Dolly Parton grew up in poverty in a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains, the fourth of 12 children. She performed on local radio and television as a child and recorded her first single at 13.
Over a career spanning more than 60 years, Parton sold more than 100 million records, wrote more than 3,000 songs and won 11 Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement honour. She has consistently described herself first and foremost as a songwriter, saying songwriting was her greatest form of self-expression.
Parton moved to Nashville the day after graduating from Sevier County High School and scored her first solo hit with "Dumb Blonde" in 1966. In 1967, country star Porter Wagoner invited her to join The Porter Wagoner Show, giving her a regular role on his nationally syndicated television programme. She became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1969, describing the venue as the "church of my heart."
In 1973, Parton penned two of her signature hits—"Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You"—in a single writing session. Known for her larger-than-life image combining rhinestones, wit and charm, she crossed from country to mainstream pop and became a global star with albums such as "Here You Come Again." She also became known for memorable collaborations, notably with Kenny Rogers, whose duet "Islands in the Stream" became one of the defining hits of the 1980s.
Parton's breakout screen role came in the 1980 workplace comedy "9 to 5," where she starred alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman. She followed this with roles in films such as "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," alongside Burt Reynolds, and "Steel Magnolias," which featured an ensemble cast including Julia Roberts and Sally Field.
In 1986, Parton opened Dollywood, a theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near her birthplace. The park became a major tourist attraction and one of the most visited regional theme parks in the USA. Its success helped fund Parton's charitable foundation and literacy programme.
Through her Imagination Library, founded in honour of her father who could not read, Parton has given away more than 100 million free books to children around the world. Her own book, "Coat of Many Colours," was the 100 millionth book that programme donated to the US Library of Congress collection. A council in Scotland announced it would dedicate a day to Dolly Parton every year to mark the impact of her reading scheme.
Parton has also personally donated millions to medical research and disaster relief. She created the My People Fund after the 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires, which distributed about $10 million to families who lost homes. In 2024, she pledged $2 million for Hurricane Helene relief in East Tennessee and Appalachia, combining a personal donation with matching support from her businesses and foundation.
Parton's 2014 Glastonbury Festival appearance became one of the defining "Legends" slot performances in the event's history. Drawing one of the festival's biggest-ever daytime crowds—estimated at more than 180,000—she turned the Pyramid Stage into a mass singalong. In 2019, Parton celebrated 50 years as an Opry member with a major televised special.
