Dolly Parton Earns Two Spots in ‘2018 Guinness World Records’
When Dolly Parton logged her first Top 20 hit on the country chart in late 1967 with “Something Fishy” (also her first self-penned single), she was on her way to a remarkable career that would see her reach global icon status just a decade later. Now, the singer-songwriter, actress and author adds a pair of historically significant records to her long list of accomplishments. In a recent visit to
With a total of 73 Top 20 hits featuring her distinctive voice, including her most recent, a Grammy-winning updated version of the 1974 classic “Jolene” with a capella quintet Pentatonix, Parton becomes the only artist to score Top 20 country hits spanning six decades, surpassing even George Jones, Reba McEntire and Elvis Presley.
“To receive these two Guinness World Records is so great,” Parton says in a release. “Joining so many wonderful singers and songwriters who have been honored this way feels so special to me. You never know when you start out with your work how it’s going to turn out, but to have these two world records makes me feel very humbled and blessed!”
When it charted in 2016, the “Jolene” collaboration became Parton’s 107th chart entry since her 1967 debut hit, “Dumb Blonde.” Her chart run includes 21 entries featuring longtime duet partner Porter Wagoner, and 24 Number One hits including the original solo release of “Jolene,” and her signature songs, “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You.”
Parton is featured in the Guinness World Records 2018 Edition, now available in stores and online. First published in 1955, the books have, to date, sold more than 136 million copies in more than 100 countries and have been printed in over 20 languages.