Dolly Parton.Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Dolly Partonis a music icon.
In addition to wowing audiences with her impressive vocals and upbeat performances, the 76-year-old singer has penned some ofthe music industry’s greatest love songsover the years.
While many stars have gone on to cover her big hits — includingWhitney Houston’s memorable rendition of “I Will Always Love You” andMiley Cyrus' stripped-down version of “Jolene” — Parton has performed some incredible music covers herself.
From her country version of “Great Balls of Fire” to her mesmerizing rendition of The Beatles' “Help!,” Parton always manages to make a song completely her own when she covers it.
In honor of the legendary singer’s birthday on Jan. 19, take a look back at some of her best covers over the years.
For her 1996 albumTreasures, Parton covered a number of songs from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Of course, one of her most notable covers was her dance remix of “Walking on Sunshine” which she released as the third single for the album.
In honor of the 10th anniversary of her albumThe Story,Brandi Carlileenlisted a handful of artists to cover her songs. She was especially excited to have Parton sing the album’s title track.
“Every gratuitous and show-offy note that I hit in that song, Dolly hits it initially and then takes it higher,“Carlile told PEOPLE in 2017. “She just completely takes me to school.”
In October 2021,Reba McEntirereleased her first remix album,Revived Remixed Revisited, which reimagined some of her greatest hits over the years. For the remixed version of her 1993 song, “Does He Love You,” McEntire enlisted fellow country music legend Parton to sing with her.
On herGreat Balls of Firealbum, Parton also coveredThe Beatles' hit 1965 song “Help!,” giving it a bluegrass flair.
For her 2002 albumHalos & Horns, Parton covered Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” The album received critical acclaim and was nominated for best country album at the Grammys in 2003.
source: people.com
