Rolling Stone has published a photo retrospective charting Dolly Parton's life and career, from her childhood in rural Tennessee to her status as a global country music icon. The gallery marks her enduring cultural significance, tracing key moments across five decades that shaped her rise from poverty to superstardom and her role as a beloved figure in American entertainment.

The images span Parton's birth in 1946 as the fourth of 12 children in a one-room Tennessee cabin, her early career on The Porter Wagoner Show that led to her RCA signing, and her 1970s hit-making run including the 1977 album Here You Come Again and her first Grammy in 1979. Later highlights include her breakout film role in 9 to 5 (1979) alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, her friendship and duets with Kenny Rogers, appearances with Cher and Oprah Winfrey, and the 1986 transformation of her hometown theme park into Dollywood, which now draws around 3 million visitors annually.