Dolly Parton's Legacy: From '9 to 5' to 'I Will Always Love You'

Dolly Parton, the iconic country singer, has died, prompting tributes from Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Her legacy spans music, feminism, and philanthropy. In 1980, while filming '9 to 5', she created the theme song by strumming her acrylic nails, mimicking a typewriter. The song became her only US number one as a solo artist and earned an Oscar nomination. It expressed fury at workplace sexism, resonating with working women. Parton's career began in 1967 on The Porter Wagoner Show, where she released 21 duets with Wagoner. She wrote 'I Will Always Love You' as an apology to him, leading to a lawsuit settled for about $1 million. She famously refused to give Elvis Presley half the publishing rights, later earning enough from Whitney Houston's 1992 cover to buy Graceland. She invested the money in a Black neighborhood in Nashville. Parton's songwriting, from 'Coat of Many Colors' to 'Jolene', captured everyday life with hope and authenticity. She challenged gender stereotypes and supported the drag community by changing 'Jolene' to 'drag queen' in a 2002 performance. Her philanthropy includes scholarships and over 200 million books donated to children. Her influence on artists like Taylor Swift is noted, with Swift praising her 'backbone of steel'.