Coat of Many Colors
Dolly Parton | Artist Essentials
First released: 1971 (year verified)
Original 1971 RCA studio recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: A compact story in which the plain vocal delivery carries the emotional weight.
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Release evidence and recording details
First released: 1971 (year verified)
Original title song released in 1971. Year precision avoids treating the album day as an independently verified first single day.
Recording: Original 1971 RCA studio recording
Credit: Dolly Parton
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original single: Coat of Many Colors
Coat of Many Colors - official Dolly Parton album catalog
The original 1971 studio album and its title track; the page places the title single in fall 1971. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
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About Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton's singing and songwriting grew from the ballads, gospel music and country traditions of her Appalachian upbringing in Tennessee. She moved to Nashville in 1964 and became widely known through her work with Porter Wagoner, including television appearances and duet recordings. Her solo career expanded from country records into pop crossover and film. Later bluegrass recordings returned attention to acoustic traditions already present in her early musical life, alongside her continuing work as a songwriter.
Artist background sources
Dolly Parton - Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum biography
Appalachian musical upbringing, 1964 Nashville move, Porter Wagoner partnership, solo pop and film work, and later bluegrass recordings. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Profile reviewed: 2026-10-17. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.
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