In 2021, he opened a cryotherapy center in Shanghai and expanded to Shenzhen the following year.
Zhang says he's "proof that the path to fulfillment can be different for everyone."
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Christopher Zhang, 27, the founder of Cryozone China. His words have been edited for length and clarity.
I left high school two months into my senior year. I believed my path didn't have to be high school to college to job to rat race. I'd always been different, and that difference gave me the determination to eventually open my own business in China.
I grew up in Shanghai, and before dropping out in 2016, I spent most of my free time working part-time jobs: English-Mandarin translator, assistant for a nightclub owner, PA for A-list celebrities, and even a venture capital intern.
I never saw higher education as the only road to financial success or — more importantly — happiness. I wanted out of the race and to chart my own course.
My Asian parents, two high-performing executives with degrees from top universities, didn't support their only son dropping out. They figured it was just a "gap year."
But when I started succeeding at work, they ultimately accepted my decision.
Zhang (left) kept consulting for Toplist while launching his business, but eventually stepped away.
Provided by Christon Zhang
An alternate path to success
Within a week of dropping out of school, I had an interview that turned into a job offer. That's how I started as an account manager at Toplist China, a SaaS company.
In just over a year, before I turned 20, I was promoted to business development manager. I felt challenged but supported, and I had the freedom to grow. I managed bigger budgets, took on new clients, and stepped up to more responsibility.
Work slowed down during COVID-19, so I threw myself into fitness. I've always been into sports; I've played rugby since I was 10 and dealt with all the injuries that come with it.
I started researching injury prevention and recovery methods and got curious about cryotherapy. One night in November 2020, I was up late reading about its benefits when a friend messaged me asking if I knew of any cryotherapy offerings in Shanghai.
That's when I realized I wasn't the only person in a city of 25 million who was interested in it. If the demand was already there, I wanted to be the one to fill that gap. That's where the idea for my company came from.
Zhang has played rugby since he was 10, enduring the injuries that come with the game.
Provided by Christopher Zhang
Shifting my focus
In April 2021, I founded CryoZone Recovery Hub, a cryotherapy center in Shanghai. These days, in peak season, we see about a dozen customers a day. In the offseason, there are usually fewer. One session costs 350 to 425 yuan, or $50 to $60 for three to five minutes in the chamber. There are clients who add on additional services, which can extend a visit to an hour.
At first, I continued working at Toplist while building my new business on the side. For eight months, I barely slept. But as things started to take off, I shifted to consulting for Toplist.
By 2022, I'd phased out Toplist entirely and started expanding revenue streams: partnering with manufacturers to build and sell affordable, high-quality cryotherapy chambers worldwide, and I opened a second location in Shenzhen. Life is busier now but more flexible. Every decision I make shapes the company, and that accountability is both daunting and exhilarating.
The launch wouldn't have happened without an investor and mentor I met at a luxury watch convention. When a bad supplier set us back, we had to invest another $100,000 on top of the $120,000 we'd already spent to switch to a local factory that could actually support us.
Christopher Zhang opened the first Cryozone in Shanghai; now they have one in Shenzhen as well.
Provided by Christopher Zhang
Plenty of "great business ideas" never make it past the bar counter. I was lucky to have a partner who trusted me and backed me financially through the bumps. Making a living while providing my community with an extra option for a healthy lifestyle has kept me focused and assured me that this is the right path.
My favorite quote is a reply from Elon Musk on words of encouragement for entrepreneurs: "If you need encouragement to start a company, don't do it." Reflecting on my career so far, I've learned that success isn't just about financial gain, it's about creating something meaningful and finding encouragement in that.
I'm living proof that the path to fulfillment can be different for everyone.
Do you have a story about building a business in Asia that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor:akarplus@businessinsider.com.
Chick-fil-A and KFC's chicken tenders were similar in their breaded texture.
Raising Cane's impressed me with its crispy yet juicy tenders and delicious signature sauce.
The fast-food chicken wars have entered a new battleground — this time, it's all about the tender.
McDonald's launched its new McCrispy Strips in May, marking the first time chicken strips have been on the menu since the pandemic.
Then, just this week, Wendy's launched its own Wendy's Tendys and a lineup of six new sauces made for dunking.
"Consumers told us what they wanted in a chicken tender, and we listened — taste-tested, fine-tuned, and delivered," Lindsay Radkoski, Wendy's US chief marketing officer, told Business Insider.
I compared chicken tenders from 14 fast-food chains across the country to see which were the best.
Here's how the tenders ranked, from worst to best, based on taste and value.
Of all the chicken tenders I tried, the ones from Whataburger didn't completely wow me.
The chicken tenders were large and perfectly fried.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I thought the tenders could only be described as "classic" — they weren't anything out-of-the-box, but I enjoyed them.
The meat inside was juicy, but I thought the fried coating could have had a bit more crunch.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The chicken tenders tasted good on their own, as well as with ranch dipping sauce. They weren't bad by any stretch of the imagination. However, I did think the other tenders I tried were slightly crispier and had just the slightest hint of more flavor in the batter.
Regardless, for a relatively low price, I'd definitely order these again.
I also ordered chicken tenders from Cook Out, a regional chain I visited in South Carolina.
Cook Out chicken tenders.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The three-piece "snack" cost $4.99, not including tax.
The chicken tenders were crispy on the outside.
Cook Out chicken tender.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
They were also a good size. I thought the price was also a great deal for the generous portion I received.
However, there wasn't an abundance of chicken meat inside.
Cook Out chicken tender.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
These were undeniably classic chicken tenders, similar to the ones from Whataburger, but they were a touch too fried for my liking. However, I thought they were well-seasoned and had a lot of peppery flavor.
Smashburger's chicken tenders were just slightly too fried for my liking.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
An order of three chicken tenders from Smashburger costs $9.99, excluding tax and fees. I thought this was a little pricey.
The chicken tenders were heavily fried and bigger than other ones I tried.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The breading on the chicken tenders felt thick and crunchy.
The chicken tenders, overall, tasted dry, even when paired with sauce.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The chicken meat inside and the ranch dipping sauce provided could only do so much to offset the intense dryness of the crunchy breading.
The next time I order from Smashburger, I'll stick to the chain's beef offerings.
Next up were the crispy chicken tenders from Sonic Drive-In.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
A five-piece order of chicken tenders cost $8.41, excluding tax.
The chicken tenders were evenly fried but on the thinner side.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Rather than thick and juicy like some of the other chicken tenders I tried, these were flatter. In fact, I'd say these were the thinnest and flattest tenders out of all the ones I tried.
I enjoyed the flavor of the seasoning, but there was a lot to be desired when it came to texture.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The chicken was on the drier side, and there simply wasn't a lot of it. I gravitate toward thicker, more shreddable chicken tenders, and these slightly missed the mark for me.
However, the flavor was definitely there — the breading had a peppery essence and the tenders were evenly fried.
My ninth favorite chicken tenders came from Popeyes.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
A three-piece tender combo costs $16.89 before taxes and fees. The meal deal included a large serving of fries, a drink, and a biscuit, as well as a choice of dipping sauces.
The chicken tenders from Popeyes were crispy, flaky, and crunchy.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I really liked the crunchy exterior.
The meat inside was flaky and moist as well.
Popeyes chicken tender dipped in ranch sauce.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I also thought the batter was quite flavorful — I could taste hints of seasoning and buttermilk, although they weren't quite as buttery-tasting as the Chick-fil-A tenders.
However, this meal felt expensive for only three chicken tenders, even though they were large.
I thought the chicken tenders from Bojangles were flavorful and super crispy.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
A four-piece chicken tenders combo, including fries, a medium drink, and a biscuit, cost me $10.49, excluding taxes and fees.
I thought the chicken tenders were a good size.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The texture and flavor of the breading made them taste like a cross between the chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A and Cook Out.
The breading was peppery, just the right thickness, and perfectly encased the juicy white chicken meat inside.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I also thought the price was fair, considering the amount of food I received. The chicken tenders paired perfectly with honey mustard but were also tasty on their own.
I would definitely order these again.
Wendy's is the latest chain to bring out chicken tenders.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Wendy's new tenders are available in a three-piece or four-piece option. I ordered a three-piece tender for $8.12, excluding tax and fees, at my local restaurant in Brooklyn, New York.
The tenders were about the same size as the ones from McDonald's, but crispier.
The breading was crunchier and thicker than some other chains.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
However, I preferred the slightly thinner breading on the McDonald's and KFC tenders.
In terms of flavor, these tenders had a distinct peppery flavor that paired well with the new signature sauce introduced with the tenders' release.
These tenders were solid, and I'd order them again.
The breading was well seasoned, but I wanted more chicken.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
However, the slight lack of chicken meat inside — at least compared to other chains — and the chunky breading prevented Wendy's tenders from ranking higher for me.
KFC's original recipe chicken tenders really impressed me with their taste and value.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I ordered a four-piece tender meal for $13.65, excluding taxes and fees, in Brooklyn, New York. I thought this was excellent value for the amount of food I received.
The tenders were well-breaded on the outside, though the breading wasn't as crispy or crunchy as others I tried.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The breading stuck closely to the chicken tenders, rather than having a thick or crunchy texture.
However, the chicken tenders paired well with the chain's honey mustard and new comeback sauce. The breading had a tasty, very peppery flavor to it that was unique compared to the other chicken tenders I tried.
The chicken tenders were flavorful and contained an impressive amount of white meat chicken.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
However, the slightly less crispy texture of the breading meant they didn't come out on top when compared to the last six chains I tried.
McDonald's recently launched its new McCrispy Strips.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
At my local McDonald's in Brooklyn, New York, three McCrispy chicken strips cost $10.99, excluding tax and fees.
The chicken strips were large and evenly coated in breading.
Chicken tenders haven't been on the menu since, despite fans' pleas to bring them back.
The breading was relatively thin, but very crispy.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Unlike some flakier chicken tenders, each bite was evenly coated in well-seasoned, peppery breading. Inside, the chicken meat was thick and juicy.
Paired with the chain's creamy chili sauce, which was specifically created to go with the chicken strips, these packed a decent amount of flavor.
However, on their own, I thought they were just a touch blander than some of the higher-ranked tenders I tried.
Taco Bell released chicken strips after bringing out nuggets last year.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Taco Bell's new chicken strips were available as part of three different kinds of tacos and burritos, or on their own with dipping sauce. An order of two chicken strips cost $5.48, excluding tax and fees.
The chicken strips were thick, juicy, and the ideal level of crispy.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The chicken strips were marinated in zesty jalapeño buttermilk and breaded with crispy tortilla chips and breadcrumbs, which is the same formula as the chain's chicken nuggets, which I ranked as my favorite across six chains.
The chicken strips packed a lot of flavor.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The breading was super flavorful, and I definitely got hints of tortilla chip. The chicken inside was also moist and juicy, while the breading remained crispy.
My only real complaint was that I wanted more than two.
Taco Bell's chicken strips were a limited-time offering and are no longer on the menu as of October 1, 2025. Still, the chain is notorious for bringing back beloved menu items, so fans shouldn't lose hope.
Chick-fil-A's chicken tenders were perfectly crispy and juicy.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
When it's not included in a meal deal, a three-piece chicken tender costs $9.69 at my nearest location in New York City. For a meal, the price bumps up to $17.35, excluding tax and fees.
Some of the chicken pieces looked slightly darker and more fried than others.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Small bits of fried breading were scattered on the outside, which I always love with chicken tenders.
The chicken tenders were nicely fried but still juicy on the inside.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
When I dipped them in the chain's signature Chick-fil-A sauce, the experience was mouthwatering.
The chicken tenders were also great on their own, with the perfect balance of crispy breading and a delicious, briny flavor. The sauce just took them over the edge.
Wingstop's chicken tenders came in third place.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Wingstop recently revamped its chicken tenders, and I was excited to try them out.
The chain sells its chicken in various flavors, from original hot to hickory-smoked barbecue and mango habanero. However, I ordered these chicken tenders plain.
I ordered a five-piece chicken tender combo at my local Wingstop in Brooklyn, New York. It cost $15.39 and came with a drink, dipping sauce, and a regular side of fries.
The chain also sells four chicken tenders, which come with one dipping sauce, for $10.69, plus tax and fees.
The chicken tenders were large and well-breaded.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The chicken tenders were deep golden in color and evenly fried, with small clumps of fried breading adding even more texture to every bite.
These tenders were filled with real chicken.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The chicken tender easily tore apart with every bite, which is something I look for. The breading itself was slightly peppery, but not overly flavorful. They paired well with Wingstop's signature ranch — my favorite of any fast-food ranch — and the chain's honey mustard.
Wingstop delivered great classic tenders, though the breading didn't pack as much flavor as the top two chains I tried. Nevertheless, I'd definitely order these again.
My second favorite chicken tenders came from Zaxby's.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
A five-piece chicken tenders combo came with fries, a small drink, coleslaw, and a piece of Texas toast. I also asked for a side of honey mustard and Zaxby's famous Zax sauce.
My meal cost $15.43, excluding taxes and fees.
The breading of the chicken tenders was similar to Chick-fil-A's in consistency, flavor, and texture, but I thought these ones had more meat.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The breading was crispy and flavorful, with a slight sweetness.
The chicken tenders held their own without sauce but were really taken to the next level when dipped in the tangy Zax sauce.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Zax sauce tastes similar to the Cane's sauce I tried from Raising Cane's, but I found it to be just ever-so-slightly less flavorful, and creamy. I also thought it didn't have the same kick.
However, the chicken tenders really impressed me. They were a good size, extremely flavorful, and addictingly delicious. I found myself craving even more than the five chicken tenders I was given, which is rare for me.
In the end, it was a really tough call on whether I preferred Zaxby's or Raising Cane's chicken tenders.
But my favorite chicken tenders came from Raising Cane's.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
A combo that includes three chicken fingers, fries, Cane's sauce, Texas toast, and a regular drink costs $12.19, excluding tax and any additions or swaps.
The chicken tenders were super crispy.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The chicken tenders were also thick. After biting in, I could actually see the strips of white chicken underneath, which, in my experience, you don't always find with fast-food chicken tenders.
The chicken tenders were crispy and juicy on the inside — I had to give them the win.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I tried the tenders on their own and with the Cane's sauce. On their own, the tenders were simply everything one could ask for: thick, juicy, and crispy on the outside.
However, the chain is famous for its chicken-complementing sauce, and after biting in, I could definitely see why. It had a slight kick to it, and it was creamy and surprisingly tangy. It paired perfectly with the chicken and was unlike any other sauce I've ever tried.
In the end, Raising Cane's took home the win for me with the chain's near-perfect chicken tenders and fair prices.
Charlamagne Tha God challenged advertisers on the concept of brand safety.
He argued that brand safety is subjective and should be driven by the consumer.
"The Breakfast Club" host also stressed the value of advertisers understanding show hosts.
Charlamagne Tha God is taking on advertisers over the concept of "brand safety."
The prominent radio host of iHeartMedia's "The Breakfast Club" spoke at the IAB's Podcast Upfront in New York on Tuesday to promote podcasts to advertisers. He said the "whole concept of brand safety" is a "problem."
"That's just subjective," he said onstage in conversation with measurement giant Nielsen. "You look at somebody and you look at their audience and you say they're not necessarily safe. What does that mean? There was a time a couple of years ago they were saying Judy Blume books weren't safe — Judy Blume! You should say maybe that audience doesn't necessarily align with my brand. But if you deem what's safe and not safe, that's not up to you, that's up to the consumer."
It's an argument that many critics of "brand safety" have made: If a show or host has millions of followers, it's short-sighted to call them and their fans "unsafe."
The term and its associated industry grew out of the automation of digital ad buying. It was meant to ensure brands' ads didn't show up next to controversial content like violence or porn. Over time, the practice has been criticized for helping steer advertisers away from stories about topics like the COVID-19 pandemic on legitimate news outlets, depriving them of ad dollars that underpin their businesses.
"Brand safety" has also landed in the culture wars in the era of President Donald Trump, with some painting it as anti-conservative. In investigations and lawsuits, lawmakers and other high-profile conservatives have argued that the practice unfairly punished right-leaning outlets. Last year, The Daily Wire's cofounder Ben Shapiro testified that the site had been unfairly shunned by major advertisers and ad agencies who, he said, had deemed its content unsafe for their brands. As a result of all this, many advertisers have switched to the term "brand suitability" to distance themselves from politics.
Charlamagne, whose real name is Lenard McKelvey, also talked up the value of the podcast medium and how it complements radio.
"You can't just have one form of content," he said. "Like, if you have that radio show every day, you got to put it out on the podcast. You got to put it out on YouTube. You got to put the clips out on social media."
He also talked about the importance of paying attention to a show's host and content, and not just to the audience size.
"Sometimes you have to not just look into the audience and how large the audience is and actually listen to the personality or listen to what the show is about," he said. "And say, you know, 'I think my brand will align with that.' Because you can tell when somebody is just getting paid to do something. The read sounds generic, the read just sounds basic."
Harry Langdon/Getty Images; Todd Owyoung/NBC/Getty Images
Before Dolly Parton was a country megastar, she grew up in a poor family in rural Tennessee.
She wrote her first song at age 5 and played her first show at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry at 13.
Her scheduled Las Vegas residency has been postponed.
Dolly Parton's journey from a humble two-room cabin in rural Tennessee to the bright lights of country music stardom is one of the most inspiring stories in the music industry.
Parton, 79, has become a cultural icon, celebrated not only for chart-topping hits like "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You," but also for her philanthropy, business ventures, and effortless charm.
Here's a complete timeline of Parton's decades in the public eye and her remarkable career.
Dolly Parton was born in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, on January 19, 1946.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
The fourth of 12 children, Parton was born to a poor family in rural Appalachia.
Parton's father, Robert Lee, was a tobacco farmer and a construction worker who never learned to read or write, having dropped out of school as a young child.
Her mother, Avie Lee Owens, was a preacher's daughter who spent most of her life raising and caring for her children.
Parton always knew she wanted to be a star. In the early days of her musical career, she sang barefoot on the front porch of her family's home in the mountains, a two-room log cabin with no running water or electricity.
In 1951, at just 5 years old, Parton wrote her first song, "Little Tiny Tassel Top."
Two years later, in 1953, Parton was so enthusiastic about playing music that she made her first guitar out of an old mandolin and two bass guitar strings, according to the Library of Congress.
Although Parton's family was poor, a wealth of musical talent surrounded her.
NASHVILLE - 1965: Country singer Dolly Parton poses for a portrait in 1965 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Biography reported that Parton's mother sang and played guitar. Her father also played the banjo and guitar, but it was her uncle Bill Owens whom Parton credits with launching her career.
Owens saw the potential in young Dolly and became her first manager, securing her first gig in 1956 as a regular performer on "The Cas Walker Show" in Knoxville, according to the Library of Congress.
He first introduced Parton to the multimillionaire Walker after somehow getting her backstage during the taping of one of his shows. Parton walked up to Walker and said she wanted to work for him, and it worked.
Parton professionally recorded her first single, "Puppy Love," in 1957.
American singer Dolly Parton performs during her Tokyo concert on Monday, July 30, 1979. The popular vocalist, who won the Grammy award this year, sang 20 songs before a crowd of 1,600.
Tsugufumi Matsumoto/AP
The Library of Congress reported that Parton wrote the song with her uncle when she was 11 and released the single, along with the B-track "Girl Left Alone," on Goldband Records in 1959.
Speaking of the 30-hour bus ride to Lake Charles, Louisiana, to record the single, Parton has said, "I don't think I'll ever forget the way the inside of that bus smelled. It was a combination of diesel fuel, Naugahyde, and people who were going places."
The single didn't garner any commercial success.
At the age of 13, she performed at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry for the first time.
Gems/Getty Images
Parton has said it was always her dream to perform at the Opry.
"For me, the Opry is like the song 'New York, New York' — if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere," she said, according to her Opry artist bio.
At age 13, she got her chance. On the night of her performance, Johnny Cash introduced the young Parton and, after singing George Jones' song "You Gotta Be My Baby," she received three encores, the Library of Congress reported.
Parton was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry 10 years later in 1969, and in 2019, the TV special "Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Opry" — though it had actually been 60 years — aired on NBC, honoring her first performance at the famed Opry House.
In a 2019 interview with Variety about the TV special, Parton reminisced about how informative those early days at the Opry were.
"I just have so many memories, even as a child watching the people backstage and just standing out there on that stage where all the great people stood, just thinking maybe some day I could be part of them," Parton said.
"Now that I've been lucky enough and fortunate enough to see that dream come true, I wonder if some little kid might say 'I bet Dolly Parton once stood here' or 'I'm standing where Dolly Parton stood.'"
From 1962 to 1966, Parton and her uncle had mixed success writing and recording songs.
GAB Archive/Getty Images
The duo was signed to Tree Publishing and Mercury Records in Nashville in 1962 and recorded the songs "It's Sure Gonna Hurt" and "The Love You Gave."
The songs didn't make the charts, and the label dropped Parton and Owens, according to the Library of Congress.
Despite this, Parton has said it was magical hearing herself on the radio.
"I will never forget hearing [myself] on a Knoxville station, WIVK," she said. "There I was, actually hearing myself sing, not on a tape or studio monitor but on a real radio station that thousands of people were listening to… at that very moment.
"I was so proud I walked around for days with my chest all stuck out," she said. "Somehow, nobody noticed."
Parton recorded and released six songs on the album "Hits Made Famous by Country Queens" in 1963. In 1965, she and her uncle were signed by Fred Foster to Combine Publishing House and Monument Records.
The following year, Bill Phillips charted in the Top 10 twice thanks to two songs written by Parton and Owens: "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" and "The Company You Keep."
In May 1966, Parton married her husband, Carl Dean.
Dolly Parton and Carl Dean have kept their relationship private to make it last so long.
Dolly Parton/Instagram
Parton was 18 when she met 21-year-old Dean outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville in 1964.
They were married in Georgia against the wishes of her record label, which thought that marriage would hamper the singer's career.
"It was just my mother, and Carl, and me," Parton told CMT in 2016. "We went across the state line to Ringgold, Georgia. My mother made me a little white dress and a little bouquet and a little Bible. But I said, 'I can't get married in a courthouse because I'll never feel married.' So we found a little Baptist church in town, and went up to Pastor Don Duvall and said, 'Would you marry us?' We got pictures on the steps right outside the church."
Despite his wife's fame, Dean, a retired businessman who once ran an asphalt-laying company, preferred to stay out of the public eye.
Parton finally found success on the Billboard country charts in January 1967, with two singles for Monument Records: "Dumb Blonde" (No. 24) and "Something Fishy" (No. 17).
In July of that year, Parton's first full-length album, "Hello, I'm Dolly," was also released on Monument.
In September 1967, Parton appeared on "The Porter Wagoner Show," and by the end of the year, the duo had teamed up to release a version of "The Last Thing on My Mind," which hit No. 7 on Billboard's country chart.
RCA signed Parton and Wagoner, and the duo released their first album together, "Just Between You and Me," the following year.
Parton also released her first solo single, "Just Because I'm a Woman," the same year. In 1968, Parton and Wagoner took home the Country Music Association award for vocal group of the year and the Music City News award for duet of the year.
Parton earned her first No. 1 hit in 1971.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Following the success of her cover of Jimmie Rodgers' "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)," which topped out at No. 3 on the Billboard country charts in 1970, Parton's single "Joshua" was her first chart-topper.
Her 13th solo studio album, "Jolene," dominated the charts after its release in 1974.
Country singer Dolly Parton performs onstage with an acoustic guitar circa 1974.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
"Jolene" is undoubtedly one of Parton's best-known hits, and rightfully so.
It reached No. 1 on the country charts and peaked at No. 60 on the Billboard Hot 100. Perhaps most importantly, the song's success proved Parton has crossover potential in the popular music realm.
Parton's next four singles — "I Will Always Love You;" "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" (a duet with Porter); "Love is like a Butterfly;" and "The Bargain Store" — all reached No. 1 on the country charts. In 1975, the CMAs awarded Parton with the Female Vocalist of the Year award.
Due to her solo success, Parton ceased performing on Porter Wagoner's TV show and road show in 1974, and in 1976, she severed all professional ties with Wagoner.
In its place, Parton created "Dolly," her first — but certainly not her last — syndicated TV show, which ran for one year.
Parton had another standout year in 1977 thanks to a pair of critically acclaimed albums.
AP Images
Parton released both "New Harvest... First Gathering" and "Here You Come Again" in 1977, in February and October, respectively. "Here You Come Again" went on to achieve platinum status in 1978 — her first album to sell one million copies.
"Here You Come Again" signaled a monumental shift in the singer's sound and career trajectory. She tapped pop producer Gary Klein to work on the album, and she recruited outside writers to compose some of its songs, The Boot reported.
Parton had shown potential as a pop singer on previous albums, but her 1977 hits solidified her position as a pop sensation and helped pave the way for more pop-oriented hits, such as "9 to 5."
The album also earned Parton a Grammy Award for best female country vocal performance.
Parton starred in her first film, "9 to 5" in 1980, which featured her hit song of the same name.
AP Images
Dolly Parton made her silver screen debut in her 1980 comedy "9 to 5," and contributed the hit song of the same name to the film's soundtrack.
Parton's performance and song earned her a slew of award nominations, including from the Golden Globes for new female star of the year in a motion picture, best actress in a motion picture, and best original song; from the Oscars for best original song; and from the People's Choice Award for favorite theme/song from a motion picture.
Although she didn't win any of these awards, Parton was also nominated for four Grammys and won two of them for best country song and best female country vocal performance.
Parton's success grew exponentially in the early 1980s, following the release of "9 to 5."
KFDI Radio personality Jerry Adams and Dolly Parton attended "The Best Little W----house In Texas" premiere at Opryland on July 21, 1982.
R. Diamond/Getty Images
Although the song was released on the album "Jolene" in 1974, it was Parton's performance in the 1982 film "The Best Little W----house in Texas" that helped popularize "I Will Always Love You."
Parton tweaked the song, shifting its country roots and giving it a more pop-centric sound. Her new angle on the song paid off — Parton earned a Grammy nomination for best female country vocal performance.
Later in the 1992 film "The Bodyguard," Whitney Houston once again popularized the song with her famous R&B version, which spent what was then a record-breaking 14 weeks at No. 1, Houston's website reported.
Parton continued to ride the wave of success into 1983 when she teamed up with Kenny Rogers for the hit single "Islands In The Stream," which reached No. 1 on pop, country, and contemporary charts and earned numerous award nominations.
Now a proven actor, Parton began securing acting roles alongside heavy-hitters of the '80s, including Sylvester Stallone in "Rhinestone Cowboy" in 1984.
Parton opened her Dollywood theme park in 1986. It was an attempt to increase employment and revenue near her hometown.
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Parton is known for her generosity, but the initiative she's best known for is her theme park, Dollywood, which she built in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near her hometown.
During the park's 25th season in 2010, Parton told the Associated Press that she always intended to return to her home and help better the lives of everyone who supported her as a young aspiring musician.
"I always thought that if I made it big or got successful at what I had started out to do, that I wanted to come back to my part of the country and do something great, something that would bring a lot of jobs into this area," Parton said. "Sure enough, I was lucky, and God was good to me and things happened good. We started the park, and 25 years later, we're still at it."
In 1988, Parton founded the Dollywood Foundation. In the early 1990s, the foundation promised $500 to area seventh- and eighth-grade students who went on to graduate from high school.
In doing so, she decreased the dropout rate from 35% to 6%, according to the organization's website.
Today, the initiative has morphed into serving many different causes, including Parton's Imagination Library, which has provided hundreds of millions of free books to children around the world.
The same year, Parton was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
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Among the many accolades that earned her entry into the Hall of Fame, her artist page cites that she was the first female country artist to record two No. 1 pop singles, both of which she wrote herself.
She was also the first female country artist to be nominated for an Academy Award and the first female songwriter to win BMI's Five-Million Air award, given for 5 million radio performances of "I Will Always Love You."
Parton's 1987 album, "Trio," with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris, was released to critical acclaim.
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In addition to their cover of Ronnie Spector's song "To Know Him is to Love Him" reaching No. 1 on the Country Singles Chart, "Trio" also won a Grammy for best country performance by a duo or group, the Academy of Country Music Award for album of the year, and won the CMA's award for vocal event of the year.
In 1991, Parton teamed up with Ricky Van Shelton for another No. 1 hit.
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Parton tapped Van Shelton to sing the song "Rockin' Years" off the album "Eagle When She Flies," which earned Parton another No. 1 hit.
In 1994, Parton released her first book, an autobiography, "Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business."
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According to a description of the book on her website, it "recounts her childhood growing up poor in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and talks about her music, religion, marriage, and many other aspects of her life like her opinions about plastic surgery and her larger-than-life persona."
The book charted on The New York Times bestseller list for two months following its release.
From 1999 to 2003, Parton released a trio of bluegrass albums that proved just as successful as her country and pop material.
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Parton's first bluegrass album, 1999's "The Grass Is Blue," won a Grammy in 2000 for the best bluegrass album.
She followed it up in 2001 with "Little Sparrow," a bluegrass and folk album that won a Grammy for best female country vocal performance and was nominated for best bluegrass album.
In 2002, she released "Halos and Horns," which featured a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," and earned Parton two more Grammy nominations.
The Library of Congress awarded Parton with the Living Legends Medal in 2004.
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The award recognizes "individuals who have made significant contributions to America's cultural, scientific and social heritage," according to the Library of Congress. Other musicians to win the award include Johnny Cash and Yo-Yo Ma.
While presenting the award to Parton during a concert in 2004, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington commended the singer's meteoric musical career while staying true to her roots and her desire to help others.
"Dolly Parton has made an indelible mark on pop culture," Billington said, according to the Library of Congress. "Her contributions to crossover music, her ability to give voice to women's issues, and the retention of her early Appalachian roots all stand as tribute to the artistry, heart, and soul that Dolly brings to all she does."
Dolly Parton was one of five recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2006.
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Parton, conductor Zubin Mehta, director Steven Spielberg, musician Smokey Robinson, and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber were recognized for their lifelong contributions to American culture.
In 2011, the Recording Academy presented Parton with the lifetime achievement award.
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Roughly 54 years after releasing her first song, Parton received one of the music realm's most prestigious awards.
In a Grammys article honoring Parton, country singer Miranda Lambert wrote of the singer's masterful lyricism, diverse contributions to American culture, and her dedication to her roots.
"Dolly has proven herself well beyond the boundaries of country music, but she has carried the banner for country music no matter where her career has taken her," Lambert wrote. "From her days getting started on 'The Porter Wagoner Show' to topping the country music charts to her critically acclaimed bluegrass albums and winning every award in between, Dolly has become timeless."
The movie "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" was released in 2015 and told the true story of the singer's rise to fame.
Dolly Parton accepts the Tex Ritter Award for 'Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors' onstage at the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 3, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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The movie explores Parton's childhood and the struggles her family faced living in the foothills of Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains.
The sequel, "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love," was released in 2016.
Guinness World Records honored Parton with two world records in 2018.
Dolly Parton and Jennifer Aniston appeared on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" in 2018.
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In 2018, the organization awarded Parton with two distinctions: the female artist with the most hits (107) on the US Hot Country Songs chart by a female artist and the most decades (six) with a Top 20 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
When asked how it feels to have made music that has endured for so long, Parton said, "It's a good feeling to know that I've had hit songs through all those decades, it makes me feel like I'm about 100, which it won't be long 'till I am."
"I'm just honored and proud that people have loved my music for all of these years," she said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Parton made headlines for her donations.
Dolly Parton isn't planning on retiring anytime soon.
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Parton earned glowing headlines late in 2020 for making a $1 million donation to help fund the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
In the new decade, she showed no signs of slowing down, airing the TV special "A Holly Dolly Christmas" in December 2020 on CBS, and releasing a new Christmas album in October 2021.
In July 2021, Parton recreated her 1978 Playboy cover for her husband Carl Dean's birthday.
Dolly Parton.
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She had told "60 Minutes Australia" in March 2020 that to celebrate her birthday, she'd love to appear on the cover of Playboy Magazine, just as she did when she was 32 in 1978.
"I did Playboy years ago. I thought it'd be such a hoot if they'll go for it. I don't know if they will, if I could be on the cover again when I'm 75," she told anchor Tom Steinfort.
The following year, she shared an update with her fans.
"Remember some time back I said I was going to pose on the Playboy magazine when I was 75? Well, I'm 75, and they don't have a magazine anymore," Parton said in an Instagram video while wearing the Playboy bunny costume.
Parton said in the video that Dean "loved" the original cover, and she did a photo shoot to "make him happy" on his birthday. She presented him with a framed set of photos, one of the original cover and one from the new photo shoot, while wearing the bunny suit.
"He still thinks I'm a hot chick after 57 years," she said. "And I'm not gonna try and talk him out of that."
Parton was nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2022 but originally turned it down.
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"Even though I am extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I don't feel that I have earned that right," she said in a statement in March 2022. "I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out."
Parton was one of 17 artists shortlisted and one of seven first-time nominees, alongside artists like Eminem, Lionel Richie, and Carly Simon.
"I do hope that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will understand and be willing to consider me again — if I'm ever worthy," she wrote in a statement on Instagram in March 2022. "This has, however, inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock 'n' roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do!"
"I wish all of the nominees good luck and thank you again for the compliment," she concluded. "Rock on!"
However, she later changed her tune and said she would accept the honor if voted in.
Dolly Parton.
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When asked what she would do if she received enough fan votes to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Parton said, "I'll accept gracefully. I'll just say 'Thanks' and I will accept it because the fans vote," she told NPR's "Morning Edition" in April.
"It was always my belief that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was for people in rock music," she said. "I have found out lately it's not necessarily that. But if they can't go there to be recognized, where can they go? And so I felt like I was taking away from someone that maybe deserved it certainly more than me since I never considered myself a rock artist. But obviously, there's more to it than that."
On May 4, 2022, it was announced that Dolly Parton would officially be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Dolly Parton performs on stage in March 2022.
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She was joined by fellow inductees Eminem, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, Eurythmics, Duran Duran, and Pat Benatar.
"I am honored and humbled by the fact that I have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," Parton wrote in an Instagram post. "Of course, I will accept it gracefully. Thanks to everyone that voted for me and to everyone at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I will continue to work hard and try to live up to the honor."
She was inducted at a ceremony on November 5, 2022, in Los Angeles.
Parton performed alongside her goddaughter Miley Cyrus on New Year's Eve in 2022.
Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus perform at Miley's New Year's Eve Party in 2022.
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The pair performed a number of songs together at Cyrus' second annual New Year's Eve Party, including the singer's hit song "Jolene" and a mashup of Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" and Parton's "I Will Always Love You."
In September 2025, Dolly Parton postponed her Las Vegas residency amid "health challenges."
Dolly Parton in 2025.
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Parton was originally scheduled to perform six shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in December 2025, but rescheduled the shows for 2026, saying she has "been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures."
"In all seriousness, given this, I am not going to be able to rehearse and put together the show that I want you to see, and the show that you deserve to see," Parton wrote in an Instagram statement. "You pay good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you.
"I just need a little time to get show ready, as they say," she said. "And don't worry about me quitting the business because God hasn't said anything about stopping yet."