WatchMojo

Login Now!

OR   Sign in with Google   Sign in with Facebook
advertisememt

Top 10 Greatest Dolly Parton Live Performances

Top 10 Greatest Dolly Parton Live Performances
VOICE OVER: Emily Brayton WRITTEN BY: Joe Shetina
Get ready for a musical journey through Dolly Parton's most electrifying live performances! From iconic country classics to surprising rock moments, we're celebrating the legendary artist's most unforgettable stage appearances that showcase her incredible talent and charisma. Our countdown includes her powerful "World on Fire" performance, the legendary "Jolene" at Glastonbury, her heartwarming "Coat of Many Colors" at the Grand Ole Opry, and her emotional "I Will Always Love You" tribute to Porter Wagoner!

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most unforgettable live performances from country music legend Dolly Parton.

#10: “World on Fire”

“58th Academy of Country Music Awards” (2023)
She may have made her name in the country genre, but Dolly Parton announced to the world that she wanted to try being a rock star. Her supersized 2023 album, “Rockstar,” was the result. She performed the album’s lead single, “World on Fire,” at the 58th ACM Awards. A rousing battle cry about the state of the world, the song is a departure both in tone and in presentation for Parton. The live performance is equally surprising. Backed by intense choreography and pyrotechnic effects, her unmistakable trill is just as powerful now as it was decades ago. And here, it’s not just sweet. It’s urgent and powerful.

#9: “Jolene”

“Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts” (2014)
The famed U.K. music festival doesn’t seem like the ideal venue for an artist like Parton. But though it’s often home to more modern pop acts and attended by a younger crowd, her 2014 appearance garnered a crowd of almost 200,000 people. It’s reportedly a number that broke the festival’s previous attendance records. The whole show is incredible, but her performance of “Jolene,” her iconic song about another woman poised to steal her lover, is the highlight. Dressed in a stunning white, rhinestone pantsuit, Parton seems genuinely shocked that the crowd knows the classic and is singing right back to her.

#8: “Coat of Many Colors”

“Grand Ole Opry 60th Anniversary” (1986)
Dolly Parton was at the center of the 60th anniversary celebration of Nashville’s legendary Grand Ole Opry radio show. Having made her Opry debut at 13, she returned in 1986 to sing her classic song about a girl from a working class family, and her mother’s love and ingenuity. She tells it like a story, speaking some parts instead of singing them. To see her perform it on the very stage where she became a star all those years ago gives “Coat of Many Colors” an extra layer of nostalgia. It remains a heartwarming reminder of how far she’s come.


#7: “Islands in the Stream” feat. Kenny Rogers

“CMT: 100 Greatest Duets Concert” (2005)
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers topped the pop charts with this go-to karaoke song. Their best performance of it may have just been over 20 years after they recorded it. Honored with the number one spot in a CMT poll of the best country duets, Parton and Rogers reunited to perform it on the network’s TV concert event. There’s no losing with “Islands in the Stream.” It’s just a fun song with beautiful harmonies. On top of sounding great, Parton looks so thrilled to be singing the tune. At one point, she even thanks Rogers and shouts out the band, making it all the more memorable.

#6: “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind”

“Dolly” (1976-77)
On her short-lived TV show from the mid-70s, Dolly Parton took a camera crew into a Nashville nightclub where she wowed the patrons with her underrated technique. Performing her original tune, “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind,” she turned things up a notch by speeding the song up. She and her backing vocalists practically sound like chipmunks as they perform the song at top speed. We’re joking, of course, but it’s certainly a unique feat to witness. One thing is for sure though: it’s undeniably great, and perfectly encapsulates both her sense of humor and vocal prowess.

#5: “9 to 5”

“The Magical World of Disney” (1954-97)
In this all-star celebration of Disney World’s 15th anniversary, Dolly Parton joined a lineup that included Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, and two of the Golden Girls. Parton reprised the title song from her hit movie alongside costumed Disney characters in a cartoonish office setting. It’s peak Dolly and peak ‘80s all at the same time. Listening to her belt out her workplace protest song next to Snow White and Minnie Mouse is a fantastic experience, to say the least. What’s more is that she sounds incredible, staying true to the record while still adding some flair to the song.

#4: “We've Got Tonite” with Kenny Rogers

“Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Together” (1985)
After the success of their high-charting singles and Christmas album, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers went on a brief tour in 1985, and recorded this TV special. They performed the Bob Seger track, “We Got Tonight,” which Rogers had recorded as a duet with Sheena Easton. In true Dolly style, she pokes fun at this during the performance. The pair sound like they were born to harmonize. On top of sounding so great together, what comes through most is how much they enjoy performing with each other. Parton ends the song by imitating Rogers’ distinctive vibrato, leaving them both convulsing with laughter.

#3: “The Sweetest Gift” with Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt

“Dolly” (1976-77)
In the 1980s, Dolly Parton joined Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt to record the “Trio” album. But the three had been singing together for years before that. This clip from the “Dolly” show features them performing “The Sweetest Gift.” A folk ballad about an imprisoned man and the mother who still loves him, it’s an incredible showcase for their talents. Their crystal clear voices form a three-part harmony that can only be described as angelic. Even among the group, Parton is a team player. She even humbly asks to sing when it comes time for her solo. To put it simply, the whole thing is magic.

#2: “Jolene”

“The Porter Wagoner Show” (1960-1981)
For the first several years of her career, Dolly Parton made frequent appearances on “The Porter Wagoner Show.” The host was also her frequent collaborator. So it’s perhaps no surprise that she chose to sing her incomparable tune “Jolene” on this stage early on in its history. In fact, this is where many heard it live for the first time. Needless to say, Parton sounds incredible. The crowd can’t help but applaud throughout. She even addresses the camera as she performs the iconic number, as if she knows Jolene herself is right on the other side of the screen. It’s only the beginning for the song that will become one of her lasting hits.

#1: “I Will Always Love You”

“The Porter Wagoner Show” (1960-1981)
In 1973, Parton told Porter Wagoner she was leaving his show, and their partnership, to strike out on her own. “I Will Always Love You” was her tribute to him and all he had done for her. Hearing her perform it on his program is absolutely heartbreaking. That she’s bringing the song to life right in front of the man she wrote it for is enough to give you chills. But what she does on the last chorus here is spine-tingling. Her voice sails over the melody, optioning up and showcasing the high end of her range. This is Dolly Parton at her very best.

What’s your favorite Dolly Parton song? Tell us in the comments.

Comments
advertisememt