Dolly Parton’s greatest songs, and the stories behind them

Dolly Parton was a musician, actor, author, philanthropist, and theme-park entrepreneur, but she was most notably a songwriter. The AP reports that selecting 11 of her many decades of recorded music to highlight is impossible, as there were countless classics. However, some songs stand out above the rest.

Parton was celebrated for her feminist themes throughout her music. This progressive sociopolitical stance is evident from the beginning of her career, which overlapped with the women's liberation movement. The country classic "Just Because I'm a Woman" has Parton's protagonist reminding her partner that they both have had previous sexual partners. "Now I know we had no money, but I was rich as I could be," she sings, referring to her mother's coat made of rags.

Parton's autobiographical song "Coat of Many Colors" tells the story of her mother's handmade coat. It is one of her best-known hits and one of the most recognized country music songs. "Jolene" was inspired by Parton's late husband, Carl Dean, and a flirty bank teller who was interested in him.

Parton's original recording of "I Will Always Love You" was written for Porter Wagoner ahead of her departure from "The Porter Wagoner Show." Whitney Houston's rendition is more well-known, but Parton's version was recorded in 1992 for "The Bodyguard" soundtrack. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks.

Parton's song "Here You Come Again" was not written by her but was penned by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. It was originally conceived for Brenda Lee but ended up being recorded by Parton, becoming a crossover hit. Parton ensured the steel guitar was featured prominently in the song.

In the 1980s, Parton became a mainstream celebrity with hits like "9 to 5" from the film of the same name. The song celebrates women in the workplace and earned her an Oscar nomination. The "Islands in the Stream" duet with Kenny Rogers, with harmonies by Parton, is also a hit.

Parton's "Islands in the Stream" duet with Kenny Rogers features harmonies by Parton, who was known for her powerful soprano. However, the song was written by the Bee Gees, with Barry Gibb maintaining it was meant for Diana Ross and Robin Gibb saying it was meant for Marvin Gaye. Despite the mystery surrounding its origin, the song became a hit for Parton and Rogers.

The 1980s also saw Parton exploring elements of pop music in songs like "Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That" from "White Limozeen." The song features steel guitar, banjo, mandolins, Pedabro, and a fierce fiddle by Ricky Skaggs. Parton wrote the bluegrass ballad "And the Sky is Green" in 30 minutes during a lunch break while filming a made-for-television musical drama.