There was no one quite like Dolly Parton, and I'm not sure there ever will be. She was an iconic country musician, an talented actor, a philanthropist and a beloved culture pop-culture figure. Over the span of her 60 year career, Dolly received 52 gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications from the Recording Industry of America, eleven Grammy Awards, 3 Emmy Awards, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Kennedy Center Honor and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also an acclaimed actor, staring in movies such as Steel Magnolias and 9 to 5. In addition to her pop culture contributions, she was a fierce philanthropist, establishing the Dollywood Foundation in 1988. Her foundation was created to inspire children in her home county to achieve educational success and to improve childhood education, promoting early literacy and providing community relief. In her honor, here is my list of my favorite Dolly songs ever! Enjoy!!
Number 11 - "Love Is Like A Butterfly"
From the Album Love Is Like A Butterfly, released in 1974
Love Is Like A Butterfly
Number 10 - "The Bargain Store"
From the Album The Bargain Store, released in 1975
The Bargain Store
Number 9 - "Tennessee Homesick Blues"
From the Soundtrack Rhinestone, released in 1984
Tennessee Homesick Blues
Number 8 - "9 to 5"
From the Album 9 to 5 And Odd Jobs, released in 1980
9-5
Number 7 - "Heartbreaker"
From the Album Heartbreaker, released in 1978
Heartbreaker
Number 6 - "Red, White, And Bluegrass"
From the Album For God And Country, released in 2003
Red, White & Bluegrass
Number 5 - "Think About Love"
From the Album Real Love, released in 1985
Think About Love
Number 4 - "Baby I'm Burning"
From the Album Heartbreaker, released in 1978
Baby I'm Burning
Number 3 - "Islands In The Stream"
From the Album Eyes That See In The Dark, released in 1983
Islands In The Stream
Number 2 - "I Will Always Love You"
From the Album Jolene, released in 1974
We all know the Whitney Houston version, but this song was originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton in 1973.
Number 1 - "Jolene"
From the Album Jolene, released in 1974
"Jolene" is one of my all time favorite Dolly Parton songs, it's universally considered one of the greatest country songs ever and in 2021, Rolling Stone had this song at #63 on it's "Greatest Song's Of All Time" list. The song is based off a real life person: a red-headed bank clerk who used to flirt with her husband, Carl Dean. It has gone on to be covered by a ton of artists, including Miley Cyrus, the White Stripes, Olivia Newton-John and Pentatonix. Time also included this song on their 2011 list of the "ALL-TIME 100 Best Songs". And if that wasn't enough, the song is so iconic that during her Rock and Role Hall of Fame Induction in 2022, she shared the stage (video above) with Pink, Rob Halford, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Pat Benatar, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart, Simon Le Bon and Zac Brown! The Best Ever!!!
Fun Fact: Dolly said she once entered a Dolly Parton lookalike contest in Los Angeles and actually lost! She joined a lineup that included drag queens who had spent weeks meticulously crafting their detailed Dolly and Cher costumes. When she walked across the stage, the crowd gave her the least amount of applause of anyone.