Pure & Simple

Dolly Parton released Pure & Simple on August 19, 2016, marking her forty-fifth solo studio effort. The album arrived through her own label, Dolly Records, in partnership with RCA Records and became her seventh number-one record on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. This achievement ended a twenty-five-year drought since her previous chart-topper in the genre. The project embraced a stripped-down production style featuring acoustic arrangements and storytelling that reflected a return to roots while maintaining Parton's signature warmth.

All twelve tracks on the record were written solely by Parton herself. While she continued recording later in life, this collection stands as her final solo album written entirely by her before her passing in August 2026 at the age of 80. Critics noted how the music balances traditional country sounds with personal narratives that highlight her enduring songwriting ability without heavy production. [edit]