Queen of Country Music in 2025: The Legendary Performer Dolly Parton
By Iggy Kay | Last Updated: Sep 23, 2025
Hailing from the small town of Sevierville, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains area, Dolly Rebecca Parton was born the fourth of 12 children on January 19, 1946.
A hardworking and determined Capricorn (for you astrology buffs), she began performing and recording as a child, and upon graduation from high school, immediately moved to Nashville.
During her storied career, Dolly has won numerous awards, including Grammys and Emmys. She was also nominated several times for Oscars and Golden Globes.
Yet, beyond her prodigious talent, this queen of country is also a philanthropist and social advocate. Let’s talk about the one and only incomparable Dolly Parton!
Why Dolly Parton Is Called the Queen of Country
Because of its focus on the struggles of everyday life, country music is sometimes described as the “heart and soul of America.” As a result, country music fans hold a special place in their hearts for those who can sing of life’s difficulties from experience.
With her humble beginnings, Ms. Dolly Parton knew all about the trials and tribulations of country folk at an early age… and her music reflects how she has been true to herself. After all, she was born to a hardworking, tobacco-farming father and a mother who bore 12 children by age 35.
Describing her family as being “dirt poor” during her youth, Dolly’s first musical experiences were in the choir at a traditional Appalachian Pentecostal church, and she made her first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry at just 13.
From the start, young Dolly Parton was an artist of the people. This self-made performer sang about what they knew, and their affection and support for her efforts and authenticity raised her to musical royalty because of it. Over the years, she has also become considered as one of the godmothers of queer country for her queer-coded attitude; fostering diversity and acceptance.
How old is Dolly Parton now? She turned 79 years old this 2025. Dolly Parton’s husband was Carl Dean, with whom she enjoyed nearly 6 decades of marriage before he passed away last March 2025.
Breakthrough Hits and Defining Songs
Dolly started out in Nashville as a songwriter, penning several top 20 country hits for other artists.
After some successful duets and top 10 country hits with Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton had one of her first hits with the #1 country single “Jolene.” It was a defining hit for her, as she sang dramatically, begging another woman not to steal the man she loves.
Jolene was followed in the country charts in 1974 by her other hits, including “I Will Always Love You” and “Love Is Like a Butterfly.”
Her first million selling single was “Here You Come Again,” which topped the country charts and also broke into the Top 20 nationally.
Dolly Parton finally emerged onto the national stage with her song “9 to 5” from the movie of the same name as it went to #1 in the country, pop, and adult-contemporary charts. The song also received an Oscar nomination for best song.
Crossing Over to Mainstream Pop and Film
From 1974 to 1980, Dolly had 8 singles reach #1 in the country charts, with many top international stars like Olivia Newton-John and Linda Ronstadt covering her songs.
In 1978, she appeared on national television in both a Barbara Walters interview and in the top rated Carol Burnet Show. What’s more, Dolly won the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1979.
Her super star-making break came in 1980 with her role in the groundbreaking feminist comedy film “9 to 5” co-starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Dolly wrote the title song, which was nominated for an Academy Award. She joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1986.
Another milestone was attained with the Dolly Parton Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2022.
Dolly Parton’s Place Among the Queens of Country Music
The original 3 Queens of Country Music were Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton, with a 4th, Reba McEntire, being added later on.
The Lineage of Country Queens
Patsy Cline was the first of the acknowledged country queens to cross over and have hits on both the country and popular charts. Unfortunately, her professional singing career lasted for only 8 years, as she died tragically in a plane crash in 1963 at age 30.
Loretta Lynn first appeared at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in 1960, and in 1966, became the first woman to write a #1 country hit “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man).” She also had a #1 hit, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” in 1970, which bore the same title as her N.Y. Times bestselling autobiography in 1976 and Oscar Winning bio-pic in 1980.
Reba McEntire started her country music career in 1975, and since then, has placed over 100 singles in the Billboard Country Music Chart, with 25 reaching #1. She began acting in movies in 1990, and in 2001, she appeared on Broadway in “Annie Get Your Gun.” That same year, her 6-season TV series “Reba” launched, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination in 2004.
Among such royalty, Dolly Parton was both a friend and influence on her queenly sisters. Her and Loretta Lynn’s careers paralleled one another, with both being friends and confidants while appearing regularly on the 2 top syndicated country music shows at the time.
Over the years, they came to lean on one another through thick and thin, with Dolly writing the foreword to Lynn’s 2020 book, “Me & Patsy Kickin’ Up Dust,” which was about the late queen that they both strongly admired.
By her own admission, Reba McEntire was also influenced by Dolly Parton, admitting that Dolly’s vibrato and vocal style has influenced her own brand of what she calls vocal gymnastics [1].
Dolly Parton and the Queer Community
According to an article written in the December 7, 2018 issue of the Advocate, the writer begins by stating, “There’s a lot wrong in America, but Dolly Parton is not one of them.” He then goes on to say that Dolly is not only an American legend but also an enduring queer icon [2].
Dolly as a Camp and Drag Icon
In an interview for ABC News, an interviewer asked Parton point blank, “You once lost a Dolly Parton lookalike contest, true or false?” [3].
“True,” responded the star, “There was a Halloween contest years ago on Santa Monica Boulevard where all the guys were dressed like me. I overexaggerated my look, went up on stage, and didn’t win. I don’t even think it was close.” This drag inspiration then laughed [3].
Songs as Queer Anthems
Some of Dolly Parton’s songs are celebrated as gay country songs. For example, the title song of her 8th album released in 1971, “Coat of Many Colors,” has caught on as a queer anthem for its symbolic subject matter and metaphor for the Gay pride flag.
It tells the story of a coat Dolly’s mother made from scraps of colored fabric when the family couldn’t afford to buy her a new one. Even though the other kids mocked her, she nevertheless felt proud because she knew the coat was made with love and that she was truly rich despite her family’s lack of money.
Another song titled “Travelin’ Thru” was the theme song for the transgender road trip drama “Transamerica,” and it was nominated and performed at the 2006 Oscars by Dolly.
Dolly’s Advocacy and Allyship
Stories abound recounting Dolly taking a stance for the LGBTQ+ community.
On the CNN show “Money,” when Dolly was asked about the North Carolina LGBTQ Bathroom Bill, she responded, “I think everybody should be treated with respect. I hope everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are” [4].
Likewise, when a young woman was required to turn her pro-marriage equality t-shirt inside out at an amusement park owned by Dolly, the star quickly apologized publicly for the incident and demanded a change of policy that welcomed all people [2].
Dolly has also backed marriage equality as early as 2009. This was true not only in the U.S. but in Australia as well. She appeared on the show “News Breakfast” on the Australian Broadcasting System via a live feed from Nashville, where she said, “I think love is love and we have no control over that” [5].
Beyond Country: Dolly Parton’s Broader Influence
While she is known as the queen of country music, Dolly’s impact on the world goes beyond this genre.
Dolly Parton Musical and Theatre Legacy
The Dolly Parton musical “Dolly: A True Original Musical” premiered in Nashville, Tennessee on July 18, 2025 with music by Dolly Parton, book by Parton and Maria S. Schlatter, and direction by Bartlett Sher.
A retelling of the singer’s life through her words and music, it has received stellar reviews and is expected to begin on Broadway in the coming 2026 theatre season.
Dolly Parton Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Dolly Parton’s fortune is estimated to be 650 million dollars. She has sold over 100 million records, and cover versions of her songs have earned well, too. She also owns the Dollywood theme park and several other popular tourist attractions [5].
Philanthropy
Known not only for her musical talent, Dolly Parton has also been a generous philanthropist. Here is just a brief look at some of her different charitable donations:
- The Dollywood Foundation established in 1988 is designed to help children find educational success.
- The Buddy Program in her home county of Sevier, Tennessee offers $500 to each student who buddies up with another, payable when they both graduate high school.
- The Imagination Library was established in 1995 and provides free books to preschool children across the globe.
- Parton raised over $500,000 and contributed another $500,000 to begin the construction of a new hospital in her home county of Sevier, Tennessee.
- The My People fund established in 2016 donated $1,000 per month for 6 months to families that lost their homes in the Great Smoky Mountain fires in 2016.
Answering Your Questions About Dolly Parton Queen Of Country
Here are some questions people have been asking about the queen of country and camp aesthetics, Dolly Parton.
Who Is the Queen of Country Music?
Dolly Parton is nowadays thought of as the queen of country based not only on her musical output but also on her overall cultural impact, such as speaking out on LGBTQ+ issues, her philanthropic endeavors, and more.
Has the Queen of Country Music Died?
Two of the acknowledged four queens of country music have died. The first, Patsy Cline died in an untimely plane crash in 1963 at the age of 30. Loretta Lyn died on October 4, 2022 at the age of 90 in her home in Tennessee.
Who Are the Three Queens of Country?
According to Celebritycolumn, the three queens of country music are Dolly Parton (the timeless icon), Loretta Lynn (the coal miner’s daughter), and Reba McEntire (the modern trailblazer) [6].
Who Was the First Queen of Country Music?
The first queen of country music was Kitty Wells, who was born on August 30, 1919 and passed away on July 16, 2012. She was the first female singer to ever top the U.S. country music charts and helped open up an industry that had previously been closed to women.
Queen of Country: Why Dolly Is the One for Many of Us
Besides being a talented songwriter and performer, Dolly Parton is thought by many to be the ultimate queen of country because of her social and philanthropic impact on the world around her.
She has become an icon in LGBTQ+ culture because of her honest and principled stances on human rights, as well as a powerful philanthropist who believes that children are our most important resource.
She has also weighed in on women’s rights and stepped up with much needed help during various environmental crises that have occurred in her home state of Tennessee.
Aside from being a queen of country, many would also say that Dolly Parton is also an American national treasure.
References
- Interview With Reba McEntire for CMT Inside Fame on Country Music Television; retrieved August 26, 2009 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reba_McEntire#cite_note-cmtvideo-153
- 8 Times Dolly Parton Cemented Her Status As An LGBTQ+ Icon, Broverman, Neal, The Advocate (2018, December 7) https://www.advocate.com/music/2018/12/07/8-times-dolly-parton-cemented-her-status-lgbtq-icon#rebelltitem1
- 5 Things You Might Not Know About Dolly Parton, InTheSpotlight, ABC News (2009, November 12) https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/InTheSpotlight/dolly-parton-talks-robin-roberts-gma/story?id=9063556
- Dolly Parton On North Carolina Bathroom Bill, Leight, Elias, The Hollywood Reporter (2016, June 7) https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/dolly-parton-north-carolina-bathroom-900623/
- Dolly Parton Net Worth, CelebrityNetWorth. Com (2025) https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/singers/dolly-parton-net-worth/
- The Three Queens Of Country Music, Alice, Celebritycolumn (2024, July 7) https://www.celebritycolumn.com/archives/13166