The Dolly Parton Songs That Revealed Her Faith, Doubt, and Hope

One day as I prayed in earnest, I broke through some sort of spirit wall and found God,” Dolly Parton wrote in her 1994 autobiography. “Not as a chastising, bombastic bully but as a friend I could talk to on a one-to-one basis. He is our father, after all.” The multi-award-winning country singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist spoke and sang often about her Christian upbringing and personal faith. For her first full gospel album, The Golden Streets of Glory (1971), Parton wrote and recorded the title track, an upbeat country-gospel reflection on an imagined heaven: “Hallelujah, I just hope my feet are clean enough / to walk upon the golden streets of glory.” Parton, who died in Nashville August 25, was born in rural Tennessee and shaped by country music and Pentecostalism. Her career reflected those two influences from beginning to end. Parton had one of the most recognizable voices in the music industry. Her bright, crystal-clear soprano tone made her a sought-after collaborator (she recorded multiple trio albums with fellow country artists Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt) and a powerful soloist. In addition to being one of the