Image credit: Mike White
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Freida Estelle Parton (b. June 1, 1957) is a singer, songwriter, and musician. One of Dolly's five sisters, Freida and her twin brother Floyd Estel were the tenth and eleventh children born to Lee and Avie Lee Parton. Frieda sang backup as a member of Dolly's Travelin' Family Band in the mid-1970s. She briefly married country singer and songwriter Paul Overstreet, but they eventually divorced. She then married guitarist, singer, and songwriter Mark Andersen in the late 1970s. Mark had met Freida's brother Randy in Nasvhille, and together they performed country and southern rock as Southern Gallery. Freida and Mark's daughter Jada Star was born in 1979. In 1980, Freida and Mark co-wrote "Sing for the Common Man" which appeared on Dolly's 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs album.
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After signing with Bearsville Records Freida was prompted to record a rock album, Two-Faced, in 1981. The record label thought rock music would differentiate Freida from her country singing siblings Dolly, Stella, and Randy. However, sidelined by a back injury, the album wasn't released until 1984. Freida's rock career was brief since she didn't care for the messaging in most rock music. Freida and Mark wrote many songs together, but eventually divorced. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, Freida was headlining her own show at Dollywood. She released two additional albums, Pleasant Memories (1989) and Live at Dollywood (c. 1990).
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In 1995, Freida opened a florist shop and wedding chapel in downtown Sevierville, Tennessee called Parton's Crest, but the business was short-lived due to personal illness. After becoming an ordained minster, Freida made a second attempt at opening a wedding chapel. She and a partner opened Parton Family Wedding Chapel & Antiques in Sevierville in 2014. She performed many inclusive wedding ceremonies there before it eventually closed. Freida now lives a private life in East Tennessee, an avid collector of sports cards and antiques, and supporter of her daughter Jada's musical career.
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Studio albums
Album cover. Bearsville (1-23999) (1984)
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Two-Faced is the debut studio album by Freida Parton. It was released March 19, 1984, by Bearsville Records. The rock album was produced by Freida's then-husband, Mark Andersen, with Freida serving as executive producer. "Oriental Dolls" was the only single released and it was accompanied by a music video that received airplay on MTV.
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Track listing
- I Can Feel the Squeeze (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen) 3:24
- Hit and Run Love (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen, Floyd Parton) 3:19
- Oriental Dolls (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen) 3:25
- If Love Don't Come to Me (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen) 3:49
- Fire in the Night (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen) 2:30
- Soldiers of the Night (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen) 4:19
- Midnight (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen) 3:52
- Heart Tracks (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen) 3:54
- The Chosen One (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen) 4:44
Personnel
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Album cover. Tip Top, Inc. (1989) / Extended edit by The Dolly Parton Discography.
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Pleasant Memories is the second studio album by Freida Parton. It was released in 1989 by Tip Top, Inc. on cassette. It was co-produced by Freida and her cousin, Richie Owens. The album was only sold for a limited time at her shows at Dollywood. Its release was promoted by the single "Momma's Shoes." In 2024, the track "The Crops Came In" was used to create a duet version with Dolly for Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables. Following positive reception to this recording, the original album was remastered and remixed with new backing tracks and released by Owepar Records as The Crops Came In on February 13, 2026. The album's re-release was preceded by the release of one single, "Nothing Like a Momma's Love."
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Track listing
Pleasant Memories (1989) track listing
- Moonshine (Freida Parton) 3:32
- We Don't Work in the Fields Anymore (Freida Parton) 3:38
- Pride from a Working Man (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen) 4:54
- Oil & Water (Freida Parton, Jada Star) 3:38
- Nothing Like a Momma's Love (Freida Parton, Jada Star, Mark Andersen) 3:00
- This Is Living (Freida Parton) 2:11
- The Crops Came In (Freida Parton) 4:02
- Smoky Mountain Morning (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen) 3:38
- Momma's Shoes (Freida Parton) 4:08
- Just Like Love in the Old Days (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen) 3:38
Album cover. Owepar (OWEPAR-CD1013) (2026)
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The Crops Came In (2026) track listing
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Personnel
Pleasant Memories (1989) personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
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The Crops Came In (2026) personnel
Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.
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Performance
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Production
Other personnel
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- Recorded at The Refuge, Sevierville, Tennessee, and Historic Fireside Studios, Nashville, Tennessee
- Mixed and Mastered at Wirebird Studios
Live albums
Album cover. Freida Parton (c. 1990) / Extended edit by The Dolly Parton Discography.
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Live at Dollywood is a live album by Freida Parton. It was released independently by Freida on cassette around 1990. It contains four live tracks recorded during a show at Dollywood and three additional studio tracks. The album was likely only sold at her shows at Dollywood.
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Track listing
- Welcome to Dollywood (Live) 3:43
- Smoky Mountain Morning (Live) (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen) 2:55
- Pride from a Working Man (Live) (Freida Parton, Mark Andersen) 5:15
- I Will Always Love You (Live) (Dolly Parton) 3:24
- Only One in Love 5:26
- Gone Too Far 5:21
- Got My Heart on This Feeling 4:50
Singles
A-SIDE / B-SIDE (LABEL; CATALOG #; RELEASE DATE)
- While I'm Warm / Who Do We Blame (Soul, Country and Blues; IRDA #146; 1975) (with Paul Overstreet)
- You'll Never Change / I'm Just Cheating Me (Soul, Country and Blues; SCB 219; 1976) (with Paul Overstreet)
- Woman in Clay / Wildlife (Albatross; 6157; c. 1981)
- Oriental Dolls (Bearsville; none; April 1984)
- Momma's Shoes (Tip-Top, Inc., none; 1989)
- Nothing Like a Momma's Love (Owepar; digital single; December 19, 2025)
Other album appearances
TITLE / ARTIST / ALBUM / YEAR
- Down to Earth / Stella Parton* / Stella Parton / 1978
- The Crops Came In / Freida Parton and Dolly Parton / Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables / 2024
* Freida provided backing vocals on this track.