Dolly Parton is on course for her first-ever number one on the Official Singles Chart in the UK, following a huge surge in posthumous streams and downloads after her death aged 80 on August 25.
The country music icon and philanthropist died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee, four days after she was hospitalised. Her death prompted an outpouring of grief from fans worldwide, with floral tributes left outside her home, landmarks such as the Empire State Building lit up pink, and all US flags lowered to half-mast.
9 to 5 soars to new peak
The song leading the tribute is 9 to 5, originally released by Parton in 1980 for the cult classic comedy film of the same name and its subsequent TV series. While the track earned her an Oscar nomination and two Grammy wins in the US, it only peaked at 47 in the UK in 1981.
Thanks to an astronomical 350% week-on-week increase, the anthem secured a brand-new peak on Friday, soaring to number 12. It is on track to fly through the top 10 this week, landing the country legend a well-overdue chart-topper.
Jolene and Islands in the Stream also climb
Parton’s 1974 hit Jolene sits at number two, while her Kenny Rogers duet, Islands in the Stream (1982), is at number six. The surge marks a period of Dolly Domination in the UK charts as fans pay tribute after the news of her death.
Her 2007 compilation album The Very Best of Dolly Parton, which includes 20 of her most famous tracks, re-entered the Official Album Downloads chart at number one for the first time in her career. As of this month, the record has sold over 740,000 copies in the UK, having never cracked the top 10 before.
Album chart success and final days
The closest Parton came to topping the Album Downloads chart before was with her 2023 rock music record, Rockstar, which featured collaborations with Sir Elton John, Debbie Harry, and goddaughter Miley Cyrus, and peaked at number two. Now The Best Of is reigning supreme, also topping the Official Country Compilations list and reaching a new feat of 12 in Official Albums Sales.
Parton, also revered for her charity work and business ventures, died four days after being hospitalised. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, recorded a video message to announce her death, as per her wishes, having served as her head of security for more than two decades. He later confirmed she died following a ‘brief battle’ with cancer.
In recent months, Parton admitted things got ‘out of whack’ and there were issues she overlooked while caring for her husband of almost 60 years, Carl Dean. Her final video message was shown at the launch of a new ride at her Dollywood theme park. ‘I’m supposed to be there in person, like we planned,’ Parton said. ‘I’ve had my butterfly wings flappin’ since May 15, when we were due to open the first time, and again in June.’ She added that her ‘little butterfly wings [were] getting kinda tired’, and she had been advised not to travel due to dizziness and dehydration.
Burial and tributes
A small funeral was held in private for her immediate family, as per her request, on August 28. She was laid to rest next to her husband, who died aged 82 in March 2025, in the mausoleum at Woodlawn Memorial Park.
Confirming her burial, her niece, Lainey, penned an emotional tribute on Instagram, saying her Aunt Dolly ‘never made my dreams feel too big or made me feel like I couldn’t do something. She believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself’. ‘It still doesn’t feel real that she’s gone. I’m going to miss her voice, her laugh, her hugs, and just knowing she was there. I’m even going to miss those 4 AM calls, and I’d give anything to see her name pop up on my phone again,’ she said.
The Nashville funeral home also paid tribute to Parton online, saying her ‘rhinestone life shone bright enough for the world to see’.
