 5 Film

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.

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1981: Top Female Box Office Star

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.

1982: Named Top Female Box Office Star again

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.

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: Ms. Magazine's Women of the Year & 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.

1989: Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt won an Academy Award

In 1989, Sandollar Productions produced the documentary Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt, which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

1990: Honorary Doctorate Degree from Carson-Newman College

In 1990, Dolly Parton received an honorary doctorate degree from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee.

1998: Ranked Wealthiest Country Music Star

In 1998, Nashville Business ranked Dolly Parton the wealthiest country music star.

1998: Discovery of Asteroid (10731)

In 1998, the asteroid that would later be named (10731) Dollyparton was discovered and given the designation 1998 BL3.

1999: Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame

In 1999, Dolly Parton received country music's highest honor with her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

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, marking the first time the seal had been awarded to a person, in recognition of her literacy work.

2001: Induction into the 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: Induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

In 2001, Dolly Parton was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

2002: Ranked No. 4 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 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.

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: 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 contributions to literacy.

2003: Partnership Award from 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.

2003: Tribute Album 'Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton' Released

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.

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.

2005: Receiving the National Medal of Arts

In 2005, Dolly Parton was honored with the National Medal of Arts, recognizing her significant contributions to the arts.

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 Phoenix Film Critics Society Award

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.

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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.

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.

May 8, 2009: Honorary Doctorate from University of Tennessee

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.

November 16, 2010: Liseberg Applause Award

On November 16, 2010, Dolly Parton accepted the Liseberg Applause Award, the theme park industry's most prestigious honor, on behalf of Dollywood theme park during a ceremony held at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2010 in Orlando, Florida.

June 3, 2011: Dolly Parton Day in South Carolina

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.

2011: Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award

In 2011, Dolly Parton received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, adding to her total of 11 Grammy Awards and 55 nominations.

2015: Lichen Species Named in Honor of Dolly Parton

In 2015, a newly discovered species of lichen found growing in the southern Appalachians was named Japewiella dollypartoniana in honor of Dolly Parton's music and her efforts to bring national and global attention to that region.

February 2018: Donated 100 Millionth Free Book

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".

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2018: Second Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

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.

2018: FBI Honors Parton for Wildfire Aid Work

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.

November 2020: Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square

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.

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2020: Grammy Award for "God Only Knows"

In 2020, Dolly Parton received a Grammy award for her collaboration with For King & Country on their song, "God Only Knows".

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2021: Inclusion on Time 100 List

In 2021, Dolly Parton was included on the Time 100, Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

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 in Honor of Dolly Parton

In 2022, Asteroid (10731) Dollyparton, formerly known as 1998 BL3, was named in her honor.

2022: Received 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 around the world.

November 17, 2023: Release of Rockstar album

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.

2023: American Library Association Honorary Membership

In 2023, Dolly Parton was awarded American Library Association Honorary Membership.

2023: Ranked on Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers List

In 2023, Dolly Parton was ranked at No. 27 on Rolling Stone′s list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.