Dolly Parton’s name is synonymous with many things, like her hit “Jolene,” her blonde tresses, her nine Grammy Awards (she’s been nominated 49 times), and… an inordinate amount of wealth? That’s right: The country music superstar has built a more than impressive net worth in his 50-plus-year career. His fortune today is far removed from his humble roots.
Parton was one of 12 children who grew up in the Great Smoky Mountains of Sevier County, Tenn. Although she and her family were poor, Dolly told NBC, “We were rich in things money can’t buy. You know, like love and kindness and understanding.”
Parton’s country music career took off at age 19. Now in her seventies, the “9 to 5” star is still singing the ballads, investing in causes close to her heart and growing her massive fortune. The country’s net worth queen is taller than you think. Let’s take a closer look.
‘I Will Always Love You’ Made Dolly Parton Millions
Whitney Houston took “I Will Always Love You” to the top of the charts in 1992 as part of the hit The Bodyguard soundtrack, but it was Dolly Parton who originally wrote and recorded the power ballad in the ’70s. “A lot of people say it’s Whitney’s song, and I’m always like, ‘Okay, she can take the credit, I just want my cash,'” Parton joked in 2015 (via Today).
Having the rights to “I Will Always Love You” was so important to Parton that she even turned down Elvis Presley’s request to sing his song because he reportedly wanted half the publishing rights in return. Parton told CNBC it was “one of those first really tough business decisions that I had to make.”
Parton clearly made the right choice. According to The Heavy, he made around $10 million from the song in the ’90s. Houston’s performance held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for a record 14 weeks. Parton’s original version also topped the country charts when it was released in 1974 and again when it appeared on CNBC’s The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas soundtrack in 1982.
Of course, that was just one of the 700 songs Parton wrote. She has been nominated for two Academy Awards for her original songs: “9 a 5” from the film of the same name and “Travelin’ Thru” from Transamerica. In total, Parton is ranked among the best-selling artists of all time.
Dollywood’s economic impact is worth billions
Dolly Parton celebrated her 74th birthday in 2020, and the living legend’s earning potential is still through the roof. In 2017, Forbes ranked Parton as one of the highest-paid celebrities, grossing around $37 million in a year, thanks to a tour that “grossed in the mid-six figures per city” and an impressive real estate portfolio that includes her park. Dollywood theme in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
According to a 2017 study analyzed by the Times News, Dollywood supports more than 19,000 jobs, generates more than $118 million in state and local tax revenue, and has an economic impact of more than $1.5 billion. The park debuted with a $137 million expansion in 2019, and yet the singer has never been to the attractions. In true Dolly fashion, she explained her reasoning: “With all my hair I had a lot to lose, like my wig or my shoes. I don’t like being messed up,” he said. The New York Times. “I’m going to have a handsome man spoil it, I don’t want to be taken away.”
Parton’s collective talents have generated an incredible fortune. Celebrity Net Worth attributes her wealth to a staggering $600 million, and yet she seems determined to give it away.
Dolly Parton’s charitable contributions help ‘keep the faith’
Dolly Parton is as well known for her philanthropic efforts as she is for her hit songs and iconic relationships. When Tennessee was devastated by wildfires in 2016, Parton pledged to give $1,000 a month to families who lost their homes, NBC News reported.
Among his many charitable endeavors, the legend is best known for his Library of Imagination program, founded in 1995 to promote literacy in his home state and around the world. Inspired by her father’s illiteracy, the organization began sending free books to local children ages birth to 5, then expanded to include the entire state of Tennessee and beyond.
