Dolly Parton Biography

Ms. Parton is not only the reigning queen of country music but an iconic songwriter, musician, actress and entrepreneur as well. In 1967 she became a star on Porter Wagoner's syndicated television show for which they would claim two Country Music Association (CMA) Awards for Duo of the Year. Quickly finding her wings as a solo artist, she joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1969 and went on to win CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Honors two years in a row, and eventually Entertainer of the Year. And then came Hollywood. Her very first film was 9 to 5 which brought her an Academy Award nomination as well as perhaps the most successful hit song of her career. She went on to star in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk. And a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame seemed inevitable. She has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and won countless awards including eight CMA and seven Grammy Awards. She has taken more than 20 songs to No. 1 including the mega hit "I Will Always Love You" which is the only song to have topped the charts three times - twice for Dolly (1973 and 1982) and once for Whitney Houston (1992). In 1999, she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and was awarded the Kennedy Center Honor in 2006. She was also nominated for an Academy Award that year for her hit song "Travelin' Thru" written for the movie Transamerica. She continues to tour extensively and release albums at a prolific rate, displaying her immense versatility in pop, country, bluegrass and blues. Dolly is also proud to be a successful author and creator of the Imagination Library which provides books to pre-school children. It currently operates in all 95 counties in Tennessee and has expanded into 700 communities in 45 states and Canada. It currently serves over 400,000 children and in 2007 will mail out 4.4 million books (bringing the total to 11 million since its inception). And last but not least, Dollywood - her very own theme park - flourishes in Tennessee.