Dolly Parton Earns Her First No. 1 On A Billboard Chart, Decades Into Her Career

Dolly Parton has accomplished just about everything there is to accomplish in country music — and she’s also found great success in pop, rock, and beyond. With a career spanning more than half a century, she’s landed hit after hit, built an enduring legacy, and she’s even been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

And yet, somehow, there’s still room for firsts. This week, Parton achieves something many might assume she had done long ago — she finally conquers a particular Billboard chart.

Dolly Parton’s New Single Debuts at No. 1

Parton’s new single “If You Hadn’t Been There” debuts atop the Country Digital Song Sales chart. The new arrival marks her first No. 1 on that tally, which lists the bestselling country tracks across the U.S. each week, based purely on digital purchases. Given her legendary status, it’s almost shocking that she had never before ruled this specific list, but now, she finally claims the top spot.

Parton’s Surprisingly-Small Collection of Hits

Throughout her career, Parton has only collected six top 10 hits on the Country Digital Song Sales chart and 18 total appearances. For an artist of her stature, that might seem like a small number, but there’s an important reason why: the chart wasn’t introduced until the mid-2000s. By then, her biggest smashes — like “Jolene” and “9 to 5” — had already become classics, but they weren’t benefitting from impressive numbers of digital purchases on platforms like iTunes and Amazon each week.

“If You Hadn’t Been There” Debuts High Everywhere

Beyond its success on the Country Digital Song Sales chart, “If You Hadn’t Been There” also lands on a broader ranking. The song starts at No. 3 on the all-genre Digital Song Sales chart, which tracks the bestselling tunes across all musical styles in the U.S. This frame, Parton collects her fourth top 10 hit.

According to Luminate, the organization that tracks music data for Billboard, “If You Hadn’t Been There” sold 5,400 copies in its first full week of availability.

Dolly Parton’s Tribute to Her Late Husband

The success of “If You Hadn’t Been There” carries quite a bit of emotional weight. Parton released the song shortly after announcing the passing of her husband, Carl Thomas Dean, who died at the age of 82. The two were married for well over 50 years, and the track serves as a tribute to their decades-long love story.