Profession: Country Singer
Biography: Dolly Parton, who was born one of 12 children to a poor sharecropper in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains, went on to build a career as one of the most beloved singer-songwriters in country music.
Parton began her music career as a songwriter in Nashville before being picked to sing in Porter Wagoner's variety show. A series of popular duets by the two followed before Parton broke out fully on her own in 1974. Her famous single "I Will Always Love You", later sung by Whitney Houston, is about this period and went to number one on the Country Chart.
Parton's music has spanned a wide range from bluegrass to gospel to pop crossover. Some of her most successful singles include "Joelene" (1973), the theme song to the 1980 film "9 to 5" (in which she starred with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin), and the duet "Islands in the Stream" with fellow country star Kenny Rogers.
Parton is the recipient of numerous awards, including eleven Grammy awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. She was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1969 and Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2022, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Born: January 19, 1946
Birthplace: Sevierville, Tennessee, USA
Age: 78 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Rooster
Star Sign: Capricorn
Married Life
- 1966-05-30 American country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton (20) weds Carl Dean (23) in Ringgold, Georgia
Historical Events
- 1967-10-30 Dolly Parton releases her debut single with Porter Wagoner "The Last Thing On My Mind"
- 1973-06-17 Dolly Parton records her song "I Will Always Love You" (later a huge hit for Whitney Houston) for RCA in Nashville
- 1973-10-15 Country music artist Dolly Parton releases her single "Jolene"
- 1978-10-09 12th Country Music Association Awards: Dolly Parton, Crystal Gayle, and Don Williams win
- 1980-11-17 RCA-Victor Records releases "9 to 5 and Odd Jobs", the 23rd studio album by country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton
- 1980-12-19 Comedy film "9 to 5" starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin is released
- 1992-11-03 "I Will Always Love You" (Dolly Parton cover) single released by Whitney Houston (Billboard Song of the Year 1993)
- 2014-06-25 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Arcade Fire, and Metallica headline; other performers include The Black Keys; Lana Del Rey; Dolly Parton, Robert Plant, Bryan Ferry, and Ed Sheeran
- 2021-03-02 Dolly Parton receives the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine she gave $1 million to help develop
- 2022-03-14 Dolly Parton removes herself from the ballot for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame saying "I don’t feel that I have earned that right” (she later reconsiders and gets in)
- 2022-11-05 37th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo; Duran Duran; Eminem; Eurythmics; Dolly Parton; Lionel Richie; Carly Simon; Judas Priest; Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis; Harry Belafonte; Elizabeth Cotten; Allen Grubman; Jimmy Iovine; and Sylvia Robinson
- 2022-11-12 Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announces his 3rd 'Courage and Civility Award' of $100M to country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton to distribute to charities of her choice
Biographies and Sources
- Dolly Parton Bows Out of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nomination - NY Times
- Eminem, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - NBC News
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