Both are 68. Both are known for their trademark golden locks. And both are titans of the music world.
But when Dolly Parton and Debbie Harry, of band "Blondie," perform at one of the biggest music festivals on the planet -- Glastonbury -- they will be bringing very different styles to the stage.
"They're both pioneers in their own way," said Dan Stubbs, news editor of British music magazine NME. "Dolly's a self-made country and western legend, with a big, warm personality. Debbie Harry came from the New York punk scene of the 1970s, but found mainstream success by embracing disco, pop, and rap."
As both women take to the stage at the UK's premier arts festival, we look back at their remarkable careers.
By Sheena Mckenzie, for CNN
But when Dolly Parton and Debbie Harry, of band "Blondie," perform at one of the biggest music festivals on the planet -- Glastonbury -- they will be bringing very different styles to the stage.
"They're both pioneers in their own way," said Dan Stubbs, news editor of British music magazine NME. "Dolly's a self-made country and western legend, with a big, warm personality. Debbie Harry came from the New York punk scene of the 1970s, but found mainstream success by embracing disco, pop, and rap."
As both women take to the stage at the UK's premier arts festival, we look back at their remarkable careers.
By Sheena Mckenzie, for CNN
1970: Sweet and street
One is a sweet-as-pie country singer, the other a vampy rocker -- the two couldn't be more different. And neither could their upbringings.
The fourth of 12 children growing up in a one-room shack in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, Parton's sharecropper father was too poor to pay the doctor who delivered her. So instead he gave him a sack of homegrown corn meal. Today, her Dollywood theme park -- which attracts around 3 million visitors each year -- even features a replica of the humble home.
Meanwhile, Harry's childhood wasn't quite so underprivileged. Born in Miami, Florida, she was adopted by a couple from New Jersey who ran a gift shop. As a youngster, she daydreamed that her real mother was Marilyn Monroe. And at 12 years old the future punk rock icon began dying her hair, finally settling on the bleached blonde that would become her trademark.
Though Harry baulks at the suggestion she's become a style guru in the last four decades, telling CNN: "Believe me, I've made a lot of mistakes.
"You've got to work out what looks good on you, and sometimes that takes time."
Watch the full interview here
One is a sweet-as-pie country singer, the other a vampy rocker -- the two couldn't be more different. And neither could their upbringings.
The fourth of 12 children growing up in a one-room shack in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, Parton's sharecropper father was too poor to pay the doctor who delivered her. So instead he gave him a sack of homegrown corn meal. Today, her Dollywood theme park -- which attracts around 3 million visitors each year -- even features a replica of the humble home.
Meanwhile, Harry's childhood wasn't quite so underprivileged. Born in Miami, Florida, she was adopted by a couple from New Jersey who ran a gift shop. As a youngster, she daydreamed that her real mother was Marilyn Monroe. And at 12 years old the future punk rock icon began dying her hair, finally settling on the bleached blonde that would become her trademark.
Though Harry baulks at the suggestion she's become a style guru in the last four decades, telling CNN: "Believe me, I've made a lot of mistakes.
"You've got to work out what looks good on you, and sometimes that takes time."
Watch the full interview here
Mid 1970s: A star is born
Parton is a real-life rhinestone in the rough, with nine number one singles in the U.S. country charts throughout the 1970s -- including hits "Jolene" in 1973, and "I Will Always Love You" in 1974.
Meanwhile, Harry and guitarist Chris Stein were busy founding the band which would catapult them to stardom -- Blondie. They released their first self-titled album in 1976.
"Both women are responsible for some of the most popular songs ever," said Stubbs. "Dolly's 'I Will Always Love You' was a massive hit for Whitney Houston. And Blondie's 'One Way or Another' was recently covered by One Direction."
Parton is a real-life rhinestone in the rough, with nine number one singles in the U.S. country charts throughout the 1970s -- including hits "Jolene" in 1973, and "I Will Always Love You" in 1974.
Meanwhile, Harry and guitarist Chris Stein were busy founding the band which would catapult them to stardom -- Blondie. They released their first self-titled album in 1976.
"Both women are responsible for some of the most popular songs ever," said Stubbs. "Dolly's 'I Will Always Love You' was a massive hit for Whitney Houston. And Blondie's 'One Way or Another' was recently covered by One Direction."
1980: Mainstream success
If Parton looks a little more secretary than superstar in this picture, it's because she's working "Nine to Five" -- starring in the film of the same name -- and featuring her Academy Award-nominated song.
The catchy tune about workplace woes not only reached number one in the U.S. country charts, but for the first time in her career also topped the singles charts. The song also earned two Grammy Awards -- out of the eight Parton has received to date.
That same year, Blondie released "Call Me," also one of their biggest hits, which spent six consecutive weeks at number one in the U.S. charts.
The music industry has changed a lot since then, thanks in part to the rise of internet downloads, Harry told CNN. "It's clearly made playing live really really important," she said. "The record industry as far as we're concerned really doesn't exist, as it once did."
Watch the full interview here
If Parton looks a little more secretary than superstar in this picture, it's because she's working "Nine to Five" -- starring in the film of the same name -- and featuring her Academy Award-nominated song.
The catchy tune about workplace woes not only reached number one in the U.S. country charts, but for the first time in her career also topped the singles charts. The song also earned two Grammy Awards -- out of the eight Parton has received to date.
That same year, Blondie released "Call Me," also one of their biggest hits, which spent six consecutive weeks at number one in the U.S. charts.
The music industry has changed a lot since then, thanks in part to the rise of internet downloads, Harry told CNN. "It's clearly made playing live really really important," she said. "The record industry as far as we're concerned really doesn't exist, as it once did."
Watch the full interview here
Mid 1980s: Dollywood and down time
During the 80s, Parton continued to branch into the film industry, earning a Golden Globe nomination for "Best Actress" in the 1982 musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," starring alongside Burt Reynolds.
Two years later she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Not content just to add her name to Tinseltown's streets, Parton created her own version in 1986 -- "Dollywood" -- a theme park in the Smoky Mountains where she grew up.
For Harry, the 1980s were a more difficult decade.
Blondie broke up after their sixth album in 1982, and Harry took a few years off to care for partner and band member Chris Stein, who was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease of the skin.
During the 80s, Parton continued to branch into the film industry, earning a Golden Globe nomination for "Best Actress" in the 1982 musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," starring alongside Burt Reynolds.
Two years later she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Not content just to add her name to Tinseltown's streets, Parton created her own version in 1986 -- "Dollywood" -- a theme park in the Smoky Mountains where she grew up.
For Harry, the 1980s were a more difficult decade.
Blondie broke up after their sixth album in 1982, and Harry took a few years off to care for partner and band member Chris Stein, who was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease of the skin.
1990s: Bigger and better
Parton continued to build her entertainment empire with her part-owned production company -- Sandollar -- which was behind successful TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and film "Father of the Bride."
That's not to say she had been ignoring her roots. In 1999 Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. It was a bright new decade for Harry too.
In 1997 Blondie reformed after a 15-year hiatus, coming back with a bang. Their new single "Maria" became the band's sixth UK number one hit -- making them the first American group to have chart-topping British singles in three decades -- the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
Parton continued to build her entertainment empire with her part-owned production company -- Sandollar -- which was behind successful TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and film "Father of the Bride."
That's not to say she had been ignoring her roots. In 1999 Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. It was a bright new decade for Harry too.
In 1997 Blondie reformed after a 15-year hiatus, coming back with a bang. Their new single "Maria" became the band's sixth UK number one hit -- making them the first American group to have chart-topping British singles in three decades -- the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
2000s: Hallowed halls
Decades after they first started out in the music industry, both women were honored with some of the most prestigious awards in the business.
In 2001, Parton was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Today she is one of only a handful of woman vocalists in the world to sell over 100 million records.
Five years later, Blondie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with four U.S. number one singles, and 40 million albums sold worldwide.
"I think both singers connect with listeners young and old," said Stubbs. "An act like The White Stripes covering Dolly's brilliant 'Jolene' -- which they did about a decade ago -- can help bring an artist to a new audience. But she's an institution anyway. People who wouldn't necessarily like country music, love Dolly."
Decades after they first started out in the music industry, both women were honored with some of the most prestigious awards in the business.
In 2001, Parton was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Today she is one of only a handful of woman vocalists in the world to sell over 100 million records.
Five years later, Blondie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with four U.S. number one singles, and 40 million albums sold worldwide.
"I think both singers connect with listeners young and old," said Stubbs. "An act like The White Stripes covering Dolly's brilliant 'Jolene' -- which they did about a decade ago -- can help bring an artist to a new audience. But she's an institution anyway. People who wouldn't necessarily like country music, love Dolly."
2014: Glastonbury glamor
In the international music festival circuit, there are few bigger events than Glastonbury. And when 175,000 people descend on those muddy English fields this summer, there will be two headline acts on everyone's lips.
"Glastonbury has gone beyond a music festival -- it's a national institution," explained Stubbs. "The line-up is dissected by fans, the ticket sale is an event in itself.
"People like it because it feels like a kind of utopia," he said of the event that includes big budget art installations and has featured everyone from U2 to Beyonce.
Who will be crowned queen of Glastonbury? Stubbs had a hot tip: "Michael Eavis, the founder of Glastonbury, told me the act he's most looking forward to seeing is Dolly."
We'll let you make up your own mind.
In the international music festival circuit, there are few bigger events than Glastonbury. And when 175,000 people descend on those muddy English fields this summer, there will be two headline acts on everyone's lips.
"Glastonbury has gone beyond a music festival -- it's a national institution," explained Stubbs. "The line-up is dissected by fans, the ticket sale is an event in itself.
"People like it because it feels like a kind of utopia," he said of the event that includes big budget art installations and has featured everyone from U2 to Beyonce.
Who will be crowned queen of Glastonbury? Stubbs had a hot tip: "Michael Eavis, the founder of Glastonbury, told me the act he's most looking forward to seeing is Dolly."
We'll let you make up your own mind.
