Dolly Parton Reacts to Her Title as Billboard’s Greatest Country Artist of All Time, Sings ‘I Will Always Love You’

Dolly Parton may be the only person surprised that Billboard named the country icon to the No. 1 spot on its list of the 100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time, which rolled out throughout November.

“I just learned that Billboard Magazine just released their list of greatest country artists of all time, and they have my name sitting at the top! Can you believe that?” Parton exclaimed in a video she made in response to the honor.

Since releasing her 1967 debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, Parton has scored 25 No. 1s on Billboard’s Country Songs chart, the most among all women, and 49 top 10s on Country Albums, including nine No. 1s, most recently in 2023 with Rockstar. At 78, the much-beloved entertainer and renowned songwriter is still at the top of her game.

From an early age, Parton wanted to make country music. “Now, when I was a little girl, I would sit around the radio and listen to the Grand Ole Opry and hearing all those great big stars like Hank Williams and Kitty Wells and Johnny Cash, I dreamed about what my life could actually become as well,” she continued.

Parton thanked Billboard but saved her biggest thanks for her fans: “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to take my music all around the world and to see all my dreams come true.” Then she concluded by singing a line from one of her most famous songs. See the complete video above.

In determining these rankings for the list, members of the Billboard editorial staff selected their top artists from a list of nearly 200 names spanning the past century. Certain parameters were set, including focusing primarily on mainstream country artists, instead of embracing adjacent genres like Americana or bluegrass

While commercial success was a factor, artistry, longevity and enduring influence counted just as much. Because it’s too early to gauge the long-term impact of many of the newer acts yet, the list leans largely on artists whose place in country music history is already secure. But everyone on the list has in their own way moved the genre forward.