Dolly Parton named Guinness World Records icon

US country star Dolly Parton has been named a Guinness World Records icon for holding 11 record-breaking titles.

As part of its 70th anniversary celebrations, the company – which lists world record achievements – has honoured the Jolene singer, 79, with an Icon certificate, presented to her at her studios in Nashville, Tennessee.

Her record titles include most consecutive decades with top 10 album entries on the Billboard country chart, most studio albums released by a female country singer, and most Grammy nominations for a female country artist.

She was also the first country singer to be nominated for the Egot – an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony – aka the “Grand Slam of showbusiness”.

Craig Glenday, editor in chief at Guinness World Records, said: “Dolly is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated writers and performers in the history of country music, as reflected in her many Guinness World Records certificates, but her reach and influence extends far beyond the musical world.

“There are so many projects close to her heart – poverty relief, education, medical research and of course the Imagination Library free-books campaign – and it’s these important, life-changing initiatives that propels Dolly into a different league. She truly is a living legend, and it’s an honour to bestow GWR Icon status upon her.”

Guinness World Records published its first book in London in 1955 and has sold more than 143 million copies in over 100 countries since then.

The Icon certificate has previously been awarded to stars including Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Drake, Sir Paul McCartney, and Sir Elton John.

Parton, who is from Tennessee, released her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly in 1967 and had a run of hits in the 1970s.

By the 1980s she was a huge star and made her movie debut in screwball comedy 9 To 5.

Her most recent album was Rockstar, released in 2023, and she recently featured in a version of Sabrina Carpenter’s Please Please Please.

She is also the co-owner of the Dollywood Company, which operates Dollywood, a theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Published: 05/08/2025 by Radio NewsHub