Dolly Parton was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. She received various accolades including 11 Grammy Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award. She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1984, the National Medal of Arts in 2004, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2006, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2025.
Parton was one of the most-honored female country performers of all time. The Recording Industry Association of America has certified 21 of her single and album releases as Gold or Platinum. She had 25 songs reach number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, second only to Reba McEntire. She had 42 career top-10 country albums, a record for any artist, and 110 career-charted singles over the past 40 years. All-inclusive sales of singles, albums, collaboration records, compilation usage, and paid digital downloads during Parton's career have reportedly topped 100 million records around the world. Parton earned eleven Grammy Awards (including her 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award) and a total of 54 Grammy Award nominations, the second most nominations of any female artist in the history of the prestigious awards, following behind Beyoncé.
At the American Music Awards, she won four awards out of 18 nominations. At the Country Music Association Awards, she won 10 awards out of 45 nominations. At the Academy of Country Music, she won 13 awards and 45 nominations. She was one of only seven female artists (including Reba McEntire, Barbara Mandrell, Shania Twain, Loretta Lynn, Carrie Underwood, and Taylor Swift), to win the Country Music Association's highest honor, Entertainer of the Year (1978). She was awarded a star on the Nashville StarWalk for Grammy winners; and a bronze sculpture on the courthouse lawn in Sevierville. She called that statue of herself in her hometown "the greatest honor", because it came from the people who knew her. Parton was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1969, and in 1986 was named one of Ms. Magazine's Women of the Year. In 1986, she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Major associations Academy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 1980 Best Original Song "9 to 5" from 9 to 5 2005 Best Original Song "Travelin' Thru" from Transamerica 2025Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award Herself
Emmy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Primetime Emmy Awards 1978 Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program Cher... Special 2017 Outstanding Television Movie Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love 2020 Outstanding Television Movie Dolly Parton's Heartstrings: These Old Bones 2021 Outstanding Television Movie Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square Midsouth Emmy Awards 2018 Governors' Award for Lifetime Achievement Dolly Parton Outstanding Community Service Program Smoky Mountains Rise
Golden Globe Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 1980 Best Motion Picture Actress – Musical/Comedy 9 to 5 Best Original Song "9 to 5" (from 9 to 5) New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture – Female Herself 1983 Best Motion Picture Actress – Musical/Comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas 2005 Best Original Song "Travelin' Thru" (from Transamerica) 2018 Best Original Song "Girl in the Movies" (from Dumplin')
Grammy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group "Just Someone I Used to Know" Best Country Vocal Performance, Female "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)" Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group "Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man" Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group "Better Move It on Home" Best Sacred Performance The Golden Streets of Glory Best Country Vocal Performance, Female "Joshua" Best Country Vocal Performance, Female "Touch Your Woman" Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group "If Teardrops Were Pennies" Best Country Vocal Performance, Female "Jolene" Best Country Vocal Performance, Female "Jolene" Best Country Vocal Performance, Female All I Can Do Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female "Here You Come Again" Best Country Vocal Performance, Female "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" Best Country Vocal Performance, Female Here You Come Again Song of the Year "9 to 5" Best Country Vocal Performance, Female "9 to 5" Best Country Song "9 to 5" Best Score Written for Visual Media 9 to 5 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Best Country Vocal Performance, Female "I Will Always Love You" Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group "Islands in the Stream" Best Country Vocal Performance, Female Burlap & Satin Best Country Vocal Performance, Female "Tennessee Homesick Blues" Best Country Vocal Performance, Female Real Love Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group "Real Love" Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group Trio Album of the Year Trio Best Country Vocal Performance, Female "Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That" Best Country Vocal Collaboration "Rockin' Years" Best Country Song "Eagle When She Flies" Best Country Vocal Collaboration "Romeo" Best Country Vocal Collaboration "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" Best Country Vocal Collaboration "I Will Always Love You" Best Country Vocal Collaboration "After the Gold Rush" Best Country Album Trio II Best Bluegrass Album The Grass Is Blue Best Female Country Vocal Performance "Travelin' Prayer" Best Female Country Vocal Performance "Shine" Best Bluegrass Album Little Sparrow Best Female Country Vocal Performance "Dagger Through the Heart" Best Country Album Halos & Horns Best Female Country Vocal Performance "I'm Gone" Best Country Collaboration with Vocals "Creepin' In" Best Country Collaboration with Vocals "Tomorrow Is Forever" Best Song Written for Visual Media "Travelin' Thru" Best Musical Show Album 9 to 5: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Dolly Parton Best Country Duo/Group Performance "You Can't Make Old Friends" Best Country Duo/Group Performance "Jolene" Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song "God Only Knows" Best Song Written for Visual Media "Girl in the Movies" from Dumplin' Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song "There Was Jesus" 2022 Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album A Holly Dolly Christmas 2024 Best Country Solo Performance "The Last Thing on My Mind" 2025 Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones
Tony Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2009 Best Original Score 9 to 5: The Musical
Awards and nominations