Dolly Parton

by itemvn  |  August 03, 2005 [Edit]

Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is a Grammy Award-winning country music singer/songwriter, composer, author, actress and philanthropist. To date, she remains The Most Successful Female Country Artist In History, with 25 number-one singles (a record for a female country artist) and 42 top-10 country albums (a record for any country artist).

She is known for her distinctive mountain soprano, sometimes bawdy humor, flamboyant dress sense, and her large bosom.

Parton's initial success came as a songwriter, writing hit songs for Hank Williams, Jr. and Skeeter Davis. She signed with Monument Records in late 1965, where she was initially pitched as a bubblegum pop singer, earning only one national chart single, "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby," which did not crack the Billboard Hot 100. Additional pop singles also failed to chart.

Parton is a hugely successful songwriter, having begun by writing country music songs with strong elements of folk music in them, based upon her upbringing in humble mountain surroundings, and reflecting her family's evangelical Christian background. Her songs "Coat of Many Colors" and "Jolene" have become classics in the field, as have a number of others. As a composer, she is also regarded as one of country music's most gifted story tellers, with many of her narrative songs based on persons and events from her childhood. Parton has published almost 600 songs with BMI to date and has earned 37 BMI awards for her material.

Parton is one of the most-honored female country performers of all time. She has achieved 25 RIAA certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum honors. She has had 26 songs reach No. 1 on the Billboard country charts, a record for a female artist.

She has received seven Grammy Awards and a total of 42 Grammy nominations. At the American Music Awards she has won three awards, but has received 18 nominations. At the Country Music Association, she has received 10 awards and 42 nominations. At the Academy of Country Music, she has won seven awards and 39 nominations. She is one of only five female artists (including Reba McEntire, Barbara Mandrell, Shania Twain, and Loretta Lynn), to win the Country Music Association's highest honor, "Entertainer of the Year."

(Last edited by a1b)