Dolly was among six recipients to receive the honor during an invitation-only ceremony. The ceremony was held the night before the live telecast of the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards. Due to a family commitment, scheduled months earlier, Dolly was unable to attend the event. In her recorded acceptance speech she said,
“I appreciate all my GRAMMYS, all of my fans, all the folks that work hard to see to it that I’m still out here on the road… I do thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Dolly won her first GRAMMY in 1978. She was awarded Best Female Country Vocal Performance for her song, "Here You Come Again." In addition to her wins, she has earned 39 nominations to date.
The other honorees included Julie Andrews, Roy Haynes, Juilliard String Quartet, Kingston Trio and the Ramones. In the official press release, The Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow said,
“These influential performers and brilliant innovators have been of great inspiration to our culture and industry. Their legendary work has left a lasting impression and will continue to influence generations to come.”
The GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 1962. Bing Crosby was the first to receive this distinction. In 1967, Ella Fitzgerald became the first woman honored.
The Recording Academy’s National Trustees vote on the honorees. The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to those who, “during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.” In 1972, the award broadened to include non-performers.
Dolly was the center of FOX’s "American Idol" Season VII’s Country Week on April 1 and 2, 2008, mentoring, performing, and watching the remaining contestants render covers of several of her classic songs.
Dolly mentored finalists as they prepared to perform her songs on the April 1, episode and returned on the April 2, show to perform her song "Jesus and Gravity" from her 2008 "Backwoods Barbie" CD. She chose not to judge the contestants’ performances of her songs saying,
"I couldn't go on and criticize somebody else's singin'.”
The remaining nine “American Idol” contestants performed:
On Aug. 30, 2002, Country Music Television started its three-part series "The 40 Greatest Women of Country Music," hosted by actor Billy Campbell. Dolly claimed the No. 4 spot, behind Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn, who placed one through three, respectively.
Dolly is interviewed throughout and several of her songs are highlighted, including "Here You Come Again" and "Dumb Blonde." The show also featured interviews with other artists like Emmylou Harris and Barbara Mandrell, who commented on Dolly’s illustrious career and contributions to country music.
According to CMT, the list was selected by hundreds of artists, music historians, music journalists, and music industry professionals who considered every aspect of what a great artist is, from her musically groundbreaking body of work to her overall contributions to the ever-changing world of country music. Country music historian Robert K. Oerman said of Dolly during the special,
"No one can touch her. No one can touch the hem of her dress as far as I'm concerned."
