Dolly Parton Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Debut Album

Fifty years ago this week, Dolly Parton released her first full-length album, "Hello, I'm Dolly." The album, which debuted on Monument Records, contained Parton's hits "Dumb Blonde" (written by Curly Putman) and "Something Fishy" (written by Parton). Both singles reached the top twenty on the country singles charts, and the album itself reached #11 on the country albums chart.

Produced by Fred Foster, "Hello, I'm Dolly" caught the attention of Porter Wagoner, who ultimately invited Parton to become a member of his band and appear on his popular weekly television show. These appearances led to Parton's rise to superstardom and she became a bonafide household name.

"I can't believe it's been 50 years since I did my first album," Parton recalls. "What a wonderful 50 years it has been. Thanks to my Uncle Bill Owens and Fred Foster for believing in me early on. And thanks to all the fans out there... I hope to have at least another 50 years!"

The album contained Parton's versions of three songs she wrote that had already been hits for other artists: "Put it Off Until Tomorrow" (Bill Phillips), "Fuel to the Flame" (Skeeter Davis), and "I'm In No Condition" which was charted by Hank Williams Jr.

An internationally renowned superstar, the iconic and irrepressible Dolly Parton has contributed countless treasures to the world of entertainment. All-inclusive sales of singles, albums, hits collections, paid digital downloads and compilation usage during her illustrious career have topped a staggering 100 million records worldwide.

Achieving 25 RIAA certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards, Dolly has had 25 songs reach No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts, a record for a female artist. Dolly has garnered 7 Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards, 5 Academy of Country Music Awards, 3 American Music Awards and is one of only five female artists to win the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year Award.

Making her film debut in the 1980 hit comedy "9 to 5," Dolly earned rave reviews for her performance and an Oscar nomination for writing the title tune, along with her second and third Grammy Awards. Roles in "Steel Magnolias," "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," "Rhinestone," and "Straight Talk" followed. Dolly saw a cherished dream become a reality in 1986 with the opening of her own theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

In 1988, Dolly began the Dollywood Foundation which funds Dolly Parton's Imagination Library across America and in Canada by giving every preschool child a book each month from the time he or she is born until the child reaches kindergarten. Currently 80,000,000 books are mailed to children in the US, Canada and throughout the UK. In 1999, Dolly was inducted as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. She has her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 2004, the U.S. Library of Congress presented her with their Living Legend Award for her contribution to the cultural heritage of the United States.

In December 2015, more than 13 million tuned into "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" and was the most-watched film on broadcast networks since May 2012. The sequel, "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Christmas Colors: Circle of Love," was equally as successful garnering 14 million viewers. In December 2016, Dolly's humanitarian efforts shined once again, as she created the Smoky Mountains Rise telethon which helped raise close to $10 million to benefit the victims of the East Tennessee wildfires.

For more information, visit www.DollyParton.com.