Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Childers.
Hi Ben, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Ben Childers, and I’m from Tupelo, Mississippi. I am the creator and administrator of The Dolly Parton Discography, a fanzine dedicated to preserving the musical legacy of the undisputed Queen of Country Music.
I grew up visiting the Great Smoky Mountains and Dollywood with my family, but surprisingly, I didn’t truly discover Dolly Parton’s music until 2013. One night I came across her song “Together You and I” on iTunes, bought it on a whim, and then downloaded a greatest hits collection. That one purchase completely changed my musical interests. Before long I was collecting her albums, attending concerts, and diving deep into her incredible body of work.
As my collection grew, so did my curiosity. I began researching every album, single, and recording she had released, creating spreadsheets and organizing information simply because I wanted to understand the full scope of her six-decade career. What started as a personal hobby eventually became something much bigger.
By 2021, after years of collecting and researching, I realized there wasn’t a single place where fans could easily explore Dolly’s complete recording history. That’s when I created The Dolly Parton Discography. My goal has always been to document her musical legacy as accurately and thoroughly as possible while giving fans a place to discover albums, songs, and stories they may have never known. It’s truly been a labor of love, and I’m grateful that so many fellow Dolly fans have found it to be a valuable resource.
One of the most memorable moments of this journey came in May 2024 when I finally had the opportunity to meet Dolly herself. After spending a decade collecting, researching, and documenting her music, it was a surreal and unforgettable experience. It reminded me why I started this project in the first place and inspired me to continue preserving her musical legacy for other fans.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. The biggest challenge has simply been the amount of research involved. Dolly has been recording for more than 60 years, so tracking down accurate information on every album, single, chart appearance, and release date can be incredibly time-consuming. I’ve spent countless hours digging through old issues of Billboard and Cashbox, record label materials, newspaper archives, and other historical sources to verify information rather than relying on what’s already circulating online.
Another challenge has been finding rare releases. Some albums or singles were pressed in limited quantities or have been out of print for decades, so locating copies or reliable documentation often requires a lot of patience. There are also times when different sources contradict one another, so I have to piece together the most accurate history possible.
Building and maintaining the website itself has also been a learning experience. I’m not a professional web developer, so much of what I’ve done has been self-taught through trial and error. But despite the challenges, I genuinely enjoy the research process. Every new piece of information I uncover feels like another small contribution to preserving Dolly’s incredible musical legacy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in documenting Dolly’s recording career as thoroughly and accurately as possible. The Dolly Parton Discography is dedicated to preserving the history of her music. My goal is to create a resource that is useful to both longtime fans and researchers by bringing together information that is often scattered across dozens of different sources.
What I’m most proud of is the level of research that goes into the site. Rather than simply repeating information that’s already online, I spend a great deal of time verifying facts through original sources. Accuracy is incredibly important to me because I want the website to be a trustworthy record of Dolly’s remarkable career.
I think what sets the site apart is that it’s driven entirely by passion. It’s not an official project or a commercial venture, it’s something I’ve built because I genuinely love Dolly’s music and believe her catalog deserves to be documented in a way that reflects its depth and significance. Every page is the result of countless hours of research, collecting, and fact-checking, and I hope that dedication shows in the finished product.
One area of the website that I’m especially proud of is the section dedicated to the music of Dolly’s family members, The Owens-Parton Discography. I’ve had the opportunity to interview several members of the Parton family, including nieces Jada Star and Heidi Parton, and cousin Shelley Rená, and share their stories alongside their music, helping to preserve another important part of the family’s musical legacy. Those conversations have added a personal dimension to the website that I’m incredibly grateful for.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest piece of advice is to build something you’re genuinely passionate about. If you’re creating something just because you think it will become popular, it’s easy to lose motivation. The reason I’ve stayed committed to The Dolly Parton Discography for 5 years now is because I truly enjoy the research. Even after years of working on it, discovering a new song or recording detail is still exciting.
I’d also encourage people to value accuracy over speed. It’s tempting to publish information as quickly as possible, but taking the time to verify facts and using reliable sources builds credibility. I’ve learned that the extra effort is always worth it.
Finally, don’t be afraid to start before everything is perfect. My website has grown and improved over time, and I’m constantly updating it as I uncover new information. If I had waited until I thought it was “finished,” it probably never would have launched. Sometimes the best way to build something meaningful is simply to begin and let it evolve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dollydiscography.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedollydiscography
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/thedollydiscography
