Dolly Parton Praises Underrated Country Songwriter Mac Davis

The legendary singer-songwriter calls Davis "one of our greater songwriters" despite his lack of mainstream recognition.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Dolly Parton has long been an admirer of fellow country music songwriter Mac Davis, who is known for writing several of Elvis Presley's biggest hits. Despite his impressive accolades and contributions to the genre, Davis remains an underrated figure in the industry. Parton has collaborated with Davis on several songs and has spoken highly of his songwriting abilities, calling him "one of our greater songwriters."

Why it matters

This story highlights how even acclaimed and influential songwriters can be overlooked by the mainstream, and how artists like Dolly Parton help to shine a light on their underrated peers. It also demonstrates the collaborative nature of the country music community and the mutual respect between songwriters.

The details

Mac Davis is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, and Georgia Music Hall of Fame. In addition to writing for Elvis Presley, Davis released a number of his own solo hits, including the #1 pop single "Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me." Despite his many accolades, Davis remains an underappreciated figure in the country music world. Dolly Parton, however, has long been a fan of Davis' songwriting and has collaborated with him on several tracks, including "White Limozeen," "Wait 'Til I Get You Home," "Everyone But You And Me," and "Country Is As Country Does." Parton has praised Davis, saying "he is one of our greater songwriters" and that they "write quick and good together."

  • Dolly Parton made her comments about Mac Davis in an interview with The Guardian in 2026.

The players

Dolly Parton

A legendary country music singer-songwriter who has collaborated with Mac Davis and spoken highly of his songwriting abilities.

Mac Davis

An acclaimed country music songwriter known for writing several of Elvis Presley's biggest hits, as well as releasing his own successful solo material. Despite his many accolades, he remains an underrated figure in the industry.

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What they’re saying

“Every once in a while I'll write with Mac Davis, who is one of our greater songwriters – we write quick and good together – but for the most part I do it on my own.”

— Dolly Parton (The Guardian)

The takeaway

This story highlights how even acclaimed and influential songwriters can be overlooked by the mainstream, and how artists like Dolly Parton help to bring attention to their underrated peers. It also demonstrates the collaborative nature of the country music community and the mutual respect between songwriters.