Dolly Parton Calls For ‘Kindness’ On Her Birthday

Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group

January 20th, 2021 10:26 AM

Yesterday, celebrities across the entertainment spectrum took to social media to wish Dolly Parton a happy birthday.

Parton thanked all the well wishers on her socials and then went to Twitter to say, “This year my birthday wish is a call for kindness. We can’t just hope for a brighter day, we have to work for a brighter day. Love too often gets buried in a world of hurt and fear. So today, January 19th, let’s get to unearthing love.”

In a letter she posted to her website, Dolly wrote in part, “Like everyone else, it is now my turn for a COVID covered birthday. So what do you do? What do you want? Should you even celebrate? I am choosing the quiet path so I can stay close to the ones I love to count my blessings and think hard about what this new year will bring.”

She then asked that everyone do something special for her birthday saying, “I do have a birthday wish that I want to share with you. My wish is that everyone does something a little different today. Let’s call it a call for kindness. If you want to donate to your favorite cause, then donate. If you want to give an old friend a call during these lonely times, give them a call. If you can safely volunteer, then raise your hand to do so. If you decide that today is the day you get a dog, then run down to the shelter and find your new buddy. The choices are limitless.”

Here are just a few of the many birthday wishes for Dolly:

Luke Combs wrote on his Twitter, “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting @DollyParton or I’d post a cool picture of us. Me and @nicohocking were real close a few years back at the Grammys but were too nervous haha. Happy Birthday to one of the most iconic performers of all time. We’re jamming in your honor.”

Miranda Lambert posted a picture of she and Dolly, writing, “Happy Birthday Dolly! Thank you for your bright light. Singing with you and having some heart to heart conversations was a highlight of my life. #dollyparton.”

Reese Witherspoon posted, “Happy Birthday @dollyparton! Your bright spirit and passion for helping others shines through in everything you do. Thank you for always inspiring me to DREAM MORE! I love you forever.”

Reba posted, “Happy birthday @DollyParton, I love you more than my rhinestones! We sure have shared a lot of memories over the years and I’m looking forward to many more ahead of us. I can’t imagine a world without Dolly.”

Dolly Parton’s 75 Best Songs

• 75 – “Straight Talk” – 1992

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  From the movie of the same name. Dolly played a radio talk show host.

• 74 – “These Old Bones” – 2002

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  Dolly says that the "old lady voice" she uses in this song sounds just like her own mother.

• 73 – “Here I Am” – 2018

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  From the Netflix movie, 'Dumplin'.'
• 72 – “Holdin’ On To You” w/ Elle King – 2018

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  A great remake of a song Dolly first recorded in the 1970s. Elle King is awesome teaming with Parton on this one.

• 71 – “Not Enough” w/ Queen Latifah – 2012

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  From the soundtrack to 'Joyful Noise.'

• 70 – “Don’t Think Twice” – 2014

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  A cover of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" from his 1963 album, 'The Freewheeling' Bob Dylan.
• 69 – “Lay Your Hands On Me” – 2014

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  Yep, it's a cover of the Bon Jovi classic.

• 68 – “Better Day” – 2011

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  An uplifting song Parton wrote for her 'Better Day"'album.

• 67 – “When Life Is Good Again” – 2020

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  We all needed to hear this song in 2020, a year that Dolly brought a bit of light to.
• 66 – “Backwood Barbie” – 2008

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  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.

• 65 – “If I Were A Carpenter” w/ Joe Nichols -2005

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  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.

• 64 – “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” w/ Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn – 1993

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  This album was so good and what a teaming of country icons.
• 63 – “Red, White and Bluegrass” – 2003

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  An original song from her album she recorded as a response to 9/11.

• 62 – “Better Get To Livin'” – 2008

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  A song that reflects Dolly's optimism on life.

• 61 – “Lovesick Blues” w/ Patsy Cline, Loretta, Tammy – 1993

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  A remake of a Hank Williams song that featured Dolly, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and the late Patsy Cline's voice.
• 60 – “Halos and Horns” – 1998

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  The title track of her 1998 bluegrass album.

• 59 – “Down From Dover” – 1970

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  She cites this as a favorite tune she has written.

• 58 – “Seven Bridges Road” – 2000

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  A great cover of the Eagles song.
• 57 – “Travelin’ Prayer” – 1999

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  A Billy Joel cover.

• 56 – “Honky Tonk Songs” – 1998

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  Here, she got back to her roots country sound with this classic Kitty Wells remake that Wells sings on.

• 55 – “I Still Miss Someone” – 1999

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  Dolly's remake of a classic Johnny Cash song.
• 54 – “Time and Tears” – 1998

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  Dolly wrote this song with which has a catchy beat.

• 53 – “The Camel’s Heart – 1998

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  Another gem she wrote with a clever play on a old saying.

• 52 – “The Grass Is Blue” – 1999

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  This is the title cut from her Grammy winning bluegrass project.
• 51 – “The Salt In My Tears” – 1998

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  This album, called 'Hungry Again,' came out soon after the death of Tammy Wynette. Dolly had written some unfinished songs with Wynette.

• 50 – “Me and Little Andy” – 1977

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  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.

• 49 – “To Daddy” – 1994

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  Dolly wrote this song in the '60s and gave it to Emmylou Harris to record as a single.
• 48 – “After The Goldrush” w/ the Trio – 1999

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  This Neil Young cover won a Grammy in 2000.

• 47 – “Starting Over Again” – 1980

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  This is a Dolly classic that Reba remade in the 1990's.

• 46 – “Single Women” – 1982

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  This album "Heartbreak Express" was the followup album to Dolly's huge "9 to 5" album. This was a number one song.
• 45 – “Heartsongs” – 1994

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  The title track from Dolly's live album recorded in her native East Tennessee.

• 44 – “Yellow Roses” – 1989

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  A classic Dolly love song.

• 43 – “You Can’t Make Old Friends” w/ Kenny Rogers – 2014

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  This collaboration won Kenny and Dolly a Grammy in 2015.
• 42 – “Pure and Simple” – 2016

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  This is the title track of the album that she toured on for the first time in twenty-five years.

• 41 – “Traveling Man” – 1971

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  One of Dolly's early hits that she shared her mother didn't really care for because of the subject matter.

• 40 – “Don’t Call It Love” – 1985

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  It's one of her catchiest songs, you won't get it out of your head for days.
• 39 – “All I Can Do” – 1976

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  It's a quick ride of a song with perfect lyrics.

• 38 – “Light Of A Clear Blue Morning” – 1977

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  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.

• 36 – “High And Mighty” – 1993

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  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.
• 35 – “Wildflowers” – w/ Trio – 1987

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  The 'Trio' album won a Grammy in 1988 for Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt.

• 34 – “Appalachian Memories” – 1983

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  A song she later re-recorded as "Smoky Mountain Memories" about her people in East Tennessee.

• 33 – “Calm On The Water” – 1983

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  An album cut from Dolly's "Burlap and Satin" album that is a spiritual ride and an all-time favorite.
• 32 – “The Seeker” – 1975

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  An early hit for Dolly that leaned toward inspiration.

• 31 – “Heartbreak Express.” – 1982

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  The title cut from her Heartbreak Express album. Coming out after 9 to 5, the album sold over a million copies.

• 30 – “The Bargain Store” – 1975

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  A song that Dolly said is about finding love.
• 29 – “The PMS Blues” – 1994

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  A comical look at what women deal with on a monthly basis. Yeah, it's what you think it is and it's hillarious.

• 28 – “Baby I’m Burning” – 1978

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  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.

• 27 – “Applejack” – 1977

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  Never a single but always played in every Dolly concert since she first recorded it. She plays a mean banjo too.
• 26 – “Love is Like A Butterfly” – 1974

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  Classic Dolly and her love of butterflies has always been her trademark.

• 25 – “Hush Bye Hard Times” – 1980

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  What a great song on her huge "9 to 5" album. Every song on that album could have been a single.

• 24 – “Twelfth of Never” w/ Keith Urban – 2005

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  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."
• 23 – “What A Heartache” – 1991

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  A song Dolly has put on a couple of her albums. A serious heartbreak of a song.

• 22 – “Stairway To Heaven” – 2002

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  Yep, Dolly covered this classic and it's great. She is covering it once again for her 2023 "Rock" album.

• 21 – “Eagle When She Flies” – 1991

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  A powerful song for a powerful woman. This song even inspired a series of greeting cards.
• 20 – “Tennessee Homesick Blues” – 1984

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  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.

• 19 – “Down” – 1979

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  A great and catchy album cut Dolly wrote from her "Great Balls Of Fire" album.

• 18 – “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That” – 1989

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  Love this and the video is awesome as well. Number one song.
• 17 – “Lonely Comin’ Down” – 1974

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  Another stellar album cut from the same album that gave us "Jolene" and " I Will Always Love You."

• 16 – “Old Flames ( Can’t Hold A Candle To You)” – 1980

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  Classic Dolly, but a song written by pop singer Kesha's mom, Pebe Sebert.

• 15 – “My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy” – 1969

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  The boy on the album cover is Dolly's not often seen husband Carl Dean.
• 14 – “One Emotion After Another” – 1984

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  Yeah, the movie (Rhinestone) got panned and Sly Stallone singing was rough, but Dolly on the soundtrack and this song is amazing.

• 13 – “Islands In The Steam” – 1982

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  One of the biggest selling songs of all time. Written by The Bee Gees. I can't hear this one enough.

• 12 – “It’s Such A Heartache” – 1985

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  The perfect heartbreak song.
• 11 – “Two Doors Down” – 1977

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  This is a the song that Jane Fonda heard on the radio that inspired her to cast Dolly in 9 to 5.

• 10 – “Think About Love” – 1985

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  Perfect for the "Real Love" album and one of my very favorites.

• 9 – “Nickels and Dimes” – 1978

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  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.
• 8 – “Jesus and Gravity” – 2008

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  A single she released in 2008. I always say this song is just as powerful as Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take The Wheel."

• 7 – “He’s Alive” 1989

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  Dolly won a Dove award for this powerful Easter song.

• 6 – “Joshua” – 1971

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  Dolly's first number one solo song. It's a great story song.
• 5 – “9 to 5” – 1980

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  What more can be said of this classic country and pop song? Can you think of Dolly without thinking about this song?

• 4 – “Here You Come Again” – 1977

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  A Grammy winner for Dolly. Believe it or not, she didn't write this one, but what a hit it was for her.

• 3 – “Coat Of Many Colors” 1971

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  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.
• 2 – “I Will Always Love You” – 1974

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  Dolly says this is her favorite song to sing. It's what she is known for, not to mention the Whitney Houston hit.

• 1 – “Jolene” – 1974

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  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!

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Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group

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Dolly Parton