Contents
Dolly Parton
Writing and singing Jolene, I Will Always Love You and 9 to 5.
Coat of Many Colors · Jolene
- Born
- 19 January 1946
- Birthplace
- Locust Ridge, USA
- Died
- 25 August 2026
More people
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton was an American singer-songwriter who carried stories from a Tennessee childhood into country music, pop and film. Her career also encompassed business ventures and a large children’s literacy programme.
Early life
Smoky Mountains
Grew up as one of twelve children in a musical family with little money.
Local performances
Sang on radio and television while still a child, encouraged by relatives.
Career
- 1964
Nashville move
Moved to Nashville after finishing high school and pursued songwriting.
- 1967–1974
Television partnership
Joined Porter Wagoner’s show and recorded a series of duets with him.
- 1970s–1980s
Solo crossover
Expanded from country success into pop recordings and starring film roles.
- 1990s–2020s
Independent ventures
Continued recording while developing publishing, television and charitable projects.
Selected work
Coat of Many Colors
A childhood story about a handmade coat and family dignity.
Jolene
A plea to a romantic rival, told with striking economy.
I Will Always Love You
A farewell song later recorded by Whitney Houston.
9 to 5
A workplace anthem written for the film in which she starred.
Beyond work
Imagination Library
Launched a programme in 1995 that mails free books to young children.
Dollywood
Became a partner in the Tennessee theme park in 1986, linking entertainment with her home region.
Sources & photo credit
Life and career ↗Institutional or specialist reference ↗Official dates ↗Photo: RCA Records. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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