Dolly Parton in 1965, age 19, just after she graduated from high school and moved to Nashville to pursue a career in songwriting.  

In 1967, country entertainer Porter Wagoner noticed Dolly and the two would record a handful of successful duets together.

Shortly after Dolly went solo, she released "I Will Always Love You" in 1974, which hit No. 1 on the country music charts.

In 1980 Dolly flexed her acting skills, starring alongside Jane Fonda in the comedy film 9 to 5, about a group of women who overthrow their bigoted boss 

Throughout the 1980s, Dolly embraced pop music to take her tunes more mainstream, starting with the theme song to 9 to 5, which hit No. 1 on country and pop charts.   

In the 1990s Dolly transitioned back into country and bluegrass. Pictured is the album cover from her 1999 album The Grass is Blue.  

By the 2000s Dolly had become a mega-star, in addition to being one of the wealthiest entertainers in the entire country -- a true titan of American entertainment. 

Here is a 76 year old Dolly earlier this year, posing on the red carpet for the Academy of Country Music Awards.