Dolly Parton: The Queen of Awards
Dolly Parton is one of the most decorated and acclaimed artists in history, having amassed an immense collection of awards over the course of her illustrious career spanning over five decades. With her unparalleled success in the music industry as well as her influential work in film, television, theater, and philanthropy, Parton is undoubtedly deserving of the title “Queen of Awards.”
Parton was born in 1946 in a one-room cabin in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Growing up in poverty, she learned from an early age the value of hard work and using her talents to help support her family. She began performing locally as a child and by her early teens had started writing her own songs. Parton’s distinctive voice and songwriting skills were immediately apparent. Though she faced skepticism from the male-dominated Nashville music scene in the 1960s, Parton refused to give up on her dreams of success.
Her big break came in 1967 with the release of her first major label album “Hello, I’m Dolly.” The album included her first top 10 country single “Dumb Blonde” and helped establish Parton as a formidable new artist. Over the next few years, she gained popularity with hits like “Joshua” and “Coat of Many Colors.” However, it was her 1974 song “I Will Always Love You” that truly propelled Parton into superstardom. Written for and originally recorded by Porter Wagoner, Parton re-recorded the song for the film “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” in 1982. Her soaring rendition topped both the country and pop charts and became one of the best-selling singles of all time, introducing Parton to a whole new global audience.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Parton established herself as the undisputed “Queen of Country Music” with a string of number one hits. Some of her most beloved songs from this era include “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Here You Come Again,” and “Islands in the Stream” with Kenny Rogers. By the 1990s, she had won her first Grammy and Academy of Country Music awards. However, this was only the beginning of Parton’s award dominance.
Unmatched Music Industry Accolades
When it comes to music awards, no artist holds a candle to Dolly Parton. With her unprecedented success at the Grammys, Country Music Association Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, and more, it’s clear that Parton is the most awarded female artist in country music history.
Grammy Awards
The Grammys honor excellence in music and Parton has taken home an impressive 11 wins from an astounding 50 nominations. Her wins span various genres including Country, Pop, Bluegrass, and Gospel. Some of her most notable Grammy wins include Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “Here You Come Again” (1978), Best Bluegrass Recording for “Grass is Blue” (2010), and Best Contemporary Bluegrass Album for “Mountain Soul II” (2019). At 75 years old, Parton remains the oldest person to win a Grammy in a country category.
Country Music Association Awards
The CMA Awards are country music’s biggest night and Parton has cleaned up with an unmatched 12 wins. This includes two wins for the prestigious Entertainer of the Year award, recognizing her as the leading country artist (1978, 1982). She also holds the record for most career CMA nominations with 49.
Academy of Country Music Awards
Parton has taken home an astounding 15 wins from the Academy of Country Music, second only to George Strait’s record of 25 wins. Some of her notable ACM wins include Top Female Vocalist (1974-1977), Top Selling Female Artist (1975-1977), and the Triple Crown Award in 2019 for her career achievements.
American Music Awards
While not country-specific, the American Music Awards recognize popular artists across all genres. Parton has won 3 AMAs including 10 consecutive wins for Favorite Country Female Artist, a record that still stands today.
In addition to her Grammy, CMA, ACM, and AMA accolades, Parton has won Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame honors. She also holds the Guinness World Record for “Most Decades with a Top 20 Hit on the US Hot Country Songs Chart” with hits in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. There’s no doubt that Dolly Parton is the most awarded living country artist of all time.
Beyond Music: Film, Television, Theater Awards
While best known as a singer-songwriter, Parton has also found success branching out into acting, film production, and other creative endeavors. She has earned nominations and wins for her contributions outside of the music world as well.
Golden Globe Awards
Parton received her first Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song for “Travelin’ Thru” from the 2005 film “Transamerica” starring Felicity Huffman. Though she didn’t take home the statue, the nomination highlighted her songwriting talents beyond country music.
Tony Awards
In 2019, Parton’s first foray into theater earned her a Tony nomination for Best Musical for co-writing “9 to 5: The Musical” alongside songwriting partner and friend Patricia Resnick. Based on the 1980 hit film they also wrote for, the musical was a smash success on Broadway.
Daytime Emmy Awards
Parton won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Original Song for writing and performing the theme song to the animated TV series “The Simpsons.” The enduring popularity of “I Will Always Love You” led to the 1992 episode featuring the song, winning Parton Emmy gold.
Additional Film/TV Nominations
Parton has also earned Golden Satellite, BMI Film & TV, and Hollywood Walk of Fame recognitions. She received an Emmy nomination for a TV movie version of “Steel Magnolias” in 1987. The multi-talented entertainer continues finding new avenues for success outside of music as well.
Prestigious National and International Honors
In addition to her music and entertainment awards, Parton’s contributions have been honored on a national and international level, cementing her iconic status.
Kennedy Center Honors
In 2006, Parton was inducted into the elite Kennedy Center Honors, an annual recognition of artists who have influenced American culture through the performing arts. She joined legends like Hume Cronyn, Steven Spielberg, and Smokey Robinson in receiving this distinguished award.
National Medal of Arts
President Barack Obama honored Parton in 2010 with the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor for artistic excellence bestowed by the United States government. The award celebrated her extraordinary career and philanthropy.
Other International Honors
Parton has also received honors from the United Nations, the Library of Congress, and the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. She continues to represent Appalachian values on a global scale.
Philanthropic Endeavors
In addition to her artistic talents, Parton is admired worldwide for her charitable work and philanthropy. Two organizations in particular have benefited millions of lives:
Dollywood Foundation
Established in 1988, the Dollywood Foundation focuses on education, healthcare, and preserving Appalachian culture in Tennessee. It has provided over $10 million in scholarships to students in need.
Imagination Library
Parton’s passion project is gifting free books to children from birth to age five regardless of family income through the Imagination Library. Since launching in 1995, the program has gifted over 185 million books in countries worldwide. It helps foster a love of reading and learning from an early age.
Parton’s philanthropic efforts have been recognized with numerous honors including the Library of Congress Literacy Award. Her kindness and generosity continue inspiring people globally.
Overall Impact and Enduring Legacy
After over 50 years in the entertainment industry, Dolly Parton remains one of the most beloved artists worldwide. Her impact and legacy are truly unmatched:
– Global Icon: With her signature big hair, charm, and feel-good songs, Parton is celebrated across generations and cultures. She represents hope, hard work, and homespun values on an international scale.
– Inspiration to Millions: Parton’s rise from poverty to superstardom is an inspiration. Her music and positivity have lifted spirits for decades.
– Trailblazer: As a female artist in the male-dominated country genre, Parton broke barriers and paved the way for generations of women in country music.
– Enduring Relevance: Well into her 70s, Parton continues producing new music and entertainment. Her classic songs and philanthropic efforts will be celebrated for generations to come.
– Awards Record: With her unprecedented collection of Grammys, CMAs, ACMs and other honors, Dolly Parton stands alone as the most awarded living country artist and one of the most decorated artists in history.
