Dolly Parton Songs Ranked
Dolly Rebecca PartonĀ (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian, known primarily for her work inĀ country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album debut in 1967 withĀ Hello, Iām Dolly. With steady success during the remainder of the 1960s (both as a solo artist and with a series of duet albums withĀ Porter Wagoner), her sales and chart peak came during the 1970s and continued into the 1980s. Partonās albums in the 1990s did not sell as well, but she achieved commercial success again in the new millennium and has released albums on various independent labels since 2000, including her own label, Dolly Records. In 1999, Parton was inducted into theĀ Country Music Hall of Fame. She has composed over 3,000 songs, including āI Will Always Love Youā (a two-time U.S. country chart-topper, as well as an international pop hit forĀ Whitney Houston), āJoleneā, āCoat of Many Colorsā, and ā9 to 5ā. She is alsoĀ a select groupĀ to have received at least one nomination from the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards,Ā Tony Awards, andĀ Emmy Awards. As an actress, she has starred in films such asĀ 9 to 5Ā (1980) andĀ The Best Little Whorehouse in TexasĀ (1982), for which she earnedĀ Golden GlobeĀ nominations forĀ Best Actress, as well asĀ RhinestoneĀ (1984),Ā Steel MagnoliasĀ (1989),Ā Straight TalkĀ (1992) andĀ Joyful NoiseĀ (2012). Here are all of Dolly Parton songs ranked.
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17. Blue Smoke (Blue Smoke, 2014)
āLove the blue grass tones, rich stories and remake of Bon Jovi āLay your hands on meā, awesome! Like wine, Dolly gets better with time! Songs are great and definitely show her talent as both musician and songwriter! Only Dolly can deliver such an awesome album!ā
16. Hard Candy Christmas (The best little whorehouse in Texas, 2001)
āHard Candy Christmas has always been a favorite since I first watched Best little whorehouse in Texas that starred Dolly. Iām barely getting through tomorrow But still, I wonāt let sorrow bring me way downā
Such an underrated song from Dollyā¦ā
15. Miss You ā Miss Me (Blue Smoke, 2014)
āMiss you, Miss me was written for a TV Christmas movie end in 2013, one she has sung just with her and guitar, simply, clear and touching. Miss You-Miss Me makes me cry every time, she really captures the pain of a child of divorce but in a loving heartfelt way.ā
14. Here You Come Again (Dumplinā, 1977)
āA bright and cheery venture into the pop scene for Dolly, and a great song from the late ā70ās. Ā The song is bouncy enough through the verses and chorus, but that BRIDGEā¦āAll youāve gotta do is smile that smileā¦ā. Ā I love that part. Ā Fantastic song memory.ā
See more: Dolly Parton Albums Ranked
13. Islands In the Stream (Greatest Hits, 1982)
āIslands in the Streamā is one of those miracle songs: a piece so kitschy and melodically simple that it ought to be unbearable. And yetā¦ itās got that something. Perhaps itās just Dolly Parton, who really does sound fantastic on this: this range lands right on many womenās vocal break, but Parton navigates it expertly.ā
12. Youāre the Only One (Great Balls of Fire, 1979)
āThe Great Balls Of Fire was a pop record that had everything from Jerry Lee Lewis to Beatles covers. It had the hit Youāre The Only One. And the most country song on the record Sweet Summer Lovinā. It depends on how big of a fan you are as to how well you like this. It is more pop then anything else she ever didā
11. Tennessee Homesick Blues (Rhinestone, 1984)
āLove all the songs from the movie Rhinestoneā¦.itās really a shame that Dolly doesnāt release these songs in their original versions and remixed as well. Some of her best work! Makes me homesick for Tennessee every time I hear it!ā
10. Two Doors Down (Dumplinā, 1977)
āTwo Doors Downā may be her best-written pop tune ever. Itās a great fun song about not wallowing in your sorrow and getting out to enjoy life. āMe and Little Andyā has also become a Dolly classic. A very sad country song set to a pop arrangement, a unique Dolly-child voice that may sound odd but comes out amazingā
9. Whyād You Come in Here Lookinā Like That (White Limozeen, 1989)
āāWhyād You Come In Here Lookin Like Thatā became a Dolly classic instantly with its catchy chorus.Ā White Limozeen is just one more reason to turn off the radioās cowboy hatted clones and enjoy the stellar country of Dolly and her contemporaries.ā
8. Heartbreaker (Heartbreaker, 1978)
āMoments ofĀ HeartbreakerĀ are cringeworthy, as Parton almost completely abandons her roots to chase pop superstardom. Her writing seems to be more about volume than quality here, and lacks the sincerity of her early-career output that managed to stay true to the country genre while still pushing the envelope and showcasing her talents as a writer and singer.ā
7. The Bargain Store (The Bargain Store, 1975)
āBefore she became the Rhinestone Cowgirl, Dolly Parton wrote some delightful and very individual songs. This little gem doesnāt even sound especially country, a very good thing in my book. She works her metaphor well as she puts her human wares on display and sings plaintively and fetchingly to a tidy acoustic backing.ā
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6. Love is Like a Butterfly (Love is Like a Butterfly, 1974)
āĀ If you have ever been to Dollywood youāve heard this song at her little theatre and throughout her park. I makes me think of my mom, who loved going to Dollywood every season. That song will never grow old.ā
5. The Seeker (Dolly: The Seeker/We Used To, 1975)
āI would recommend this song to anyone. Anyone liking older country music will love this song. Tell all your friends about this song. Her voice is angelic.
4. Coat of Many Colors (Just Because Iām a Woman, 1968)
āAm i going soft in the head? I listened to this and was totally drawn into the emotional story. I suppose thatās Dollyās big thing, the old brilliant words and catchy country pop thing. Children are so cruel though, arenāt they?ā
3. 9 to 5 (9 to 5 and Odd Jobs, 1980)
ā9 to 5 is a classic. It has great lyrics and a nice and catchy country melody, and Dollyās unique and beautiful voice makes this song a classic.ā
2. I Will Always Love You (Jolene, 1974)
āWell, sure, itās better than Whitney Houstonās version, but thatās only because I think any reasonable person would take ā70s country over early ā90s R&B. But hey, itās not like Parton is doing much of anything here. Itās the same kind of melodrama, just played with a bit more restrain (which is good). Take out the well-articulated melody and youāre left with one of the weakest cuts onĀ Jolene.ā
1. Jolene (Jolene, 1974)
āAs for āJoleneā, Iāve always felt it could be a tad longer, a tad bigger, a tad more dramatic. Because it can afford that. Itās a good enough song to justify it. Whatever needs to be said about the good stuff it offers has already been said, the bareĀ wordingĀ of the first verse, how Partonās submission to the perfection of this mysterious woman makes want to side with her even though itās all hopeless and embarrassing, how the acoustic guitars play it dark and dry but still iconic, the measured but incisive sting of the strings doubling on the slide guitarā