Dolly's debut album, Hello, I'm Dolly, was released 58 years ago, on September 18, 1967, by Monument Records. Produced by Fred Foster, the album peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. It includes Dolly's first two singles to appear on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart: "Dumb Blonde" (number 24) and "Something Fishy" (number 17). The album marked Dolly's official entrance into the country music industry. The road from the foothills of the Smoky Mountains to country music stardom was a long road, one that Dolly had been traveling since she was a child, filled with ups and downs, setbacks, delays, and disappointments.
​
Dolly began performing as a child, singing on local radio and television programs in the East Tennessee area. By ten, she was appearing on The Cas Walker Show on both WIVK Radio and WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee. She made her first professional recording at age 13 when she recorded "Puppy Love" for Goldband Records. The single, released in April 1959, did not chart. After making musical connections while performing on The Cas Walker Show, Dolly and her uncle, Bill Owens, managed to get a guest spot on the Grand Ole Opry on July 25, 1959. Jimmy C. Newman agreed to give up one of his regular Saturday night spots to allow Dolly to perform. She was introduced by Johnny Cash before performing a cover of George Jones' "You Gotta Be My Baby" and receiving three encores. Dolly and Uncle Bill were signed to Tree Publishing and released one single together on Circle-B Records prior to Dolly signing a one single deal with Mercury Records in January 1962. The single, "It's Sure Gonna Hurt", was released in August and failed to chart. Dolly recorded six songs in 1963 for the Somerset Records budget compilation album Hits Made Famous by Country Queens. Three selections were songs made famous by Kitty Wells and the three others were traditional ballads.

After graduating high school in May 1964, Dolly moved to Nashville the next day. Her initial success came as a songwriter, when Fred Foster, owner of Combine Music and Monument Records, signed her to a publishing and recording deal. During this early period at Monument, Dolly wrote songs that were recorded by a variety of artists, including Bill Phillips, Skeeter Davis, Hank Williams Jr., and even Kitty Wells. Foster originally felt that Dolly's voice was not suited for country and tried to market her as a pop singer with the release of her first five singles for the label: "What Do You Think About Lovin'" (1964), "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby" (1965), "Busy Signal" (1966), "Don't Drop Out" (1966), and "The Little Things" (1966). The most successful of these releases was "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby", which managed to peak at number 108 on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.

Following the success of Bill Phillips' recording of the Parton-Owens composition "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" (featuring uncredited harmony by Dolly) in 1966, Foster was finally persuaded to allow Dolly to record country material.

"Dumb Blonde" was released as a single in November 1966 and debuted at number 64 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated January 21, 1967. It peaked at number 24 on the chart dated March 18, its ninth week on the chart. It charted for a total of 14 weeks. It also peaked at number 10 on the Cashbox Country Singles chart.

"Something Fishy", was released in May 1967 and debuted at number 61 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated June 10. It peaked at number 17 on the chart dated August 5, its ninth week on the chart, becoming Dolly's first top 20 hit. It charted for 12 weeks. It also peaked at number 16 on the Cashbox Country Singles chart.

The release of Hello, I'm Dolly was likely pushed back several times. In Dolly's 1994 autobiography, My Life and Other Unfinished Business, the release date is given as February 1967, but this date is contradicted by an interview Dolly gave in June 1967, where she states that the album "should be out by the end of this month." The album's release was announced for September 1967 by Cashbox, and Record World, following Dolly's debut as a regular on The Porter Wagoner Show on September 5. It was finally released September 18, 1967, on LP.

The Grascals on Friday, August 29, 2025, released "Broken Angels", a duet with Dolly, as the first single from their upcoming album on Billy Blue Records. The song was written by band member Jamie Johnson and Dolly about a mutual friend struggling with addiction and depression. The song is available now on all music platforms. 

The following Friday, Zac Brown Band released a duet with Dolly titled "Butterfly" from their Love & Fear album, due in December from Master of None, LLC. It was released as a double A-side single with "Give It Away", serving as the album's third and fourth singles. "Butterfly" was written by Zac Brown, Sasha Sirota, and San Auerbach. A music video for the track was released the same day. The single is available now on all music platforms.

Coming on November 7, 2025, Opry 100: Country's Greatest Songs, will feature live tracks of some of the greatest songs to be performed on the Grand Ole Opry. Dolly's 2007 performance of "I Will Always Love You" with Patty Loveless and Marty Stuart from Porter Wagoner's 50th Opry anniversary show is included on the album, marking the performance's first commercial release. The album is available for pre-order on CD and LP from the Opry Shop here.