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Dolly Parton

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Born:
January 19, 1946, she's 66 and American.
Birthname:
Dolly Rebecca Parton.
Snapshot:
An Artist with 163 releases, a member of 1 group, and credited 10 times on others' music. 30 collaborations and 4 musical relatives.

Biography

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Standing just 5 feet 2 inches tall, country singer and songwriter Dolly Parton is as well known for her physical appearance and sense of humour as for her songwriting, singing or acting. Famous for her hair (usually wigs) and make-up, her diminutive stature and ample chest, she has always joked about her physical up-keep with comments like "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap".

She was born in the Great Smoky Mountains, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, and grew up in a dilapidated one-room cabin with her parents and 11 brothers and sisters. She used many of her struggles growing up "dirt poor" as material for her early songs, most famously her hit single "Coat of Many Colors".

Dolly has released more than 60 albums and had 55 Top 10 singles, 25 reaching No.1, many on both the country and mainstream charts. Her most famous singles include "Jolene", "Here You Come Again", "9 to 5" and "Islands in the Stream" (a duet with Kenny Rogers). Her 1971 album Coat of Many Colors is on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and her 1987 collaboration album with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, Trio, won numerous Grammy awards and is widely considered one of her best albums. But music wasn't Dolly's entire career, as she has had starring roles in several major films, and won accolades for her acting ability. Her most notable films include "9 to 5" (1980), "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982), and "Steel Magnolias" (1989).

Dolly has built a reputation as a shrewd businesswoman over the years, and is referred to by many in industry circles as "The Iron Butterfly". As a songwriter she has written songs that have been hits for many other artists over the years, the most famous example being "I Will Always Love You", which she wrote in 1974 about her professional break-up with singing partner Porter Wagoner. Elvis wanted to record a version of the song but when Dolly was told by his famous manager Colonel Tom Parker that she would have to sign over half of the publishing rights to Presley if he recorded the song (this was standard procedure for songs he recorded), Dolly refused. Royalties from this song went on to make Dolly millions over her lifetime, most successfully when it was covered by Whitney Houston for her 1992 film The Bodyguard. Dolly has also invested a lot of her fortune in her native East Tennessee, including co-ownership of several local theme parks, Dollywood (home of the Dolly Parton Museum) and Dollywood's Splash Country, and she also owns Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, a chain of dinner theatres. In addition to her holdings in Tennessee she also owns Sandollar Productions, which is responsible for the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer among others, and films Father of the Bride I and II, Gross Anatomy and Sabrina (1995).

Music

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Genres

Country Pop, Female Vocalist, Singer-Songwriter,
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Discography

186 releases – 163 under her own name, 14 in other groups and 10 credits on others' music Edit
1
Collaborations, Groups and Family
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Dolly Parton

Has worked with

Show all 30 collaborations

Has been in these groups

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In the News

Dolly Parton

May, 11 2009

These days there aren’t many who still consider Dolly Parton a country-singing bimbo, despite her efforts to convince us all she’s just a Backwoods Barbie. In addition to her versatility as an actress, composer and performer, she is a fine businesswoman: the sum total of her endeavors is an estimated net worth of nearly $600 million. Dolly’s awards shelf must groan under the weight of the symbols of her success, which include plaudits for her musical accomplishments -- including seven Grammys, a National Medal of Arts, induction into the Grand Ole Opry, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame -- and recognition of her considerable philanthropic efforts. However, her most recent award finally gives the singer an honorary title she can wear with ease: Dolly is now a doctor, thanks to a doctorate of humane and musical letters conferred on her by the University of Tennessee. Well done Dr. Dolly!

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