MUSIC BUSINESS · ·Billboard
Dolly Parton Songs Re-Enter Billboard Hot 100 After Death
Five classic Dolly Parton tracks have returned to the Billboard Hot 100 following the country icon's death at age 80, with two songs reaching new peaks.
Dolly Parton has posthumously re-charted five classic titles on the Billboard Hot 100 for the chart dated Sept. 5. The country music and entertainment icon died on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the age of 80. Her catalog’s impact on the charts occurred despite the news of her death breaking with only two and a half days remaining in the Billboard tracking week, which ran from Aug. 21 to Aug. 27.
"Jolene" is the highest-charting entry this week, appearing at No. 16. This position surpasses the song's original 1974 peak of No. 60. "9 to 5" returned to the chart at No. 18, and her duet with Kenny Rogers, "Islands in the Stream," reached No. 26. "I Will Always Love You" re-entered at No. 27, while "Here You Come Again" appeared at No. 44.
The current chart positions represent new milestones for several of Parton's most famous recordings. "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" have both reached the top 40 of the Hot 100 for the first time in their history. The previous peak for "I Will Always Love You" was No. 53, a position it reached in 1982 when Parton re-recorded the 1974 ballad for the soundtrack of her film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
This surge in the United States coincides with similar movements in international markets, where Dolly Parton set for first U.K. No. 1 single after death. Industry analysts at Billboard suggest that the concentration of streaming on these specific hits allowed them to compete effectively against modern tracks currently dominating the Hot 100.
The posthumous chart success followed an extensive outpouring of affection from fans, celebrities, and fellow artists. More than 32,000 letters were submitted in Parton's honor through her official website. Additionally, radio stations across the country that had not played her music in years began broadcasting her songs following the news of her passing.
While some staffers expected her most famous songs to potentially reach the top 10, the short tracking window limited the total accumulation of data for the Sept. 5 chart. However, the presence of two songs in the top 20 and five in the top 50 is noted as a significant showing for a catalog that had only a few days to amass the necessary streaming and sales figures.
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