Dolly Parton was far more than a musician, actor, writer, philanthropist, or theme-park mogul. Parton, who died Tuesday at 80, occupied a unique place in global culture — a figure of American mythology who was truly larger than life. Yet at the core of all her achievements, she was primarily a songwriter.
Distilling 11 songs from her vast, decades-long catalog is a formidable task, but certain classics stand out. Here is a key selection from her body of work — ranging from country tracks that challenged traditional gender norms to what remains the greatest ballad ever recorded.
