Dolly Parton’s Legacy, Impact on a Generation of Fans & The Music Industry | Billboard News Special

Dolly Parton’s legacy stretches far beyond country music — through songwriting, crossover hits, cultural influence and a lifetime of generosity. In this Billboard News Special, Billboard staff and guest Carly Pearce break down what made Dolly singular, and why her impact continues to grow. From “Jolene” and “9 to 5” to “I Will Always Love You,” we revisit the songs and moments that defined Dolly’s career, her unmatched connection to fans, and the way artists across genres continue to reference, cover, sample, and celebrate her work—plus the philanthropy that remains central to her story. Russ PenuellYou’re talking about a woman that on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart has had more No. 1s than anybody. Carly PearceI believe that Dolly’s lasting impact will obviously be her music. Dolly PartonWho would want everybody to be the same? What a boring world that would be. Melinda NewmanAnd she said, “Our little white a–es aren’t the only ones that matter. “ Dolly PartonTo me, I’m just a working girl. I never think of myself as a star. As somebody once said, a star is nothing but a big ball of gas. [laughs] I don’t wanna be that. Katie BainOh, gosh. Um, her big takeoff moment, that one I don’t know. She was already such a big star. Like, to me, it’s like I entered, my brain formed, and Dolly Parton was already a superstar. Russ PenuellSo my dad was an auctioneer, and he had this Dodge pickup truck. I’m still such a country fan today, but, you know, laying on the floorboard of that truck going between auctions, my sister and I would sleep on the floorboard, like right next to the gearshift. It was like a single cab pickup truck. And I distinctly remember him playing Dolly Parton a lot, and talking about [laughs] Dolly Parton a lot. Taylor MimsI have no idea when I, like, learned who Dolly Parton was. Dolly Parton was just always around. I do think a lot of the younger generations were introduced to Dolly through her appearances on Late Night, orjust her being around. You still always understood that there was something special about thiswoman. I think those are the earlier memories that a lot of the younger generation has of her, and then the older you get, the more you start to see her influence everywhere. But of course, I would say the other big part that maybe I didn’t realize at the time, of course, was of course that Whitney Houston covered her song. “I Will Always Love You” was massive. It was huge, and very big Whitney Houston family. My mother, my sister absolutely loved her, and that song was incredible. And then you start to hear the history of that song, and it becomes even more impressive. Watch the full video above!