Image Credit: PRESS

There are some artists who become part of your life without you even realising it. Dolly Parton was one of them.

Whether you grew up listening to country music or not, chances are you know a Dolly Parton song. You might have sung along to ‘9 to 5’ on your way to work, pleaded along with ‘Jolene’, danced to ‘Islands in the Stream’ or heard Whitney Houston’s huge version of ‘I Will Always Love You’. Dolly’s songs crossed generations, genres and borders, becoming part of everyday life for millions of people, including generations of music lovers in the UK.

Dolly died on 25th August 2026 at the age of 80, bringing an end to a remarkable career that stretched across more than six decades.

The Songs That Dolly Gave To The World

For British fans, ‘9 to 5’ is perhaps one of the easiest ways to understand Dolly’s incredible ability to write a song that simply sticks. Written for the 1980 film of the same name, it became an anthem for anyone who has ever dragged themselves into work on a Monday morning. Somehow, despite only reaching No.47 on the UK Singles Chart when it was released, it has gone on to become her most-streamed and downloaded song in the UK.

Then there’s ‘Jolene’. Released in 1973, the song is almost impossibly simple: a woman begging another woman not to take the man she loves. But Dolly’s storytelling makes it feel incredibly personal, and the song has remained one of her most beloved recordings. It reached No.7 in the UK and continues to find new audiences decades after its release.

And then there is ‘I Will Always Love You’. Dolly wrote the song herself in 1973, long before Whitney Houston turned it into a worldwide phenomenon with her version for The Bodyguard. Houston’s recording spent 10 weeks at No.1 in the UK, but the story has always come back to Dolly, the songwriter behind one of the most recognisable ballads ever written.

Her partnership with Kenny Rogers gave us another unforgettable moment. ‘Islands in the Stream’ became one of those songs that seems impossible not to sing along to, reaching No.7 in the UK and remaining one of Dolly’s most-streamed songs here.

A Legacy That Goes Beyond Country Music

But Dolly was never just about the hits. There was ‘Coat of Many Colors’, ‘Here You Come Again’, ‘9 to 5’, ‘Jolene’ and countless other songs that showed what made her special: she could take ordinary experiences like love, heartbreak, work, family, jealousy and hope, and turn them into something universal.

And perhaps that’s why her loss feels so significant. Dolly had a warmth about her that made her feel like she belonged to everyone. She could be glamorous and funny, glamorous and self-deprecating, a global superstar and still seem completely down to earth.

She leaves behind an extraordinary catalogue of music and a legacy that goes far beyond country. For generations of fans, Dolly Parton wasn’t simply an artist they admired, she was a voice that was always there.

So, put on ‘9 to 5’, turn up ‘Jolene’ or grab someone for a duet of ‘Islands in the Stream’. There really is no better way to remember Dolly.