Dolly Parton's Pure & Simple Debuts At #1 Worldwide!

By Timothy Yap Aug 30, 2016 05:08 AM EDT

World-renowned singer/songwriter/entertainer Dolly Parton has a worldwide #1 album to celebrate this week. The superstar's new release Pure & Simple debuts at #1 not only in the U.S., but, also on the national country charts in Canada, U.K. and Australia.

Dolly's 43rd studio recording and the first release of her recently-announced joint venture between Dolly Records and Sony Music Nashville, achieves #1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart with first-week sales of 20,000 units! This marks the first time Dolly has topped Billboard's Top Country Albums chart in the 25-year history of SoundScan.

The new album which released August 19th on Dolly Records/RCA Nashville lands the #11 slot on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart with a first-week total consumption of 21,000. On Billboard's Americana/Folk Albums chart, the disc debuts at #1. In the UK, Pure & Simple enters the all-genre album sales chart at #2, behind Frank Ocean's Blonde.

Upon hearing the news, Dolly Parton, who co-produced and wrote every song on Pure & Simple, enthused, "Boy, it's a good day for me. I am a happy girl!" She continued, "It feels great to be #1 as it's been a long time and it feels so good to still be in the game after all this time."

Remarked Doug Morris, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment, "Congratulations, Dolly, for your stunning debut with Pure & Simple.You put your heart and soul in this album, and we join you in celebrating a long-overdue #1 on the country album chart."

"I thought it was a magical time back in 1981, when I first started working with Dolly as we set up her Best Little Whorehouse album on RCA, right after her huge hit, '9 To 5,'" reflected Randy Goodman, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville. "I spent a week with her on the RCA jet visiting radio and retail all over the country." Goodman continued, "But, to be reunited with Dolly and have a #1 debut is wonderful. Thank you, Doug Morris for bringing Dolly back to RCA."

CTK Management CEO Danny Nozell said, "There is nobody more deserving of this tremendous success. Having worked with Dolly for the past 13 years, I have never met any person that works harder than her." Nozell added, "She is a businesswoman that understands her brand and knows exactly what to do and when to do it, and once again, she proves it with a #1 album."

Last week, Dolly Parton made appearances on NBC's Today and Tonight Show, among other TV shows.

Fans can link to purchase Pure & Simple and the various versions available by exclusive partners below:

Cracker Barrel: smarturl.it/dollycbps
Walmart: smarturl.it/walmartdolly
Amazon Music: smarturl.it/amzmusicdolly
Amazon Physical: smarturl.it/amazondolly
Apple Music: smarturl.it/dollypartonps
Google: smarturl.it/gpdolly
Spotify: smarturl.it/spotifydolly

Walmart's special version of Pure & Simple includes a bonus disc, featuring Dolly's greatest hits and exclusive tracks. The Cracker Barrel deluxe version contains her Pure & Simple album complemented by two tracks, the smash hits "Jolene" and "9 To 5" recorded live at Glastonbury Festival, along with a 48-page ZinePak magazine filled with photos and interviews highlighting memorable stories from Parton.