Two iconic Dolly Parton recordings reach the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time, following the beloved entertainer’s passing, as “Jolene” reenters the Sept. 5-dated chart at No. 16 and “I Will Always Love You” debuts at No. 27.
As previously reported, Parton died Aug. 25 in Nashville at age 80.
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Both songs, solely written by Parton (perhaps on the same day), are from 1974. “Jolene” became Parton’s first of 23 career Hot 100 hits, reaching No. 60 that March. That year’s version of “I Will Always Love You” had never before reached the ranking, though they both hit No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. They became the second and third Hot Country Songs leaders, respectively, of her 25 total, the most among women.
Parton’s 1982 re-recording of “I Will Always Love You” hit No. 53 on the Hot 100 that year, marking her only version of the ballad to make the chart until this week. Whitney Houston famously took her cover to No. 1 for a then-record 14 weeks in 1992-93. Similarly, “Jolene” became a Hot 100 top 10 hit as reimagined by Beyoncé, who sent it to No. 7 in 2024.
“Jolene” totaled 10.2 million official streams (up 583%), 5.5 million in radio airplay audience and 15,000 sold in the United States Aug. 21-27, according to Luminate, the latter two metrics up from nominal sums the week before.
“I Will Always Love You” drew 6.5 million streams (up 1,128%), 5.1 million in radio reach and 16,000 sold, likewise up from nominal streams and sales in the previous tracking week.
Three other Parton favorites reenter the Hot 100: “9 to 5,” at No. 18; “Islands in the Stream,” with Kenny Rogers, at No. 26; and “Here You Come Again,” at No. 44.
“9 to 5,” which, in 1981, became the first of Parton’s two Hot 100 No. 1s, totaled 9.5 million streams (up 520%), 7.2 million airplay impressions and 15,000 sold Aug. 21-27. “Islands in the Stream,” which led in 1983, returns with 7.2 million streams (up 1,472%), 4.2 million in radio listenership and 13,000 sold. “Here You Come Again,” Parton’s first top 40 hit, and the first of her three top 10s (No. 3, 1977), drew 5 million streams (up 1,088%), 2.9 million in airplay audience and 10,000 sold.
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Thanks to “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” Parton ups her count to 10 career top 40 Hot 100 hits. She places in the region for the first time in more than 20 years, since Brad Paisley’s “When I Get Where I’m Going,” on which she’s featured, was No. 40, after reaching No. 39, on the March 18, 2006, chart. It had become her 25th Hot Country Songs No. 1 two weeks earlier.
On the Streaming Songs chart, “Jolene” debuts at No. 7, marking Parton’s first top 10 entry on the listing.
Plus, 15 Parton songs rank on the 25-position Digital Song Sales chart, all in the top 20. She holds the top six spots, led by “I Will Always Love You.” “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Islands in the Stream” and “Here You Come Again” are Nos. 2-5, respectively, while “Coat of Many Colors,” from 1971, is No. 6 (7,000 sold). Amid summer, even her carol “Hard Candy Christmas” makes the list, at No. 12 (3,000).