music
Heart, hope and a steely determination: Dolly Parton's musical legacy
In 1980, Dolly Parton was filming her first Hollywood movie, 9 To 5, and between scenes she had an idea for the tune that would become the movie's theme song.
TL;DR
- Dolly Parton conceived the theme song for "9 To 5" by strumming her acrylic nails, mimicking a typewriter's sound.
- The song "9 To 5" became a US number one hit and earned Parton an Oscar nomination, with lyrics that express fury about the male-dominated corporate world.
- Parton navigated sexism in the music industry, leaving The Porter Wagoner Show and settling a lawsuit with him over "I Will Always Love You."
- She refused to give Elvis Presley's manager half the publishing rights to "I Will Always Love You," later earning significant royalties from Whitney Houston's version.
- Her songwriting often draws from personal experiences, as seen in songs like "Coat of Many Colors" and "My Tennessee Mountain Home."
- Parton's feminist messages in songs like "Just Because I'm A Woman" challenged gender stereotypes and double standards.
- Her philanthropy includes providing scholarships to students and distributing over 200 million books to young readers.
- Dolly Parton's unique artistic identity and resilience have inspired artists like Taylor Swift.