Dolly Parton has spent decades crafting some of country music’s most iconic songs, capturing emotions with sincerity and storytelling.
Many of her tracks have become deeply personal anthems for fans, but when asked to name her favorite song, she didn’t choose one of her own.
Instead, she pointed to a ballad that became one of the most recognizable love songs of its time.
Written by Dan Hill and Barry Mann, the song was originally penned in 1973 when Hill was just 19 years old. At the time, he was involved with a woman who was also seeing two other men.
Struggling to express his emotions, he channeled his feelings into lyrics that explored love, longing, and emotional honesty. The song’s chorus, “I wanna hold you till I die, till we both break down and cry,” became one of its most memorable lines.
When it was finally released in 1977, the track became Hill’s biggest hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and performing well internationally.
Over the years, it has been covered by major artists, including Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow, and Tina Turner, cementing its place as a timeless ballad.
For Parton, this particular song has always stood out. “I always loved the song ‘Sometimes When We Touch’,” she said in an interview with TODAY. “It’s an older song, but I just always loved it.”
Though ‘Sometimes When We Touch’ remains her favorite song by another artist, Parton has also named a personal favorite from her own catalog. That song is ‘Coat of Many Colors’, which she wrote in 1969.
Based on a childhood memory, the song tells the story of a coat her mother made for her out of fabric scraps when the family couldn’t afford new clothes. While Parton cherished the coat, she was teased by classmates for wearing it. The song, released in 1971, became one of her most treasured works.
‘Coat of Many Colors’ has remained a defining song in Parton’s career. In 2011, it was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for its cultural and historical significance.
Parton has often spoken about the song’s personal meaning and how it reflects the values instilled in her during her upbringing in rural Tennessee.