Dolly Parton
Locust Ridge, Tennessee singer-songwriter and entertainer who is the most beloved country artist in history — Jolene and I Will Always Love You are two of the greatest songs ever written.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Greatest Country Artists of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank Dolly Parton significantly differently across lists.
The Cultural Record
Discography

Locust Ridge, Tennessee singer-songwriter and entertainer who is the most beloved country artist in history — Jolene and I Will Always Love You are two of the greatest songs ever written


Awards & Recognition
11 Grammy Awards
View All 11 Grammy Wins →Country Music Hall of Fame
9 to 5 (1980
Oscar)
I Will Always Love You (1974
covered by Whitney Houston)
The Case For Dolly Parton
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for Dolly Parton.
Often Compared To
Emmylou Harris
#2Country — Birmingham, Alabama · 1969–present
Birmingham, Alabama country-folk singer whose pure voice and impeccable taste in songs made her one of the most beloved and critically respected artists in American music for five decades.
Garth Brooks
#3Country — Tulsa, Oklahoma · 1989–present
Tulsa, Oklahoma country star who applied arena rock energy to country music and became the second best-selling solo artist in US history, behind only Elvis.