Dolly was born in Sevierville, Tennessee and she began writing songs at age four. Most of her early vocal performances were in church. She eventually would sing on local radio and television programs in the Eastern Tennessee area. When she was nine, Parton appeared on The Cas Walker Show on WIVK Radio and WBIR-TV in Knoxville. At age 13, Dolly recorded the single "Puppy Love" and sang at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. The day after Parton graduated from Sevier County High School, she moved to Nashville to pursue a music career.
Initially, Dolly found the most success as a songwriter, signing with Columbine Publishing and writing songs for Hank Williams, Jr., Kitty Wells and Skeeter Davis. She signed a recording contract with Monument Records in 1965, but several singles did not find the chart.
Parton released the album Hello, I'm Dolly, and had some country success but nothing widespread. In 1967, Porter Wagoner offered Dolly a regular spot on his self-titled television program, as well as in his road show. Wagoner convinced his label, RCA Victor, to sign Dolly, and the two had several releases that were limited to the small but loyal Country audience. In fact, it took 18 releases for Parton to enjoy a Country Top 10 song ("Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)", and 28 before she placed a song in the Hot 100 in any given week.
"Jolene" was that song in 1973, which also gave Dolly her first Country #1. It reached #7 in the U.K. and #60 in the United States.
In 2005, Dolly showed further versatility with the album Those Were The Days, which included her covers of folk-rock hits like John Lennon's "Imagine", "Crimson And Clover" by Tommy James & the Shondells, and Pete Seeger's anti-war song "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?".
Parton received the National Medal of Arts from U.S. President George W. Bush in 2005. It is the highest honor given by the U.S. government for excellence in the arts. In 2006, Dolly received Kennedy Center Honors in a special presentation in Washington, D.C. Also that year, Parton published the cookbook Dolly's Dixie Fixin's: Love, Laughter and Lots of Good Food.
In 2007, Dolly's song "I Will Always Love You" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. She received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution in November.
In 2008, the musical for 9 to 5, an adaptation of the 1980 movie in which Parton starred in and wrote the score for, opened in Los Angeles and played on Broadway in New York City in 2009. Dolly received a Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score.
Also in 2009, Parton received an honorary degree from the University of Tennessee. University chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek said:
"Because of her career not just as a musician and entertainer, but for her role as a cultural ambassador, philanthropist and lifelong advocate for education, it is fitting that she be honored with an honorary degree from the flagship educational institution of her home state."
In 2011, Dolly received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys. In 2012, Parton starred in the movie Joyful Noise.
Parton has appeared in several television shows, including Babes, Bette, Love Boat and Hannah Montana. Dolly and Sandy Gallin, her former manager, own Sandollar Productions, a film and television production company that has produced several documentaries and movies, including an Academy Award winner.
Dolly's literacy program, "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library", mails one book per month to each enrolled child from the time of their birth until they enter kindergarten. The program has now been replicated in 566 counties across 36 U.S. States as well as in Canada and the U.K. The program distributes more than 2.5 million free books annually.
Dolly is set to release her 42nd studio album next year, followed by a tour.
Parton has written over 3,000 songs, the most-known being "I Will Always Love You", which Whitney Houston turned into one of The Top 10 Songs of the Rock Era*.
Parton holds the female record for the most #1 songs on the Country chart with 26. She has enjoyed 20 hits, with three of those reaching the Top 10 and two #1's. On the Adult Contemporary chart, Dolly has posted 26 hits, with four Top 10 songs and two #1's. Her career singles and album sales have now topped 100 million worldwide.
Dolly has won eight Grammy Awards and has earned 46 Grammy nominations, tied with Beyoncé for the most by a female in music history. Parton has also won three American Music Awards out of 18 nominations. She has been nominated for two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award. She also has a bronze sculpture of her likeness on the courthouse lawn of her home town in Sevierville.
Initially, Dolly found the most success as a songwriter, signing with Columbine Publishing and writing songs for Hank Williams, Jr., Kitty Wells and Skeeter Davis. She signed a recording contract with Monument Records in 1965, but several singles did not find the chart.
Parton released the album Hello, I'm Dolly, and had some country success but nothing widespread. In 1967, Porter Wagoner offered Dolly a regular spot on his self-titled television program, as well as in his road show. Wagoner convinced his label, RCA Victor, to sign Dolly, and the two had several releases that were limited to the small but loyal Country audience. In fact, it took 18 releases for Parton to enjoy a Country Top 10 song ("Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)", and 28 before she placed a song in the Hot 100 in any given week.
"Jolene" was that song in 1973, which also gave Dolly her first Country #1. It reached #7 in the U.K. and #60 in the United States.
In 1974, Parton wrote a song about her professional break from Wagoner that went to #1 on the Country chart. Elvis Presley expressed interest in recording the song, but Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, told her that it was standard procedure for the songwriter to sign over half of the publishing rights to any song Elvis recorded. Dolly refused, and, as it would turn out, that was one of the best moves she ever made.
Parton toured with Willie Nelson and Mac Davis in 1974. She continued to run up a string of Country hits, with two additional #1's ("Love Is Like A Butterfly" and "The Bargain Store"). She had her own syndicated television variety show, Dolly! in 1976-77, and many artists, including Olivia Newton John, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris, recorded her songs.
Then, Dolly began to branch out, trying to increase airplay of her songs to more radio stations than just the Country format. She hired Sandy Gallin as her manager, and released the album New Harvest...First Gathering in 1977. It received good reviews and an American Music Award for Best Country Album, but did not generate the crossover success she had hoped for. "Light Of A Clear Blue Morning" only reached #87 on the overall chart.
Dolly solicited the help of Gary Klein to produce her next album. Later in the year, she finished the project and released Here You Come Again. The title song topped the Country chart and gave Dolly her first big hit, #3 overall and #2 Easy Listening in the United States, #7 in Canada and #10 in Australia.
Parton garnered a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for the album. She also had a hit with "Two Doors Down".
Dolly continued to score #1's on the Country chart--"It's All Wrong, But It's All Right", "Heartbreaker", 'You're The Only One", "Starting Over Again" and "Old Flames Can't Hold A Candle To You". A well-timed candid interview on a Barbara Walters Special was followed by appearances in 1978 on Cher's ABC-TV special and her own joint special with Carol Burnett on CBS.
In 1980, Dolly starred with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the comedy 9 to 5. Parton recorded the title song, and it became a triple #1--#1 on the Popular, Adult Contemporary and Country charts. The song also hit #1 in Canada and #9 in Australia, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song and she also received a Golden Globe Award nomination in the same category.
Parton won Grammy Awards for "9 To 5" for Best Country Song and Best Country Vocal Performance, Female. It was also nominated for Song of the Year.
Dolly recorded a song made popular by Kenny Rogers & the First Edition, "But You Know I Love You", and it hit #1 on the Country chart, #14 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Barry Gibb wrote a song for Dolly and Rogers that became her biggest career hit. The pair recorded the song in 1983, and it gave Dolly another triple #1; it also hit #1 in Canada and #7 in the U.K. The pair also won the American Music Award for Favorite Country Single.
In 1983, Dolly starred in the television special Dolly in London and she starred opposite Sylvester Stallone in the movie Rhinestone in 1985.
In 1984, Dolly received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Parton & Rogers toured extensively together in 1984 and 1985, with a concert special filmed and televised called Dolly & Kenny: Real Love. They teamed up again for the single "Real Love", which was a #1 Country hit and #13 on the AC chart.
Parton won another American Music Award for Favorite Country Single ("Tennessee Homesick Blues"). Dolly continued to expand her business ventures, including her Dollywood theme park, that she opened in 1986 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Ms. magazine named Parton its Woman of the Year in 1986. After that, Parton returned to her country roots. In 1987, Ronstadt, Harris and Parton released the album Trio to much acclaim. The album sold several million copies. The song "To Know Him Is To Love Him" went to #1 on the Country chart.
Trio won the Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and was nominated for Album of the Year. Parton continued to enjoy success on the Country chart during this period, scoring #1's in the genre with "Think About Love", "Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That", "Yellow Roses" and "Rockin' Years", which she recorded with Ricky Van Shelton.
In 1989, Parton starred in the critically-acclaimed movie Steel Magnolias, and teamed up again with Rogers and Willie Nelson for the concert special Something Inside So Strong.
In 1990, Parton received an honorary doctorate degree from Carson-Newman College. In 1992, Dolly starred in the comedy Straight Talk with James Woods.
In 1999, Parton, Ronstadt and Harris got together again for the album Trio II. Their cover of Neil Young's "After The Gold Rush" won the Grammy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals.
Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. Dolly recorded several bluegrass-inspired albums, winning the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album with The 1999 release The Grass Is Blue. Little Sparrow in 2001 included Parton's remake of the great song "Shine" by Collective Soul. It gave her yet another Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance:
Dolly received a slew of honors for her work outside of the entertainment field. In 2000, the Association of American Publishers gave her the AAP Honors Award. In 2001, Dolly received the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, the first time the seal had been given to a person. In 2002, the American Association of School Administrators presented Parton with its Galaxy Award and the National State Teachers of the Year recognized Dolly with its Chasing Rainbows Award. In 2003, the Parents as Teachers National Center gave Parton the Child and Family Advocacy Award.
In 2001, Parton was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2003, Dolly was honored as a BMI Icon. Her efforts to preserve the bald eagle through the American Eagle Foundation's sanctuary at Dollywood earned her the Partnership Award from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
In 2004, the U.S. Library of Congress honored Parton by presenting her with the Living Legend Medal for her contributions to the cultural heritage of the United States.
Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. Dolly recorded several bluegrass-inspired albums, winning the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album with The 1999 release The Grass Is Blue. Little Sparrow in 2001 included Parton's remake of the great song "Shine" by Collective Soul. It gave her yet another Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance:
Dolly received a slew of honors for her work outside of the entertainment field. In 2000, the Association of American Publishers gave her the AAP Honors Award. In 2001, Dolly received the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, the first time the seal had been given to a person. In 2002, the American Association of School Administrators presented Parton with its Galaxy Award and the National State Teachers of the Year recognized Dolly with its Chasing Rainbows Award. In 2003, the Parents as Teachers National Center gave Parton the Child and Family Advocacy Award.
In 2001, Parton was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2003, Dolly was honored as a BMI Icon. Her efforts to preserve the bald eagle through the American Eagle Foundation's sanctuary at Dollywood earned her the Partnership Award from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
In 2004, the U.S. Library of Congress honored Parton by presenting her with the Living Legend Medal for her contributions to the cultural heritage of the United States.
In 2004, Parton recorded a remake of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Rod Stewart, which hit #2 on the AC chart.
In 2005, Dolly showed further versatility with the album Those Were The Days, which included her covers of folk-rock hits like John Lennon's "Imagine", "Crimson And Clover" by Tommy James & the Shondells, and Pete Seeger's anti-war song "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?".
Parton earned another Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song--it was also nominated for a Golden Globe for the same award for "Travelin' Thru", from the movie Transamerica in 2005.
Parton received the National Medal of Arts from U.S. President George W. Bush in 2005. It is the highest honor given by the U.S. government for excellence in the arts. In 2006, Dolly received Kennedy Center Honors in a special presentation in Washington, D.C. Also that year, Parton published the cookbook Dolly's Dixie Fixin's: Love, Laughter and Lots of Good Food.
In 2007, Dolly's song "I Will Always Love You" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. She received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution in November.
In 2008, the musical for 9 to 5, an adaptation of the 1980 movie in which Parton starred in and wrote the score for, opened in Los Angeles and played on Broadway in New York City in 2009. Dolly received a Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score.
Also in 2009, Parton received an honorary degree from the University of Tennessee. University chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek said:
"Because of her career not just as a musician and entertainer, but for her role as a cultural ambassador, philanthropist and lifelong advocate for education, it is fitting that she be honored with an honorary degree from the flagship educational institution of her home state."
In 2011, Dolly received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys. In 2012, Parton starred in the movie Joyful Noise.
Parton has appeared in several television shows, including Babes, Bette, Love Boat and Hannah Montana. Dolly and Sandy Gallin, her former manager, own Sandollar Productions, a film and television production company that has produced several documentaries and movies, including an Academy Award winner.
Dolly's literacy program, "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library", mails one book per month to each enrolled child from the time of their birth until they enter kindergarten. The program has now been replicated in 566 counties across 36 U.S. States as well as in Canada and the U.K. The program distributes more than 2.5 million free books annually.
Dolly is set to release her 42nd studio album next year, followed by a tour.
Parton has written over 3,000 songs, the most-known being "I Will Always Love You", which Whitney Houston turned into one of The Top 10 Songs of the Rock Era*.
Parton holds the female record for the most #1 songs on the Country chart with 26. She has enjoyed 20 hits, with three of those reaching the Top 10 and two #1's. On the Adult Contemporary chart, Dolly has posted 26 hits, with four Top 10 songs and two #1's. Her career singles and album sales have now topped 100 million worldwide.
Dolly has won eight Grammy Awards and has earned 46 Grammy nominations, tied with Beyoncé for the most by a female in music history. Parton has also won three American Music Awards out of 18 nominations. She has been nominated for two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award. She also has a bronze sculpture of her likeness on the courthouse lawn of her home town in Sevierville.
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