Dolly Parton's 1980 hit song "9 to 5" is on course to become her first-ever UK number one single, days after the country music icon's death. The track has seen a significant surge in popularity, climbing the charts in the week following her passing.
According to the Official Charts Company, "9 to 5" initially entered the charts at number 12, marking a 350% week-on-week increase. Over the weekend, the song gained further momentum and is currently holding the top spot. Parton's 1973 song "Jolene" is also charting, currently at number two.
The company predicts that based on preliminary sales and streaming data, "9 to 5" will likely remain at number one until Friday. This posthumous chart success comes as the world mourns the loss of the beloved artist, who died at the age of 80 after a battle with cancer.
Throughout her six-decade career, which included 11 Grammy Awards, Parton never reached the number one spot on the UK singles chart. "9 to 5" was written and recorded for the 1980 film of the same name, in which Parton starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The song earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song and three Grammy nominations.
The film, a comedy about three coworkers seeking revenge on their sexist boss, marked Parton's film debut and solidified her status in Hollywood. Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry, with many crediting Parton with inspiring their own careers. Taylor Swift described a world without Parton as "not possible, real, or right," while Beyoncé called her "the barometer" and "the north star." Miley Cyrus, Parton's goddaughter, referred to her as "an angel by my side."