10 essential Dolly Parton songs

“Coat of Many Colors” is the title track from Parton’s eighth studio album. In a 2024 interview with The Guardian, Parton said it’s the song she is proudest of writing.

“I’m proud of all of them. I think the one that’s most personal to me is the lil’ ‘Coat of Many Colors,’ because it talks about my mom, my parents, and kind of gives you an insight,” Parton said. “It also covers bullying, acceptance, and all that.”

“My Tennessee Mountain Home” was released as a single in 1972 and served as the title track and centerpiece of Parton’s 1973 album of the same name.

Written solely by Parton, the song pays tribute to her rural childhood in Tennessee. She was raised in a two-room log cabin as one of 12 siblings, although one of her brothers, Larry, died when he was a baby.

“Jolene” is the title track from Parton’s 13th studio album of the same name. It was released as a single in January 1984 and quickly rose to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

Today, “Jolene” is celebrated as a country music staple. The song has been widely covered by other artists, including Olivia Newton-John, the White Stripes, and Parton’s own goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, on multiple occasions.

More recently, Beyoncé put her own spin on “Jolene” for her 2024 country album “Cowboy Carter.” Parton also serves as one of three narrators throughout the album, alongside Willie Nelson and Linda Martell.

“I Will Always Love You” was released as the second single from “Jolene.” Parton is the sole songwriter credited on the track; in fact, Parton later revealed that she wrote both of the album’s hit singles on the same day.

“I Will Always Love You” was famously covered by Whitney Houston, who reimagined the song as a soaring pop power ballad. Houston’s version won record of the year at the 1994 Grammy Awards and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks.

“A lot of people say that’s Whitney’s song,” Parton told Katie Couric in 2016, “and I always say, ‘That’s fine, she can have the credit, I just want my cash.'”

“Here You Come Again” was Parton’s biggest hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, spending five weeks at No. 1.

It was released as the lead single from Parton’s album of the same name, “Here You Come Again,” which was Parton’s first album to be certified platinum in the US.

The album also earned Parton her first Grammy Award for best country vocal performance (female) at the 1979 ceremony.

Parton wrote and recorded “9 to 5” for the comedy film of the same name, in which she starred opposite Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.

The crossover hit became her first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking in 1981. It also won two Grammys and was nominated for an Oscar.

“Islands in the Stream” was originally written by the Bee Gees and recorded as a duet between Parton and Kenny Rogers. It was released as a single from Rogers’ album “Eyes That See in the Dark.”

The song became Parton’s second No. 1 on the Hot 100, remaining atop the chart for two weeks.

“Wildflowers,” a solo Parton composition, was included on “Trio,” her landmark collaborative album with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris.

“Trio” was the only album in Parton’s discography to be nominated for album of the year at the Grammys. Although it lost to U2’s “The Joshua Tree,” it won the Academy of Country Music Award for album of the year in 1988.

“I know, for me, this will always stand as one of the great musical things that I’ve ever done in my entire life,” Parton later said of the supergroup. “I’ve never been prouder of anything. I love these girls like sisters, but what we did as a trio, really, I think is going to stand up long after we’re gone.”

Parton’s 2001 album “Little Sparrow” was dedicated to her father, who died months before its release.

The album’s second track was a Dolly-fied cover of Collective Soul’s alt-rock ’90s hit “Shine,” which earned Parton a Grammy for female country vocal performance. “Little Sparrow” was also nominated for best bluegrass album.

Parton’s final album, “Rockstar,” was a mix of original material and classic rock covers. She said she was inspired by her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination to craft a tribute to the genre.

“Even though I am extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I don’t feel that I have earned that right,” Parton said when she tried to decline the nomination.

“I do hope that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will understand and be willing to consider me again — if I’m ever worthy,” she continued. “This has, however, inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock ‘n’ roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do!”

Despite her statement, Parton was inducted later that year and debuted a new song, “Rockin’ It,” at the induction ceremony. The live recording was later included on the deluxe version of “Rockstar.”

“I’ve been rockin’, rockin’, rockin’ since the day I was born,” Parton sings in the chorus. “I’ll be rockin’ ’til the day I’m gone.”