Billboard counts down the best country acts of the past (almost) 100 years. Ever since Ralph Peer held his famous recording sessions in Bristol, Tennessee in the late 1920s with such acts as Ernest Stoneman, Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family, country music has uniquely told the story of American life.

Billboard’s list of the 100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time had no shortage of performers from the Volunteer State to choose from, but one beloved East Tennessean was left standing above the rest.

Billboard called Parton “one of the finest songwriters in country or any other genre,” while also praising her singing ability. It pointed out that she has “scored 25 No. 1s on Billboard’s Country Songs chart, to go with 49 top 10s on Country Albums, and nine No. 1s, most recently in 2023 with “Rockstar.”

Billboard has been counting down the 100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time and Dolly Parton took the throne at the No. 1 spot. Parton took time to express her gratitude to fans: "I will always love you.

Billboard is stating the obvious with their newly crowned “Greatest Country Artist of All Time,” but the results still managed to shock winner, Dolly Parton. Listen to Dolly Parton Radio and more on the free Audacy app “I just learned that Billboard Magazine just released their list of greatest country artists of all time,