All the reasons country superstar Dolly Parton is a Guinness World Records ICON
We’re far from the first people to call Dolly Parton an ICON.
But we’re incredibly proud to have recently handed this global superstar her very own golden Guinness World Records certificate – our very highest honour.
Dolly is being named an ICON in our 70th year, and quite frankly, it’s tough to think of anyone who’d deserve it more.
Between penning some of the world’s most iconic hits, her stunning vocals and illuminating stage presence, famous film roles, and the way she celebrates and lifts up other artists, her reputation around the world is unrivalled.
Put simply, there’s no one quite like Dolly Parton.
Dolly with GWR's Amanda Marcus
The 79-year-old has a career spanning more than 60 years, she’s released 66 studio albums, collaborated with the world’s biggest stars (including her goddaughter Miley Cyrus) and been showered with countless awards and accolades.
Oh, and did we mention today (5 August) is Dolly Parton Day? The woman literally has her own national day!
We just hope she has enough room left on her walls amongst all her gold and platinum records after GWR spokeswoman Amanda Marcus popped by Dolly’s studio in Nashville, Tennessee, with a LOT of framed record certificates.
“Oh, I surely didn’t break that many records,” Dolly said as she saw them all.
But she absolutely has!
Dolly, known for her anthems “Jolene” and “9 to 5”, has 11 impressive record titles to her name, including the most consecutive decades with Top 10 album entries on the Billboard country chart (female).
She’s an absolute powerhouse, having earned that record with Top 10 albums in SEVEN different decades, from 1968’s Just Between You and Me to 2023’s Rockstar.
Rockstar hitting the top spot meant Dolly extended her record for longest span of No.1 hits on the US Top Country Albums chart (female) to 46 years 197 days.
Dolly’s recent duet with Sabrina Carpenter, a remix of the young songstress’ “Please Please Please”, also extended Dolly’s record for most decades with a Top 20 hit on the US Hot Country Songs chart to seven.
Dolly’s other records:
- Most Top 10 entries on the US Top Country Albums chart (female) – 49
- Most studio albums released by a female country singer - 66
- First country singer to be nominated for the EGOT
- Longest span of No.1 hits on the US Hot Country Songs chart - 35 years 26 days
- Most Grammy nominations for a female country artist – 51
- Most hits on the US Hot Country Songs chart by a female artist – 113
- Most decades on the US Hot Country Songs chart (female) – 7
- Most No.1 hits on the US Hot Country Songs chart by a female artist - 25
Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief of Guinness World Records, said: “Dolly is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated writers and performers in the history of country music, as reflected in her many Guinness World Records certificates, but her reach and influence extends far beyond the musical world.
“There are so many projects close to her heart - poverty relief, education, medical research and of course the Imagination Library free-books campaign - and it's these important, life-changing initiatives that propels Dolly into a different league. She truly is a living legend, and it's an honour to bestow GWR ICON status upon her."
And Dolly joked as she looked at herself in our upcoming Guinness World Records 2026 edition: “Well, that is something else!
I guess when you’ve lived as long as I have you ought to be doing something. You ought to set some kind of a record just for living that long.
“That’ll be my next one,” she teased.
After being handed her ICON certificate, Dolly said: “Well, to say I’m humbled by that would be an understatement.
“I take a lot of pride in it and I’m very humbled by it.”
There are a few other records tied to Dolly, and although she didn’t earn these herself, she’s certainly responsible for them.
Whitney Houston’s pop cover of her country hit “I Will Always Love You” is the best-selling physical single by a solo artist (female) with 24 million copies sold worldwide.
The song formed part of the soundtrack of movie The Bodyguard which saw Whitney make her acting debut alongside Kevin Costner.
The song also holds the record for most consecutive weeks at No.1 on US singles chart (solo female) with 14 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 between November 1992 and February 1993, as well as the most consecutive weeks at No.1 on UK singles chart (solo female) – 10, shared with Rihanna’s “Umbrella”.
And in 2023, an appropriate number of Dolly fans – 959 of them – formed the largest gathering of people dressed as Dolly Parton in Kerry, Ireland.
A truly beautiful sight to behold.
Do you love Dolly so much you’ve collected a huge stash of her memorabilia?
Here’s your chance to Be Part Of It and earn yourself a Guinness World Records title…
The record for largest collection of Dolly Parton memorabilia is currently unclaimed, so maybe you’ve got the goods to take the title for yourself just sitting there. Let us know!