Country music icon, Dolly Parton, has added another accolade to her illustrious career, earning a well-deserved spot in the record books.

Featured in the pages of the Guinness World Records 2018 edition, the singer-songwriter was recently recognised for holding records for the Most decades with a Top 20 hit on the US Hot Country Songs chart and Most hits on the US Hot Country Songs chart by a female artist.

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To make it official, Guinness World Records visited Dolly in Nashville, Tennessee, to present her with record title certificates and sit down for an exclusive interview.

"To receive these two Guinness World Records is so great. 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!" - Dolly Parton.

Beating out fellow country music icons, George Jones, Elvis Presley and Reba McEntire, Parton’s is the only artist with Top 20 hits on across six consecutive decades (1960s–2010s).

Jones charted from the 1950s–1990s, but has "only" reached the top 20 in five of the seven decades in which he's charted, giving Dolly the record. However, Jones "happens to be my favourite", says Dolly.

Beginning with her first top 20 entry, "Something Fishy" in 1967, she’s a credited artist on a further 73 top 20 hits, including her most recent, a new version of her beloved 1974 title "Jolene," featuring a Capella quintet Pentatonix, which debuted at 18 on the chart dated 8 October 2016.



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The 2016 remastered version of "Jolene" was also Dolly’s 107th chart entry, solidifying her second record title for the Most hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart by a female artist. Parton’s first hit on this record-breaking list was her 1967 debut, "Dumb Blonde."

"I've always just written from my heart," she says. "I try not to dwell on just trying to be commercial and what's a radio hit. Usually when an idea hits me, it comes from my heart."

Of the 107 chart toppers, twenty-one were achieved with former partner Porter Wagoner (1927–2007).

In the interview below, Dolly reveals her favourite song to sing, her most personal track that she's written and what it was like working with Porter.

Find Parton in the Guinness World Records 2018 edition, available in stores and online now.

