Dolly Parton’s life and career as a country music icon, actor and philanthropist, in photos

By The Associated Press
August 25, 2026 | 2:26 PM

Photos of Dolly Parton’s rise from humble Tennessee roots to country music icon, actor, businesswoman and philanthropist. Known for hits including “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” Parton has died at 80.

Dolly Parton’s greatest songs, and the stories behind them

By The Associated Press
August 25, 2026 | 3:26 PM

NEW YORK (AP) — Dolly Parton was more than a musician, actor, author, philanthropist, or theme-park entrepreneur. Parton, who died Tuesday at age 80, occupied a space in our global cultural imagination — a figure of American mythology, someone best described as larger-than-life and then a little bit more. But from the very beginning, at the heart of everything she accomplished, she was a songwriter. Selecting 11 songs across her many decades of recorded music is a fool’s errand, but there are some classics that stand above others. Here are a few across her discography — from country songs that challenge traditional gender dynamics to the greatest ballad ever committed to record. Listen to all of the tracks on our Spotify playlist. 1968: Parton was long celebrated for the feminist themes throughout her music. That progressive sociopolitical stance is evident from the beginning of her career, which overlapped with the emergence of the women’s liberation movement. On the country classic “Just Because I’m a Woman,” Parton’s protagonist reminds her partner he need not judge her for having previous sexual partners — after all, he's had some, too. “My mistakes are no worse than yours,” she sings, “Just because I’m a woman.” She said the song was inspired by a conversation with her late husband, Carl Dean, who asked her if she’d been with any men before they met.

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