Inside Dolly Parton's incredible career and how many songs she's written
Sophia Hammond
Updated on April 03, 2026
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has revealed its list of 2022 inductees and Dolly Parton is on it.
Alongside Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Lionel Richie, and Carly Simon, Parton will go down in history as one of the most influential musical performers.
The Tennessee native entered the entertainment industry in 1967 aged 21 and has become renowned for her country music.
In celebration of the singer/songwriter’s achievement, let’s take a look through her incredible career.
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Dolly Parton initially rejected her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination
When Dolly Parton’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination was announced back in March 2022, the singer initially attracted media attention for rejecting the honour.
Parton said, that while she was “extremely flattered” to be nominated, she asked to “respectfully bow out” under the impression she had “not earned the right” to be counted as a rock artist.
Nominees who receive the most votes are given a special honour for their influential contribution to rock music in Cleveland’s Rock Hall Museum. To be considered, artists should have released their first record 25 years before induction.
“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 said in March. “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!”
However, organisers rejected her rejection, saying “rock and roll is not defined by any one genre.”
“Dolly Parton’s music impacted a generation of young fans and influenced countless artists that followed,” they said in a statement. “Her nominations to be considered for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame followed the same process as all other artists who have been considered.”
Celebrating Dolly Parton’s career
Dolly Parton has become one of the most beloved performers of all time throughout her impressive music career which spans almost six decades.
Parton was the fourth of 12 children born to Avie Lee Caroline and Robert Lee Parton, a tobacco farmer in 1946.
The family moved from a one-room cabin in Tennessee to rural Appalachia when the country star was a child.
Parton wrote her first song, Little Tiny Tassle Top, aged 5, which she performed barefoot on her family’s porch.
Aged 7, she made her first guitar out of an old mandolin and bass guitar strings.
Parton credits her uncle, Bill Owens, for launching her professional music career as he arranged her first gig as a regular performer on The Cas Walker Show aged 10.
She released her first single, Puppy Love, in 1959 with Goldband Records, though it would be eight years before she achieved commercial success.
In January 1967 her singles, Dumb Blonde and Something Fishy, entered the Billboard country music charts, and by July she had released her first full-length album with Monument, Hello, I’m Dolly.
Parton’s most well-known album, Jolene, was released in 1974 reaching number one in the Billboard country music charts and number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 list.
From then on, her career took an upwards trajectory, and in 1980 she starred in her first film, 9 to 5.
She has won over 10 Grammy Awards for her musical contributions and is now internationally recognised and adored.
How many songs Dolly Parton has written?
Dolly Parton estimates she has written over 3,000 songs during her lifetime. 450 of these have been recorded, however, it has not always been Parton that has performed them.
Merle Haggard, Hank Williams Jr, and Kenny Rodgers are among the artists who have famously recorded and released tracks written by Parton.
Songs you may not realise were written by the country singer are as follows:
- There’ll Always Be Music, Tina Turner
- Fuel to the Flame, Skeeter Davis
- I’m In No Condition, Hank Williams Jr
- Circle of Love, Jennifer Nettles
- The Stranger, Kenny Rogers
- Waltz Me To Heaven, Waylon Jennings
- To Daddy, Emmylou Harris
- I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston
