What is the best Dolly Parton song of all time?

Country royalty, crossover smashes, and hidden gems spanning six decades of pure Dolly magic — from barn-burning bangers to tearjerkers that stop the room. Which one hits hardest for you?

1

Jolene

A 1974 ballad pleading with a red-haired woman not to steal her husband, now one of the most recognizable songs in country history.

2

I Will Always Love You

A heartfelt farewell ballad Parton wrote for mentor Porter Wagoner, later made globally iconic by Whitney Houston's 1992 cover.

3

9 to 5

A Grammy-winning working-class anthem with typewriter rhythms that topped both the country and pop charts in 1980.

4

Coat of Many Colors

Parton's personal favorite song, a tender childhood memory about her mother sewing a coat from rags inspired by the biblical story of Joseph.

5

Islands in the Stream

A Bee Gees-penned duet with Kenny Rogers that topped both the country and pop charts in 1983.

6

Here You Come Again

Her first major pop crossover hit in 1977 and first Grammy win, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

7

Mule Skinner Blues

A bold yodeling bluegrass cover that won Parton her first Grammy Award in 1970 and showcased her remarkable vocal range.

8

Joshua

Her first solo No. 1 country hit in 1971, a charming song about a shy mountain man who wins a woman's heart.

9

Light of a Clear Blue Morning

An uplifting spiritual anthem from 1977 marking her newfound career independence after leaving the Porter Wagoner Show.

10

Two Doors Down

A playful, uptempo honky-tonk hit from 1978 about forgetting heartbreak by joining a party next door.

11

Travelin' Thru

An Academy Award-nominated ballad written for the 2005 film Transamerica, showcasing her songwriting and emotional depth.

12

Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That

A sassy, uptempo country hit from 1989 that reached No. 1 on the Billboard country charts.

13

Just Because I'm a Woman

An early feminist anthem from 1968 challenging double standards around a woman's past in romantic relationships.

14

The Grass Is Blue

A haunting bluegrass heartbreak song from her 1998 album that earned her a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album.