Dolly Parton singles out her three favourite songs

Dolly Parton has singled out the top three best songs she has ever written.

The 78-year-old music icon has been churning out hits since 1959 and has released an astonishing 199 singles and 49 studio albums.

Reflecting on her career, she has picked out her top three tracks – with one that she says has been covered 450 times.

Speaking to The Guardian, the 52-time Grammy-award nominated star said of her back catalogue, “Well, I’m proud of all of them.

“I think the one that’s most personal to me is the lil’ Coat of Many Colors, because it talks about my mom, my parents and kind of gives you an insight. It also covers bullying, acceptance and all that.”

Picking her second favourite song, she continued, “Of course, the one that’s most recorded is Jolene. That seems to be the favourite – do you know that song has been recorded, somebody told me, 450 times in the last 52 years? I’m so proud of it.”

And then picking out her third favourite track, the star said, “And I Will Always Love You is one is the great love songs, so I’m very proud of that too.”

Parton’s track I Will Always Love You was arguably improved with the 1992 cover by Whitney Houston which was included in The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album and sold over 24 million and topped charts around the world.