Featured on the radio broadcast, "The Cass Walker Program," in Knoxville at the age of nine

Made debut at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN

TV debut on the syndicated show, "The Porter Wagoner Show"

Moved to Nashville after graduating from high school

Signed with Monument Records and released first single, "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby"

Recorded debut album, Hello, I'm Dolly

Joined the weekly country-music, syndicated-television program, "The Porter Wagoner Show"; performed with Wagoner on tour and released several singles together

Co-founded Sandollar Productions with manager Sandy Gallin

Recorded the single, "I Will Always Love You" (written about her professional break from Wagoner)

Hosted first syndicated variety show, "Dolly"

Went mainstream with pop-rock band Gypsy Fever

Had commercial success as a pop singer with the album, Here You Come Again

Performed with Cher on the ABC special, "Cher... Special"; nominated for an Emmy for Supporting Actress in a Variety or Musical Special

Co-starred with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in her feature film debut, "Nine to Five"; also wrote and sang the theme song which became a hit and earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Song; also earned a Best Actress Golden Globe nomination

Played a brothel owner, opposite Burt Reynolds, in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"

Headlined first solo TV concert, "Dolly in Concert" (HBO)

Wrote first film score for "Rhinestone"; also co-starred with Sylvester Stallone

Teamed with Kenny Rogers for the holiday special "Kenny & Dolly: A Christmas to Remember" (CBS)

Made TV-movie debut in "A Smoky Mountain Christmas" (ABC); also provided story and wrote songs

Founded Dollywood, a theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Starred in the short-lived ABC variety series, "Dolly"

Collaborated with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris for the successful album, Trio

Joined an ensemble cast for "Steel Magnolias"

Debut as executive producer with "Dolly Parton: Christmas at Home" (ABC)

Starred in the NBC TV-movie, "Wild Texas Wind"; also produced and wrote the music

Whitney Houston recorded a successful cover version of "I Will Always Love You" as the theme song for the film, "The Bodyguard"

Played radio-program host, opposite James Woods, in "Straight Talk"; also provided songs

Recorded "The Day I Fall In Love" as a duet with James Ingram for the film "Beethoven's 2nd"; the song was nominated for an Oscar and she performed it with Ingram on the awards telecast

Collaborated with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette to record the album, Honky Tonk Angels

Played herself in the TV-movies, "Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story" (CBS) and "Naomi & Wynnona: Love Can Build a Bridge" (NBC)

Executive produced and starred in the CBS TV-movie, "Unlikely Angel"

Recorded first bluegrass album, The Grass Is Blue

Released third bluegrass album, Halos & Horns, which included a version of the Led Zeppelin classic "Stairway to Heaven"

Earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Collaboration with Norah Jones

Earned second Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for "Travelin' Thru" from the film "Transamerica"; also garnered Golden Globe and Grammy nominations

Appeared as 'Aunt Dolly' on the Disney Channel series, "Hannah Montana"; is the real-life godmother of Hannah's Miley Cyrus

Wrote the musical score for "9 to 5: The Musical," an adaptation of her feature film; earned a Tony Award nomination