Dolly Parton, born in Pittman Center, Tennessee in 1946, is one of country music's greatest songwriters — Jolene, I Will Always Love You, and 9 to 5 are just the start of a catalog topping 3,000 songs. Jolene (1974) and Coat of Many Colors (1971) are the classic entry points. Find Dolly Parton vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born in Pittman Center, Sevier County, Tennessee on January 19, 1946. She moved to Nashville the day after graduating from high school in 1964 and signed her first major record contract with Monument Records. Her career partnership with Porter Wagoner (1967-1974) launched her national career; she left Wagoner's show in 1974 with the song I Will Always Love You (later a global hit when Whitney Houston covered it for The Bodyguard in 1992). Her catalog includes more than 50 studio albums and an extensive parallel career in film (Nine to Five, Steel Magnolias), theme parks (Dollywood), and philanthropy (Imagination Library). She has won 11 Grammy Awards and is one of the most successful songwriters in history, with more than 3,000 songs to her name.
Dolly Parton's catalog spans country, country pop, bluegrass, gospel, Americana, and (with Rockstar, 2023) rock. Her songwriting is widely regarded as among the most important contributions to American country and country pop. Her songs include I Will Always Love You, Jolene, 9 to 5, Coat of Many Colors, and dozens of others widely covered across multiple genres.
Original RCA Victor pressings of Coat of Many Colors, Jolene, and the 1970s catalog are widely collected. Multiple anniversary editions, box sets, and audiophile reissues have been released. The 1987 Trio album and 1999 Grass Is Blue bluegrass album represent particularly notable collectible items.
Listeners new to Dolly Parton typically start with Jolene (1974), Coat of Many Colors (1971), or hits compilations.
