Dolly Parton’s Net Worth
Dolly Parton is a singer, songwriter, actor, author, businesswoman, and philanthropist from the United States of America. Dolly Parton’s net worth is estimated to be $650 million.
For almost 40 years, Dolly Parton has been composing and singing popular country tunes. She has 41 top-10 country albums and 25 number one singles.
She is well known for her songs “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” both performed by Whitney Houston for the feature film The Bodyguard. As a solo artist, she has sold more than 100 million CDs throughout her career.
It is in addition to the hundreds of millions of records sold by other artists, including her tunes. Dolly has philanthropically and entrepreneurially invested a sizable chunk of her money in her native Tennessee.
Dollywood, her theme park, is the 24th most visited in the United States, with 3 million tourists each year. She had contributed and raised hundreds of millions of dollars for several organizations.
Dolly Parton Childhood
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born the fourth of twelve children in 1946 in Sevier County, Tennessee. Her father was a planter of tobacco. She subsequently described her family as impoverished and recalled her father paying the doctor who assisted in her delivery with a bag of oats.
Music has always been a significant part of her life, and many of her early concerts took place in churches. Parton made her television debut on The Cas Walker Show at nine and was eventually signed to the modest Louisiana label Goldband Records.
Dolly moved to Nashville the day after graduating from high school in 1964. She rapidly achieved popularity as a composer. She co-wrote numerous charting tunes with an uncle named Bill Owens.
Dolly Parton Success
Dolly signed with Monument Records in 1965, when she was 19 years old. Initially, she was advertised as a bubble gum pop vocalist. Her early pop tunes failed to chart.
After one of her country songs reached #6 on the country charts when covered by another artist (Bill Phillips – with Dolly on harmony), Monument Records saw the light and abandoned their mainstream ambitions for Dolly.
Dolly’s debut country hit, “Dumb Blonde,” peaked at #24 on the country chart. Contrary to popular belief, she did not write this song. It is one of just a few non-self-penned songs recorded by Dolly during this period. “Something Fishy,” her second single, peaked at #17.
Dolly’s self-titled debut studio album, “Hello, I’m Dolly,” was released in 1967.
Additionally, the CD included her renditions of some songs she had composed that had become popular due to the efforts of other performers. On the Billboard Hot Country Albums list, the album peaked at #11.
Wagoner Porter
Dolly was invited to begin making regular performances on Porter Wagoner’s syndicated broadcast “The Porter Wagoner Show” the following year. Wagoner quickly convinced his label RCA Victor to sign Dolly because of her ability and unrealized potential.
Porter also took on the producer role, acquiring a 50% stake in Owe-Par, the publishing business she co-founded with her uncle Bill Owens. As so, Porter had a strong financial stake in Dolly’s success.
Her second studio album, 1968’s “Just Because I’m a Woman,” opened with a duet with Porter.
Between 1968 and 1980, Porter and Dolly would record 13 studio albums as a duet. Their albums spawned 21 country chart singles, including the number one “Please Don’t Stop Loving Me.”
Regrettably, Dolly’s solo career struggled for several years to gain traction. Finally, in 1973, she achieved massive success with the song “Jolene.”
The song peaked at #1 on the country chart in February 1974 and performed admirably in non-country lists worldwide.
Subsequently, the song would be ranked 217th on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Dolly herself would remark that “Jolene” is the song she has written covered the most by different musicians.
Dolly parted ways with Porter Wagoner in April 1974 for her solo effort while he continued to produce her songs through 1975.
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Dolly Parton’s Popularity and a Career in Acting
Between 1974 and 1980, Dolly continued to chart country songs, with eight of her efforts reaching the top spot. Between 1976 and 1977, she presented her variety program.
“New Harvest… First Gathering,” her 1977 self-produced album, included pop tunes and production. She performed the R&B hits “My Girl” and “Higher and Higher” on the album.
Dolly appeared in the 1980 film “9 to 5” alongside Jane Fonda and Lilly Tomlin. Additionally, she penned and sang the film’s theme music.
Dolly received an Academy Award nomination and four Grammy nominations for the song “9 to 5”. She ultimately won Grammy Awards for Best Country Song and Best Country Vocal Performance.
Other famous Dolly films include “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” from 1982, “Rhinestone” from 1984, “Steel Magnolias” from 1989, and “Joyful Noise” from 2012.
Dolly Parton Private Life
Dolly Dean married Carl Thomas Dean in 1966. Dean avoids the limelight. He spent most of his life in Nashville, running an asphalt road surface paving firm. He is rarely seen with his wife on public occasions. Carl, according to Parton, has seen her perform in public ONCE.
Parton and Dean assisted in the upbringing of several of Parton’s younger siblings, and while she does not have children of her own, she is involved in the lives of her nieces and nephews and is also the godmother of artist Miley Cyrus.