‘A Diamond in a Rhinestone World’: Dolly Parton’s Life in Pictures

All That Glitters Image Credit: Harry Langdon/Getty Images Parton poses for a portrait session in 1978. The singer was facing a huge breakthrough that year: She was riding off the success of her 1977 album Here You Come Again, which would win the star her first Grammy in 1979, and that July, she released her 20th LP Heartbreaker. Baby Dolly Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Parton photographed as a child. The singer was born in 1946, the fourth of 12 children, in a one-room cabin in Pittman Center, Tennessee. The Golden Days Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Dolly Parton smiles for a portrait in 1970. In the early days of her career, Parton appeared as a regular on The Porter Wagoner Show. Wagoner convinced his label, RCA, to sign Parton, leading to a string of hits in the Seventies. Georgia Gem Image Credit: Tom Hill/WireImage Parton performs at Georgia Tech’s Alexander Memorial Coliseum in 1977 in Atlanta. Dolly Live Image Credit: LGI Stock/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images Parton plays the banjo for a live audience in 1981. Parton played a number of instruments by ear, including the guitar, the fiddle, the autoharp, and the mountain dulcimer. A Georgia Peach Image Credit: Tom Hill/WireImage Parton pays a visit to Peaches Records in Atlanta in 1977. She greeted fans, signed autographs, and left her handprints outside the store. Two Titans on Set Image Credit: Julie Fineman/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images Oprah Winfrey joins Parton on the set of her variety show ‘Dolly’ in 1987. Though short-lived, the variety show aired on ABC in September of that year, and featured Parton chatting, singing, and doing comedic bits with celebrity guests. Double Trouble Image Credit: Harry Langton/Getty Images Singer and actress Cher poses with Parton in 1978. Parton appeared on Cher’s variety show that year, and the two of them sang a rendition of “I Got You Babe.” A Sister Thing Image Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images Parton’s sisters Stella and Frieda team up in Bearsville Studios in Hollywood in 1981. The three of them were featured on Frieda’s a rock album, Two-Faced, which eventually came out in 1984. Recording Frieda Parton’s New Album – January 15, 1981 at Bearsville Studios in Hollywood, CA, United States. Studio 54 Queen Image Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images Parton poses with a horse during an after party at Studio 54 in May of 1978. That year, after one of her concerts, club co-owner Steve Rubell transformed the famed club into a rural farm, just for her. Dream Duet Image Credit: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images Parton and Kenny Rogers perform together at Brendan Byrne Arena in 1988. They had a decades-long friendship and recorded multiple duets, including “Islands in the Stream” and “Real Love.” Steal the Screen Image Credit: Steve Schapiro/Corbis/Getty Images Parton on the set of 9 to 5 with film director Colin Higgins and actors Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in 1979. The film was a massive commercial success that made Parton a household name, and her hit of the same name for the soundtrack soon took over the charts. Welcome to Dollywood Image Credit: Ron Davis/Getty Images Parton poses for a portrait with her guitar at Dollywood in 1993. Originally opened as a local theme park, Dollywood became an official memorial to where Parton grew up once she partnered with the family that owned the property and reopened the site in 1986. Today, Dollywood welcomes 3 million people a year. ‘Rhinestone’ Moments Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Parton and Sylvester Stallone during the filming of Rhinestone in 1984. Dollywood Dreams Image Credit: Ron Davis/Getty Images Parton rides on a truck at her Dollywood theme park in 1997. “That’s one of the other things I’m as proud of as anything I’ve done. That’s a park we started, you know, 30-plus years ago. And it’s just a place for families,” she said of the park. Dolly and Miley Forever Image Credit: Vijat Mohindra/NBC/Getty Images Parton performs with her honorary goddaughter and mentee Miley Cyrus. The two had a deep bond, with Parton offering career advice to Cyrus over the years. She also played Miley’s Aunt Dolly in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana. Glamour Girl Image Credit: Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images Parton poses in 1987. Her career continued to unfold in the Eighties, with a variety show, tons of films (including The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1982 and Steel Magnolias in 1989), and plenty of hits. Glastonbury Great Image Credit: Shirlaine Forrest/WireImageWireImage Dolly Parton performs on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2014. She played hits like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You.” America’s Sweetheart Image Credit: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Parton thrilled American when she performed during halftime game between the Washington Commanders and the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. She even wore the famed Cowboys cheerleader uniform as she sang her greatest hits in front of a 93,000 people. The moment was also captured on the Netflix series America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. A Cup of Ambition Image Credit: George Rose/Getty Images Parton poses during a 1980 portrait session before taking the stage at Ceasar’s Palace in California. It was the beginning of a big year for her: In December, she’d go on to star as Doralee Rhodes in the famous film 9 to 5. She also wrote and recorded the theme song, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.