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Dolly Parton Owns Nearly Half Of The iTunes Chart Following Her Death
Hollywood & Entertainment Dolly Parton Owns Nearly Half Of The iTunes Chart Following Her Death By Hugh McIntyre ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts. Follow Author Aug 26, 2026, 04:51pm EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary Dolly Parton’s music dominates iTunes following her death at age 80, as fans rush to purchase songs and albums from throughout the country legend’s career. Parton appears in an incredible 92 of the 200 spaces on the iTunes Top Songs chart, including every position from No. 1 through No. 9. Multiple versions of classics like “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene” appear simultaneously, while nearly 50 artists who collaborated with Parton also chart.
Dolly Parton died yesterday (August 25) at the age of 80 following a short battle with cancer, a fight which was not revealed to the public until after her passing. The beloved singer-songwriter leaves behind a legacy of dozens of albums, hundreds of songs, and a business empire that few musical artists have matched.
Parton was, above all else, a legend in the country music space, but her reach extended far beyond the one genre. Throughout a career that lasted decades, she scored hits in many different styles, won multiple Grammys and became one of the most recognizable and beloved entertainers in the world. Some of her songs were recorded by other superstars – with one in particular standing out as a lifetime achievement – and she collaborated with musicians working in every genre.
As is always the case whenever a major musical figure passes away, fans have rushed to honor Parton by buying and listening to her music. The late superstar’s name is now plastered across the hundreds of spots on the iTunes Top Songs chart, which ranks the bestselling tracks of any style in the United States on the platform.
Parton appears in an incredible 92 of the 200 spaces on the current edition of the iTunes Top Songs chart. Nearly half of the entire ranking is occupied by music connected to the late singer-songwriter in some way, whether she fronted the tune or someone else did. The enormous showing includes solo recordings, collaborations and multiple versions of some of the biggest hits from her decades-long career.
Parton occupies nine of the top 10 spaces on the iTunes Top Songs ranking, including every position from No. 1 through No. 9. Her posthumous surge pushes Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” one of the biggest hits of 2026, from the summit down to No. 10. If the ranking shifts even slightly as more fans continue to purchase Parton’s music in America, she could soon finalize a clean sweep of the entire uppermost tier.
Several of Parton’s biggest hits appear multiple times on the 200-space tally. That can happen when different versions of the same composition are available, as live recordings, remixes or collaborative editions can sometimes sit alongside the more familiar original.
Three versions of Parton’s own “I Will Always Love You” appear on the ranking, while just as many renditions by Whitney Houston – who made the song even more popular than the original songwriter and artists did – also make the cut. “Jolene” similarly lands in a trio of spaces, while “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind,” “From Here to the Moon and Back,” “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” “Stairway to Heaven” and “There Was Jesus” each appear twice.
Parton worked with hundreds of musicians throughout her career, and nearly 50 different artists who collaborated with the country icon either debut on or return to the iTunes Top Songs chart as fans throughout the nation revisit those recordings. The group of names spans generations and genres and includes Elton John, the late Kenny Rogers, Lizzo, Miley Cyrus — Parton’s own goddaughter — Paul McCartney, Post Malone, Willie Nelson and literally dozens of others.
Parton’s posthumous dominance on the sales platform is not limited to songs. Dozens of her releases are also bestsellers again on the iTunes Top Albums chart, where she fills eight of the top 10 spaces on the list. The roundup includes both solo collections and collaborative projects. Only Beenie Man and Post Malone manage to hang on inside the uppermost region alongside Parton as listeners around the U.S. – and the planet – return to Parton’s vast and celebrated catalog.
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