Music by Dolly Parton has returned to the Official Singles Chart following the country star’s death aged 80. She died on 25 August following "a brief battle with cancer". Several of her biggest hits have climbed the charts as fans return to her music in the wake of her passing.
Her famous track “Jolene” re-entered the chart at number nine after a 364 per cent week-on-week uplift. The song originally peaked at number seven in 1976, and was last inside the Top 40 in July that year. Half a century on, “Jolene” has now accumulated 2.1 million UK chart units.
Meanwhile, “9 To 5” sits at number 12 after a 350 per cent increase, earning its first Top 40 placing and a new UK chart peak. It eclipses its previous best position of number 47 in 1981. With 2.4 million UK chart units to its name, “9 To 5” is Parton’s biggest song of all time in the UK.
Close behind is “Islands In The Stream”, Parton’s 1983 duet with Kenny Rogers at number 13, with consumption up 276 per cent week-on-week. The track previously reached number seven in 1984 and last appeared inside the Top 40 in February that year. It has accumulated 2.2 million UK chart units to date.
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. The three are also Parton’s most-streamed songs in the UK, with 9 To 5 at number one, “Islands In The Stream” at number two and Jolene at number three.
Parton was believed to be the world’s wealthiest country music star, with an estimated net worth of $500m (£367.8m), and was a noted philanthropist. She was known for her efforts to encourage literacy around the world through her Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library, and also used her money to fight the HIV/Aids crisis, fund the American Red Cross and develop a Covid vaccine. She wrote more than 3,000 songs, and a record-breaking 44 of her albums reached the top 10 on the country music charts.
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