I Will Always Love You: two world records for Dolly Parton

Eight Grammys, ten Country Music Awards, three American Music Awards.

Now the legendary Dolly Parton can add two Guinness World Records to that list.

They were for Most Decades with a Top 20 Hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart (six), and Most Hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart by a Female Artist (106).

“To receive these two Guinness World Records is so great!” said the 71-year old evergreen 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 has beaten Elvis Presley and George Jones when it comes to scoring Top 20 hits over six decades.

In 1967, she had two Top 20 hits in America: her debut ‘Dumb Blonde’ and ‘Something Fishy’.

Her last hit was in 2016, a remake of her own 1974 hit ‘Jolene’, with Arlington, Texas acapella group Pentatonix.

The two acts were brought together by The Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Spotlight Music series.

The new version entered the US charts at #18 and marked her 73rd Top 20 hit.

It went on to win a Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

‘Jolene’ was based on a real life redheaded bank teller with a “terrible crush” on her husband.

Parton recalled, “He just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention.

“It was kinda like a running joke between us…I was saying, ’Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank.

“I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money.”

Parton who happily admits she modelled her big blonde hair, pouty red lips and high heels look on “the local town tramp” once entered a drag queen Dolly Parton lookalike competition… and lost.