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Dolly Parton: Celebrating seven decades of chart-breaking success

What happens when musical talent meets a hurricane of energy and impeccable fashion sense? An ICON is born! Be it for her chart-topping hits, her colourful style choices or her diamond-bright smile, Dolly Parton is the reigning queen of musical records.

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Nationality: United States

Inducted: 2025

Notable Record(s):

  • Most decades with a Top 20 hit on the US Hot Country Songs chart - 7
  • Most consecutive decades with Top 10 album entries on the Billboard country chart (female) - 7 
  • Longest span of No.1 hits on the US Top Country Albums chart (female) - 46 years, 197 days
  • Most Top 10 entries on the US Top Country Albums chart (female) - 49

An ICON because...

Known for her powerful vocals and kaleidoscopic wardrobe, it's safe to say that Dolly Parton (USA) is a global treasure.

The Tennessee-born singer-songwriter skyrocketed the popularity of American music in and out of the States with her hits, proving to be a force to be reckoned with since the release of her debut album Hello, I'm Dolly (1967).

On 14 May 1977, her album New Harvest…First Gathering became the first of Dolly's eight chart-toppers to hit No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums, crowning Dolly with the female record title for the longest span of No.1 hits on the US Top Country Albums chart. 

Dolly smiling with ICON certificate

Dolly smiling with GWR book

After that, the singer went from strength to strength: she released 49 albums and penned beloved anthems like “Jolene” and “9 to 5.”

As she became a giant of country music and her tunes gained global resonance, Dolly's career took her a long way from Locust Ridge, Tennessee: the singer can flaunt the most No.1 hits on the US Hot Country Songs chart by a female artist, as well as the world record for the longest span of No.1 hits on the US Hot Country Songs chart.

But Dolly's larger-than-life personality and talent couldn't be limited to just one field.

Expanding her creative range far beyond the music industry, the singer "poured herself a cup of Ambition" and became a living legend: she's an actress, the best-selling writer of biographies such as Star of the Show: My Life on Stage, a producer and a thriving business mogul.

In her native Tennessee, she even designed the Dollywood theme park, a whimsical landmark dedicated to Dolly's life and music. Offering several attractions and museums, it's often named the top attraction in Tennessee.

However, the superstar never forgets to give back to the community: the big-hearted star is a passionate cultural ambassador and a patron of the arts and proactively cooperates with charitable organisations as a lifelong advocate for literacy.

Among many other accolades, Dolly received the Courage and Civility Award in 2022 for her charitable efforts.

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.

- Dolly

Highlights

Read more about Dolly Parton

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