Although Dolly Parton doesn't see herself as a disruptor, there's no denying her transformative influence on women in music and country artists generally, not to mention her impact as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. Here's a look at some key moments in Parton's career when she broke barriers, crossed genres, built a business empire and showed the world that compassion wins.
1967
Parton's first country single "Dumb Blonde" breaks through to reach No. 24 on the country chart. Her label initially had her singing pop, but she insisted on pursuing country, becoming a role model for future women artists looking to take control of their own careers.
1973
"Jolene" debuts and rises to the top of the country charts. It establishes Parton as a solo artist after being part of the country music variety series The Porter Wagoner Show and becomes her most covered song. It is also No. 63 on Rolling Stone's 2021 list of the greatest songs of all time.
1974
Parton releases the song "I Will Always Love You," which she wrote about leaving her seven-year professional relationship with Porter Wagoner to go out on her own—another instance of her taking charge of her own career. He sued for $3 million. She settled for $1 million.
1974
In an early display of the business savvy she became known for, Parton turns down Elvis Presley's request to record "I Will Always Love You" after his management insisted on half of the publishing rights. The song has since earned her more than $10 million in royalties.
1977
A crossover artist is born: Parton releases the single "Here You Come Again," which tops the country chart and reaches No. 3 on the pop chart. Over the next few years, all of her releases chart simultaneously in country and pop, paving the way for future crossover stars like Taylor Swift.
1980
An acting career is born: Parton co-stars with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the film 9 to 5, paving the way for the acting careers of other country stars like Reba McEntire and Tim McGraw. Parton goes on to star in films like The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Steel Magnolias.
1981
After topping the country, pop and adult contemporary charts, "9 to 5," her single from the movie, gets an Oscar nod for Best Original Song. Parton is one of only a few country artists to be nominated for Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy awards (Grammy wins: 11 out of 51 nominations).
1986
A business empire is born: Dollywood, an amusement park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, opens. The park hosts 3 million guests a year, making it the No. 1 ticketed attraction in Tennessee, and is the main source of Parton's wealth, according to Forbes, which estimates her net worth at $440 million.
1986
A movie mogul is born: Parton co-founds Sandollar Productions with her former manager, Sandy Gallin. Their hits include films like Father of the Bride and the Oscar-winning documentary Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt, and the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
1988
A philanthropist is born: Parton launches the Dollywood Foundation. Originally established to give scholarships to students, it has since grown to include Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to gift free children's books to kids and many other charitable ventures.
1992
Parton gives her blessing for Whitney Houston to record "I Will Always Love You," for the movie The Bodyguard. Houston's version subsequently becomes the best-selling single by a female artist of all time, with more than 4.5 million copies sold in the U.S. alone.
1999
Breaking through in yet another genre, Parton releases her first bluegrass album, The Grass Is Blue. The album wins her a Grammy and leads to many other bluegrass albums. Other genres in which Parton has crossed over: Christian music and disco ("Baby I'm Burnin").
1999
A legend gets her due: Dolly is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Two years later she is inducted into the national Songwriters Hall of Fame. Other accolades include the National Medal of the Arts, a Kennedy Center honor and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
2005
Ahead of her time in championing the right of people to be who they are, Parton's song "Travelin' Thru" appears on the soundtrack for the film Transamerica, about a transgender woman getting to know her son. The song earns Parton her second Oscar nomination.
2009
Conquering yet another medium, the show 9 to 5: The Musical, with music and lyrics by Parton, debuts on Broadway, her first venture on the Great White Way. The show goes on to be nominated for 15 Drama Desk Awards and four Tony Awards, including one for original score.
2020
In one of her most far-reaching charitable contributions, Parton donates $1 million to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, leading to the creation of the Moderna COVID vaccine. She's since donated another $1 million to Vanderbilt for pediatric infectious disease research.
2022
Parton becomes one of just three people—and the only woman—to receive the Courage and Civility Award from Jeff Bezos, giving her an additional $100 million for charitable works. She also receives a Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy for addressing poverty and children's literacy.
2022
Parton is nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame but respectfully rejects the honor, saying, "I don't feel I have earned that right." The Rock Hall defends its decision and inducts her anyway. She announces that her inclusion in its ranks has inspired her to make her first rock album, Rockstar.
2023
A big year for Dolly the author and Dolly the crossover artist: Her fashion memoir, Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, comes out in October, to be followed by her rock album on November 17. Five singles have already been released, including a duet with goddaughter Miley Cyrus on "Wrecking Ball."
