Dolly Parton Ranked Among Rolling Stone’s Top 10 Country Artists of All Time

Everyone’s favorite Smoky Mountain songstress has received some well-deserved recognition! Rolling Stone magazine recently updated its list of the “100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time” and Dolly Parton was ranked among the top 10 musicians. To compile the list, Rolling Stone considered an artist’s musical output, their impact on the genre, and, above all, their status as a true original. Given the above criteria, it’s easy to see why Dolly was placed among the best of the best!

Top 10 Country Artists

Dolly finds herself among good company in Rolling Stone’s list! You can see the magazine’s top 10 ranking below:

1. Merle Haggard
2. Hank Williams
3. Johnny Cash
4. Loretta Lynn
5. The Carter Family
6. Willie Nelson
7. Waylon Jennings
8. Dolly Parton
9. George Jones
10. Garth Brooks

In their write-up for the #8 spot, Rolling Stone praises Dolly as a “global pop icon” whose “birdlike soprano has been the gold standard for countless singers”. Parton was also recognized as one of the genre’s greatest singer-songwriters, having penned and recorded more than 20 Number One songs over the decades. In addition to her incredible success on the country charts, Dolly’s crossover hits, her work as an actress, and her glowing personality have made her a household name. Rolling Stone even gave a shout-out to the Dollywood theme park!

To see the full list of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time”, click here.

Dolly to Receive Award at ACM Honors

Rolling Stone isn’t the only organization honoring Dolly Parton this year! The Academy of Country Music will present Parton with the Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award at the 11th Annual ACM Honors. The event will be held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on August 23, 2017, and the ceremony will be broadcast on CBS at a later date.

The Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award is given each year “to recognize a country music artist or industry professional who is committed to serving others, has a generosity of spirit, and shows a dedication to helping those in need”. Gary Haber was a business manager and accountant who worked for artists like Carrie Underwood and Lynyrd Skynyrd and served as president of the ACM Lifting Lives charity.

Dolly Parton has lifted many lives with her wonderful philanthropic work. In the past six months, Parton has raised millions of dollars for Smoky Mountain residents who needed a hand up. Speaking about her charitable efforts in Sevier County, Dolly said, “I’m as proud of this as anything I’ve ever done.” Dolly also founded the Imagination Library, a great organization that distributes free books to children around the world.

In addition to Dolly, the ACM Honors will give awards to Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, Kelsea Ballerini, Eric Church, and the late Shel Silverstein.

Dolly-Themed Fun in the Smokies

When you visit Pigeon Forge, TN, there are lots of opportunities to enjoy some Dolly Parton-themed fun! Here are five awesome attractions in the Smoky Mountains that Dolly fans definitely don’t want to miss:

• Dollywood
• Dollywood’s Splash Country
• Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede
• Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures
• Dolly Parton Statue