Dolly Parton defied country music's expectations for women and built a career on her own terms: experts

From the get-go, Dolly Parton was a force to be reckoned with. She challenged social norms, broke barriers for women in country music and ultimately helped redefine what a female country star could be.

Throughout her life, Parton — who died Aug. 25 after a brief battle with cancer — helped "expand the narrative" of how women were perceived, not only in country music but beyond it, experts told Fox News Digital.

"Dolly followed some other pioneering women like Patsy Cline and Loretta...