Dolly Parton is a woman who really needs no introduction.
She’s obviously incredibly talented, smart, funny as hell and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Though she came from practically nothing, growing up poor with 11 siblings in rural East Tennessee, she’s become an icon and beloved figure in country music and pop culture alike.
She grew up singing in church and made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry when she was just 13 years old, which is just incredible in it’s own right. So, needless to say, she has quite an extensive catalog that has stretched throughout several decades.
Since her debut album in 1967 Hello, I’m Dolly was first released, she’s put out 51 studio albums, 6 live albums, and 5 soundtrack albums. Think about that for a second… 51 full-length albums? It’s pretty mind-blowing, but it’s what has secured her spot alongside the greatest to ever play country music.
We recently put together a list of some of George Strait’s best singles from his many decades in the business, and it got me thinking, how about some of Dolly’s best?
So, I combed through her countless singles and tried to narrow it down to just 10 from each decade. I mean, she put her very first single out in 1959.
It wasn’t easy, but here’s what I came up with:
The 60’s:
It’s Sure Gonna Hurt – 1962
What Do You Think About Lovin’ – 1964
Don’t Drop Out – 1966
Dumb Blonde – 1966
Something Fishy – 1966
I’m Not Worth The Tears – 1968
Just Because I’m a Woman – 1968
In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad) – 1968
Daddy – 1969
My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy – 1969
The 70’s:
Joshua – 1970
Coat of Many Colors – 1971
Touch Your Woman – 1972
My Tennessee Mountain Home – 1972
Jolene – 1973
I Will Always Love You – 1974
Light of a Clear Blue Morning – 1977
Here You Come Again – 1977
You’re the Only One – 1979
Great Balls of Fire – 1979
The 80’s:
Starting Over Again – 1980
9 to 5 – 1980
I Will Always Love You – 1982
Save the Last Dance for Me – 1983
Islands in the Stream with Kenny Rogers– 1983 (she was technically featured, but I had to include it)
Tennessee Homesick Blues – 1984
To Know Him Is To Love Him with Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt – 1987
I Know You by Heart with Smokey Robinson – 1988
Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That – 1989
Yellow Roses – 1989
The 90’s:
 White Limozeen – 1990
Country Road – 1992
More Where That Came From – 1993
Full Circle – 1993
Silver Threads and Golden Needles with Loretta Lynn & Tammy Wynette – 1993
Just When I Needed You Most – 1996
Honky Tonk Songs – 1998
The Salt in My Tears – 1998
Walking On Sunshine – 1999
A Few Old Memories – 1999
The 2000’s:
Silver Dagger – 2000
Bluer Pastures – 2001
Shine – 2001
Hello God – 2002
Welcome Home – 2003
Travelin’ Thru – 2006
Better Get to Livin’ – 2007
Jesus and Gravity – 2008
Drives Me Crazy – 2009
Backwoods Barbie – 2009
The 2010’s & 2020’s:
Unlikely Angel – 2015
Head Over High Heels – 2016
There Was Jesus with Zach Williams – 2019
I Still Believe – 2020
When Life Is Good Again – 2020
