My 10 Favorite Dolly Parton Songs, Ranked

In honor of country music icon Dolly Parton, who passed away in August, here are ten of our favorite songs by the superstar.

#10: “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” (re-released, 2026)

As she marked her 80th birthday earlier this year, Parton released a powerful new rendition of her classic hit, “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” featuring Lainey Wilson, her goddaughter Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah, and Reba McEntire to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1976 song.

The single and music video, which also features David Foster on piano and The Christ Church Choir on backing vocals, reimagines the song with a message of spreading love and hope, according to a news release.

#9: “Yellow Roses” (White Limozeen)

This old-timey country tune off Parton’s 1989 album represented her return to traditional country after a brief segue into pop-country. The slide guitars and melancholy, poetic lyrics make it one of the artist’s most-covered tunes.

#8: “Wrecking Ball” (Rockstar)

Technically, this is Cyrus’ biggest solo hit, but of all the songs Parton has covered, the duet version of this power ballad sticks out: Parton’s whispery versus adding a haunting dimension that counterbalances Cyrus’ strong, deeper vocals. But more than that, it’s standout on Parton’s excellent rock-covers record (2023’s Rockstar) which also includes fun collaborations like the Rolling Stones cover of “(Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (with Brandi Carlisle), and Heart’s “Magic Man” (with Ann Wilson).  

#7: “Here You Come Again” (Here You Come Again)

This 1977 pop-crossover hit is a fan favorite, a soaring ode to self-acceptance on par with Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”

#6: “Islands in the Stream” (Eyes That See in The Dark)

This 1983 duo with Kenny Rodgers is a campy, ’80s country-pop karaoke favorite. The chorus is absolutely one of the most memorable from the hits that defined that decade.  

#5: “Little Sparrow” (Little Sparrow)

This sweet title track off her 2001 album soars with the richest vocal harmonies — Parton and Alison Krauss — atop a sea of steel-pedal guitars and fiddles. Parton is all of us when she sings, “I am not a little sparrow … I am just a broken dream.”

#4: “Coat of Many Colors” (Coat of Many Colors)

A touching autobiographical tune about a poor childhood and a coat sewn with love by her mother, Parton’s 1971 song “Coat of Many Colors” is the classic folk anthem that highlights Parton as a poignant storyteller. The song’s message of being proud of your roots, even if you come from a family that lacks the means to afford designer coats, is timeless.

#3: “I Will Always Love You” (Jolene)

When I first heard this powerful ballad, it wasn’t Parton’s 1974 original — it was Whitney Houston’s rendition from the 1992 movie The Bodyguard. Parton herself loved that cover, and reportedly donated proceeds from the song’s royalties to underserved communities. But the original version is notably special. I cried listening to it on a jog the morning after Parton’s passing.

#2: “9 to 5” (9 to 5 and Odd Jobs)

This upbeat working woman anthem came out in the era of shoulder pads and Virginia Slims’ “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby” cigarette ads. And ’80s kids like me would ultimately hear it in our parents’ cars, absorbing its catchy chorus and message of empowerment. I have a vague memory of watching the movie that inspired the tune (9 to 5) at a sleepover when I was 7 or 8 at my friend Karina’s home and cheering for the trio of feminist heroes (Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin) who took down The Man.

#1: “Jolene” (Jolene)

Perhaps the most iconic and covered Parton hit is this 1974 song about heartache and jealousy. As Parton sings about the fictional protagonist’s lush, auburn hair and stunning looks, we feel the desperation in her voice. It undoubtedly be covered for years to come.  

Related: Dolly Parton at 80: The All-Star New Single