Dolly Parton on being Billboard’s biggest country artist of all time

Dolly Parton may be the only person this surprises billboard named the country icon No. 1 on its list of the 100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time, released throughout November.

“I just learned that billboard The magazine just released its list of the greatest country artists of all time, and my name is at the top! Can you believe this?” Parton exclaimed in a video she created in response to the honor.

Since the release of their debut album in 1967 Hello, I’m Dolly, Parton has had 25 No. 1s billboards country songs chart, the most among any woman, and 49 top 10 country albums, including nine No. 1 hits, most recently in 2023 with Rock star. At 78, the popular entertainer and renowned songwriter is still at the top of her game.

From a young age, Parton wanted to make country music. “When I was a little girl, I would sit by the radio and listen to the Grand Ole Opry and all these big stars like Hank Williams, Kitty Wells and Johnny Cash. “I dreamed about what my life could actually be like. Well,” she continued.

Parton thanked billboard However, she saved her biggest thanks for her fans: “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to take my music around the world and see all my dreams come true.” She finished by singing a line one of their most famous songs. The full video can be found above.

When determining this ranking for the list, the members of the billboard The editorial team chose their top artists from a list of almost 200 names from the past century. Certain parameters were established, including focusing primarily on mainstream country artists rather than considering adjacent genres such as Americana or bluegrass

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