Dolly Parton’s 3 Favorite Singers
Dolly Parton is widely considered one of the most iconic and influential country music artists of all time. With a career spanning over 50 years, she has sold over 100 million records worldwide and has received countless accolades for her music and philanthropic work. Throughout her illustrious career, Parton has collaborated with many legendary artists, but there are three in particular that she has expressed special admiration and fondness for – Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and Loretta Lynn. While Parton hasn’t explicitly ranked her top favorites, based on her comments over the years, these three singers stand out as holding a special place in her heart.
Emmylou Harris
Parton and Harris first met in the late 1960s and quickly formed a strong artistic and personal bond. They began collaborating musically in the 1970s and recorded several duets together. However, it was their work on the iconic “Trio” albums in the late 1980s that truly showcased their incredible vocal harmonies and artistic chemistry. The “Trio” albums, which also featured Linda Ronstadt, sold millions of copies and earned the three women a Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 2009.
Parton has spoken frequently about her admiration for Harris’s voice and artistry. In a 2020 interview, she described Harris’s vocals as “angelic” and said “When Emmylou sings, you just want to go to heaven. I love her voice.” She has also praised Harris for her musicianship, calling her “one of the greatest singers and natural talents I’ve ever known.” Parton values Harris not just as a collaborator, but also as a friend and confidante. In a 2016 interview, she said “Emmylou is like a sister to me. We’ve been through so much together over the years.”
The deep respect and affection between the two is evident in all their collaborations. Parton has said she learned a great deal about her own singing and songwriting by working with Harris. In a 2021 interview, she reflected “Emmylou taught me so much just by being who she is. She’s a true artist.” Their bond has endured for over 50 years and their musical partnership is considered one of the most iconic in country music history. By all accounts, Emmylou Harris holds a very special place as one of Dolly Parton’s favorite artists.
Linda Ronstadt
Like Harris, Linda Ronstadt first met Parton in the late 1960s after both women’s careers were taking off. They quickly formed a strong friendship and admiration for one another’s talents. Ronstadt brought a diverse range of influences to her music, effortlessly blending genres like rock, pop, country, and mariachi. Parton has said she was constantly in awe of Ronstadt’s “force of nature” personality and versatility as an artist.
The three women collaborated for the first time in 1987 on the hugely successful “Trio” album. Its success led to two more “Trio” albums in the late 80s/early 90s, cementing their status as one of the most acclaimed vocal collaborations in music history. Parton has said working with Ronstadt and Harris was a highlight of her career. In a 2021 interview, she reflected “I learned so much from Linda, just being in the studio with her and working on arrangements. She had such range and such style.”
Even after Ronstadt retired from performing in the late 2000s due to Parkinson’s disease, Parton has continued to speak fondly about her friend and their musical partnership. In a 2020 interview, she said “Linda was always such a fireball, just a powerhouse singer. I miss her voice and I miss her as a friend.” It’s clear from Parton’s comments over the decades that Linda Ronstadt holds a very special place in her memories and admiration as both a gifted artist and close friend. Their “Trio” albums demonstrated not just their incredible vocal chemistry, but also a deep respect and caring for one another.
Loretta Lynn
While slightly younger, Loretta Lynn blazed her own trail as a pioneer for women in country music throughout the 1960s and 70s. Her bold, unapologetic songwriting tackled issues like divorce, birth control, and the challenges faced by rural/working-class women – topics that were virtually taboo for most other artists at the time. Lynn’s fearless authenticity and storytelling resonated strongly with Parton, and the two women formed a close friendship from the earliest days of their careers.
In numerous interviews, Parton has praised Lynn for being a trailblazer who helped pave the way for other female country artists. She said Lynn “told her story and didn’t care who liked it or not. She was so brave.” Parton also credits Lynn with inspiring her own songwriting to tackle deeper issues beyond just romance. In a 2021 interview, she reflected “Loretta was the first one to really write songs about life – about being a woman, about her experiences. She made me braver in my songwriting.”
The close bond between Parton and Lynn has endured for over 50 years of friendship. Parton has said Lynn was always supportive of her career ups and downs. In a 2020 interview, she fondly remembered “Loretta was always there with her two cents when I needed advice or just a shoulder to cry on. She’s been like a sister to me all these years.” Their mutual admiration is clear in Lynn’s induction of Parton into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. After over five decades in the industry, Loretta Lynn remains one of Dolly Parton’s closest friends and a towering influence on her music and career.
In Conclusion
While Dolly Parton hasn’t explicitly ranked her top three favorite singers, her comments over the decades provide valuable insight into the artists who have clearly made the deepest impact on her personally and professionally. Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and Loretta Lynn stand out as holding an especially significant place in Parton’s memory due to their incredible musical collaborations, enduring friendships, and the artistic inspiration they provided.
At its core, Parton values artists who push creative boundaries, tell authentic stories, and support one another with kindness, empathy and respect. Harris, Ronstadt and Lynn epitomize these qualities and more through their brave artistry and multi-decade bonds with Parton. While her musical tastes span far beyond just these three, they will surely remain among her most cherished colleagues and friends for all the rich gifts of talent, courage and caring they have shared. Dolly Parton’s legacy in country music is deeply intertwined with these iconic women who helped shape her own legendary path.