75 Of Dolly Parton’s Best Songs For Her 75th Birthday
When I started to do this birthday gallery of my favorite Dolly Parton songs for her 75th birthday today (1/19) I decided to do 25 of her best songs and as I started my re- listening journey I thought, “Wow, there are way more than 25 of her songs that I love and listened to endlessly beginning in my childhood to today.”
So, I thought okay 30…nope how about 50? Still there were more songs and then I made the choice to go with 75 of her best songs for her 75th birthday.
Believe it or not, that still doesn’t cover all of her amazing music, but what a musical weekend I enjoyed putting this list together.
So let’s get started with number 75.
From the movie of the same name. Dolly played a radio talk show host.
Dolly says that the "old lady voice" she uses in this song sounds just like her own mother.
From the Netflix movie, 'Dumplin'.'
A great remake of a song Dolly first recorded in the 1970s. Elle King is awesome teaming with Parton on this one.
From the soundtrack to 'Joyful Noise.'
A cover of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" from his 1963 album, 'The Freewheeling' Bob Dylan.
Yep, it's a cover of the Bon Jovi classic.
An uplifting song Parton wrote for her 'Better Day"'album.
We all needed to hear this song in 2020, a year that Dolly brought a bit of light to.
A song she wrote about who she is. Dolly used dolls made with her image to promote this song. She has a handful of diehard fans who make Dolly dolls exclusively.
A cover of the song by folk singer Tim Hardin, which has also been covered by Johnny Cash. She gets an assist here from country singer Joe Nichols.
This album was so good and what a teaming of country icons.
An original song from her album she recorded as a response to 9/11.
A song that reflects Dolly's optimism on life.
A remake of a Hank Williams song that featured Dolly, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and the late Patsy Cline's voice.
The title track of her 1998 bluegrass album.
She cites this as a favorite tune she has written.
A great cover of the Eagles song.
A Billy Joel cover.
Here, she got back to her roots country sound with this classic Kitty Wells remake that Wells sings on.
Dolly's remake of a classic Johnny Cash song.
Dolly wrote this song with which has a catchy beat.
Another gem she wrote with a clever play on a old saying.
This is the title cut from her Grammy winning bluegrass project.
This album, called 'Hungry Again,' came out soon after the death of Tammy Wynette. Dolly had written some unfinished songs with Wynette.
This song was never a single but is a favorite of many Dolly fans for its unique subject matter. Dolly used a childlike voice to sing a part.
Dolly wrote this song in the '60s and gave it to Emmylou Harris to record as a single.
This Neil Young cover won a Grammy in 2000.
This is a Dolly classic that Reba remade in the 1990's.
This album "Heartbreak Express" was the followup album to Dolly's huge "9 to 5" album. This was a number one song.
The title track from Dolly's live album recorded in her native East Tennessee.
A classic Dolly love song.
This collaboration won Kenny and Dolly a Grammy in 2015.
This is the title track of the album that she toured on for the first time in twenty-five years.
One of Dolly's early hits that she shared her mother didn't really care for because of the subject matter.
It's one of her catchiest songs, you won't get it out of your head for days.
It's a quick ride of a song with perfect lyrics.
A song Dolly put on a few of her albums. This version, from 1977, is the first of them. It's one of those songs that you listen to when you need to feel better about something. It's full of hope.
This is another song that Dolly put on a few of her albums. When she really believes in a song she just releases it again for a new generation of listeners.
The 'Trio' album won a Grammy in 1988 for Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt.
A song she later re-recorded as "Smoky Mountain Memories" about her people in East Tennessee.
An album cut from Dolly's "Burlap and Satin" album that is a spiritual ride and an all-time favorite.
An early hit for Dolly that leaned toward inspiration.
The title cut from her Heartbreak Express album. Coming out after 9 to 5, the album sold over a million copies.
A song that Dolly said is about finding love.
A comical look at what women deal with on a monthly basis. Yeah, it's what you think it is and it's hillarious.
This is a catchy song that Dolly had remixed to a dance mix and released on pink vinyl that same year. It's my husband's favorite Dolly song and he's a heavy metal guy. Go figure.
Never a single but always played in every Dolly concert since she first recorded it. She plays a mean banjo too.
Classic Dolly and her love of butterflies has always been her trademark.
What a great song on her huge "9 to 5" album. Every song on that album could have been a single.
Just as Keith Urban started to become a country superstar he record this classic with Dolly. He sang it with Dolly at his New Faces Show at CRS in Nashville in 2005. The song ends with Keith saying, "You give me chills Dolly."
A song Dolly has put on a couple of her albums. A serious heartbreak of a song.
Yep, Dolly covered this classic and it's great. She is covering it once again for her 2023 "Rock" album.
A powerful song for a powerful woman. This song even inspired a series of greeting cards.
A great song for the Rhinestone movie with Sylvester Stallone. She held a huge party for the movie at her home in Tennessee for the movie's opening.
A great and catchy album cut Dolly wrote from her "Great Balls Of Fire" album.
Love this and the video is awesome as well. Number one song.
Another stellar album cut from the same album that gave us "Jolene" and " I Will Always Love You."
Classic Dolly, but a song written by pop singer Kesha's mom, Pebe Sebert.
The boy on the album cover is Dolly's not often seen husband Carl Dean.
Yeah, the movie (Rhinestone) got panned and Sly Stallone singing was rough, but Dolly on the soundtrack and this song is amazing.
One of the biggest selling songs of all time. Written by The Bee Gees. I can't hear this one enough.
The perfect heartbreak song.
This is a the song that Jane Fonda heard on the radio that inspired her to cast Dolly in 9 to 5.
Perfect for the "Real Love" album and one of my very favorites.
An album cut that tells the story of her first taking her guitar out to sing on the streets. She wrote the song with her brother Randy Parton.
A single she released in 2008. I always say this song is just as powerful as Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take The Wheel."
Dolly won a Dove award for this powerful Easter song.
Dolly's first number one solo song. It's a great story song.
What more can be said of this classic country and pop song? Can you think of Dolly without thinking about this song?
A Grammy winner for Dolly. Believe it or not, she didn't write this one, but what a hit it was for her.
Dolly says this is her favorite song that she's written. It's of course a true story of what her mother had sewn her to wear to school as a kid.
Dolly says this is her favorite song to sing. It's what she is known for, not to mention the Whitney Houston hit.
This song is a marvel and it's been my ring tone since 1995. You know, Dolly says she can't totally remember but speculates that she wrote this song and "I Will Always Love You" on the same day. What a day!