Dolly Parton has yet another accomplishment to add to her already legendary list: two world records.
Billboard reported the singer and songwriter holds Guinness World Records for the most decades with a Top 20 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, with six decades, and most hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart by a female artist, with 107 hits.
Parton has Top 20 Billboard hits across six consecutive decades, starting with 1967’s “Something Fishy” and ending with a 2016 version of her 1974 song, “Jolene” with Pentatonix. That same 2016 song set the record for her 107th Hot Country Songs chart entry. Her first was “Dumb Blonde” in 1967.
"To receive these two Guinness World Records is so great," Parton said in a statement. Joining so many wonderful singers and songwriters who have been honoured this way feels so special to me. You never know when you start out with your work how it's going to turn out, but to have these two world records makes me feel very humbled and blessed!"
Parton’s six-decade run puts her in the company of George Jones, the only other country artist who spent more than five decades on the Hot Country Songs chart.
Speaking to Guinness World Records about her songwriting process, Parton said it comes from her own experiences.
“I’ve always just written from my heart,” she said. “I try not to dwell on just trying to be commercial and what's a radio hit or whatever. Usually when an idea hits me, it comes from my heart, but I still try to be alert and to be aware and to try to be as up-to-date as I can be, and evidently I’m doing alright after all these decades.”
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