Dolly Parton Net Worth: A Country Icon

Dolly Parton is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and philanthropist. She is one of the most successful and influential country performers of all time, having a career that spans six decades. In this article, we will take a closer look at Dolly Parton Net Worth, early years, career, personal life, controversies, awards, and achievements.

Dolly Parton Net Worth

Early Years

Dolly Parton was born on January 19, 1946, in Pittman Center, Tennessee, United States. She was the fourth of twelve children in her family. Parton grew up in poverty, and singing allowed her to escape her harsh surroundings. She started singing at an early age and performed on local radio and television shows.

Career

Dolly Parton was already building a name for herself on local radio and television shows when she was a child in East Tennessee. She was a featured performer on The Cas Walker Show by the age of ten, and by thirteen, she was recording her own singles and performing at the legendary Grand Ole Opry. After graduating from high school in 1964, Dolly promptly relocated to Nashville to begin her songwriting career.

Her path began with success behind the scenes, producing successes for singers such as Bill Phillips and Skeeter Davis. Her career surged in 1967 when she teamed up with Porter Wagoner, obtaining a regular slot on his TV show and touring alongside him. They collaborated on countless successful duets, bringing Dolly into the spotlight.

Dolly eventually made her solo debut with chart-topping numbers including “Just Because I’m a Woman” and “Coat of Many Colors.” The iconic “Jolene” marked a watershed moment, hitting the top of the country charts in 1974. Despite their success, Dolly felt it was time to forge her own path and parted ways with Wagoner to pursue a solo career.

Dolly maintained her dominance in the 1970s with solo songs such as “I Will Always Love You” and “Love Is Like a Butterfly”.

Dolly Parton dominated the country music landscape from 1974 to 1980, scoring an amazing eight number-one hits. Her songs went far beyond the country audience, with prominent musicians such as Olivia Newton-John, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt performing her tunes.

1976-2005

In 1976, Dolly decided to broaden her musical horizons by making a strategic move into popular pop. Working with manager Sandy Gallin, she took on a more hands-on role in production to broaden her appeal. This endeavor paid off with the success of her 1977 album “Here You Come Again,” which was recorded with pop maestro Gary Klein and became her first million seller. Hits like “Here You Come Again” and “Two Doors Down” charmed fans from many genres.

In the late 1970s, Dolly’s stardom exploded thanks to Grammy awards and a string of smash singles such as “Heartbreaker,” “Baby I’m Burning,” and “You’re the Only One.” Her career peaked with “9 to 5”, the iconic theme song from the film starring Dolly, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin, which topped both the country and pop charts in 1981.

Dolly continued to innovate with singles such as “Islands in the Stream,” a duet with Kenny Rogers, and a new rendition of “I Will Always Love You.” She got a Grammy for her bold exploration of many musical forms with albums such as “The Grass Is Blue” (1999) and “Little Sparrow” (2001).

In 2005, she received her second Academy Award nomination for “Travelin’ Thru,” a song she wrote for the film Transamerica, which explored themes of transgender identity and sparked both acclaim and controversy.

2005-2014

Parton returned to the top of the country charts in 2005 with the poignant collaboration “When I Get Where I’m Going” with Brad Paisley. The same year, she started her own record company, Dolly Records, and released the empowering single “Better Get to Livin'” in 2007, followed by the album Backwoods Barbie in 2008, which was her highest Billboard 200 debut to date.

Dolly’s career continued to grow in the following years, with noteworthy releases such as the massive four-CD box set “Dolly” in 2009 and the riveting live DVD “Live From London”. She continued to produce, releasing the upbeat album “Better Day” in 2011 and dabbling in voice acting with a cameo in the animated film Gnomeo & Juliet.

Parton’s influence rose even more with major collaborations, such as a reunion with Kenny Rogers for “You Can’t Make Old Friends” in 2013 and the highly successful Blue Smoke World Tour in support of her album “Blue Smoke”. Her memorable Glastonbury Festival appearance in 2014 captivated a large crowd with her timeless tunes.

2015-2022

In recent years, Dolly has remained linked to her audience through new music and unique endeavors, like as the riveting a cappella rendition of “Jolene” with Pentatonix and her inclusion on Kesha’s album Rainbow. Her lasting effect was recognized with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2016 CMA Awards, which recognized her tremendous influence on country music and beyond.

Beyond music, Dolly’s engaging presence spread to social media, where she started the viral “Dolly Parton challenge” in 2020, dazzling admirers with her wit and originality. Despite the obstacles of the COVID-19 epidemic, she continued to inspire people with songs like “When Life Is Good Again” and supported important causes like Breast Cancer Research.

Dolly’s incredible journey culminated with the release of her album “A Holly Dolly Christmas” and a holiday special in 2020.

Dolly Parton received a nomination for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in early 2022, but she was originally skeptical because she assumed it was only for rock musicians. However, she later accepted the nomination after realizing its greater significance. Her induction was officially announced in May 2022, and on November 5, 2022, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

2022-present

During an interview in October 2022, Parton revealed that she would no longer tour but would still entertain fans with infrequent live shows. She began the new year by co-hosting NBC’s “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party” on December 31, 2022.

During an interview on The View in January 2023, Parton disclosed excited plans to release her first rock album, “Rockstar” later that year. The album’s lead track, “World on Fire,” released on May 11, 2023 and rapidly rose to number one. “Rockstar” was released on November 17, 2023, and features collaborations with music icons such as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sting, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, and Lizzo. Critically acclaimed, the album opened at number three on the Billboard 200 and topped the Country and Rock Albums charts.

Additionally, Parton contributed to the soundtrack of the film “80 for Brady” with the tune “Gonna Be You,” which was released on January 20, 2023. Diane Warren wrote the song, which featured performances by Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, and Gloria Estefan, as well as a music video featuring scenes from the film.

Acting Career

Dolly Parton’s journey in television and movies has been as varied as her musical career. She first earned prominence on The Porter Wagoner Show in the 1960s and 1970s, before going on to host her own variety shows in the following decades. Parton’s television career garnered her an Emmy nod for her performance in a Cher special in 1979.

Her feature film debut in “9 to 5” (1980), co-starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, propelled her into the film industry. Parton’s role as a secretary in the film was notable, and her theme song became a Grammy-winning hit. This triumph prompted additional accolades, including Golden Globe nominations. She proceeded to perform well in films such as “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” (1982) and “Steel Magnolias” (1989).

In addition to her cinematic work, Parton appeared in various television films, including “A Smoky Mountain Christmas” (1986) and “Wild Texas Wind” (1991), demonstrating her versatility. She has appeared in films such as “Straight Talk” (1992) and “Rhinestone” (1984), despite varied critical reception.

Aside from performing, Parton made famous cameo appearances on shows like The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) and lent her voice for animated films like Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983) and The Magic School Bus (1994).

2006-present

Parton made cameo appearances on sitcoms, most notably in Disney’s Hannah Montana series, where she played Aunt Dolly. Her work demonstrates her diverse talents and continuing popularity across various entertainment genres.

Dolly Parton has been quite busy with her film and television endeavors! She voiced a character in the animated film Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) and co-starred in Joyful Noise (2012) with Queen Latifah, a musical about saving a town’s gospel choir. One of the most interesting things she did was inspire a made-for-TV film, Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors (2015), which aired on NBC. It was based on her own life narrative, and Alyvia Alyn Lind portrayed a young Dolly. There was even a sequel that premiered in November 2016.

In 2018, she announced an eight-part Netflix series titled Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, which premiered in November 2019 and focused on her singing career. Jad Abumrad hosts the NPR podcast Dolly Parton’s America, which features her. Her biographical documentary, Here I Am, which premiered on Netflix in December 2019, is a must-see for anybody wondering about her extraordinary journey.

Then, in 2020, she produced and appeared in Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square, a Netflix musical film that won her a Primetime Emmy. Parton even made a special appearance on Grace and Frankie’s last season in 2021, reuniting with her 9 to 5 co-stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. You might have also seen her in a simulated appearance on The Orville in 2022, as well as her NBC special, Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas that same year.

Finally, on Thanksgiving 2023, she performed during halftime at the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys NFL football game.

Other Ventures

Dolly Parton’s career as a composer began with country and folk music, which reflected her childhood and Christian faith. Her songs “Coat of Many Colors,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “Jolene” are timeless masterpieces that demonstrate her legendary reputation in the music industry. Parton has composed dozens of songs throughout the years, devoting herself to creative writing every day.

Her influence extends beyond music to film soundtracks, most notably contributing the title theme to “9 to 5” and recording a famous version of “I Will Always Love You” for “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” Whitney Houston’s cover of the latter became a worldwide phenomenon, emphasizing Parton’s songwriting abilities.

Parton’s songwriting achievements include important Academy Award nominations for songs such as “9 to 5” and “Transamerica.” Her song “Travelin’ Thru” won Best Original Song at the Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards and was nominated for the Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Awards.

In the world of musical theater, Parton made waves with “9 to 5: The Musical,” which included her own tune despite lukewarm Broadway reviews. Her talents landed her nominations for the Drama Desk and Tony Awards.

Beyond music and theater, Parton has made considerable investments in her hometown of East Tennessee with The Dollywood Company, which operates a theme park, dinner theater, waterpark, and resort. Her entrepreneurial passion and commitment to her community shine through in these enterprises.

Parton’s influence extends to film and television production through Sandollar Productions, which creates award-winning documentaries and popular television shows. She also dabbled in cinema acting, starring in films such as “Straight Talk” and working on producing projects.

Personal Life

Dolly Parton is married to Carl Dean since 1966. The two met when Parton was only 18 years old and have been together ever since. Dean is famously reserved, and he and Parton rarely appear in public together.

She is a committed philanthropist who supports a variety of causes and organizations.

Controversies

In the 1970s, she was chastised for her provocative clothing and songs. In the 1990s, she was accused of lip-syncing at a concert, which she denied.

Parton has also faced criticism for her political views. She has long supported the LGBTQ+ community, although her attitude has sparked criticism from some conservative groups.

Awards

She has received 11 Grammy Awards including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, thirteen Academy of Country Music Awards.

She has also won ten Country Music Association Awards, fourty-eight BMI Awards and so many others.

Parton is also known for her philanthropy. She established the Dollywood Foundation in 1988, which provides books to children from low-income families. The foundation also established the Imagination Library, which has donated over 100 million books to children around the world.

Honors

Throughout her illustrious career, Dolly Parton has received induction into numerous prestigious Halls of Fame, showcasing her enduring impact and contributions to various fields. These honors include inductions into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986, the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001.

Parton’s recognition extended beyond music with inductions into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2009 and the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame in 2019. She also earned a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, highlighting her versatility and profound influence across diverse genres. Additionally, Parton’s recordings, including “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” and “Coat of Many Colors,” have been honored in the Grammy Hall of Fame, solidifying her legacy as an iconic figure in the music industry.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dolly Parton

1. When was Dolly Parton born?

Parton was born on January 19, 1946.

2. Where was Dolly Parton born?

Parton was born in Pittman Center, Tennessee, USA.

3. What is Dolly Parton’s net worth?

Dolly Parton’s net worth is around $650 million.

4. What is Dolly Parton’s middle name?

Parton’s middle name is Rebecca.

5. How many siblings does Dolly Parton have?

Parton is one of 12 children born to her parents.

6. Who is Dolly’s goddaughter among these pop stars?

Dolly’s goddaughter is Miley Cyrus.

7. Which Bee Gees-penned song did Dolly and Kenny Rogers score a hit duet with in 1983?

They had a hit with “Islands in the Stream”.

8. How many Grammy Awards has Dolly Parton won?

Parton has won 11 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.

9. What is Dolly Parton’s theme park called?

Parton’s theme park is called Dollywood and is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

10. What is Dolly Parton’s literacy program called?

Parton’s literacy program is called the Imagination Library.

11. Has Dolly Parton ever acted in movies?

Parton has acted in several movies, including “9 to 5” and “Steel Magnolias.”

12. Has Dolly Parton ever written a book?

Parton has written several books, including her autobiography “Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business.”

13. What is Dolly Parton’s charitable organization?

“The Dollywood Foundation.”

14. Who wrote Dolly’s hit song “9 to 5”?

Dolly Parton herself wrote “9 to 5”.

15. Did Dolly Parton marry?

Parton married Carl Thomas Dean since 1966.

16. What was the name of Dolly’s character in the film “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”?

Her character was Mona Stangley.

Conclusion

Dolly Parton is a legendary musician and philanthropist whose career has spanned over six decades. Her talent and generosity have made her an icon in the music industry. Her impact on American culture remains immeasurable, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.