Dolly Parton receives Johnny Mercer Award

Country singer Dolly Parton has been selected by the Songwriters Hall of Fame to receive the Johnny Mercer Award.

Photo: Dolly Parton receives Johnny Mercer Award

The award is presented to a songwriter "whose body of work is of such high quality and impact, that it upholds the gold standard set by the legendary Johnny Mercer," a songwriter who worked primarily as a lyricist on such classics as "That Old Black Magic" and "Moon River," the organization said Tuesday in a statement.

Parton will be honored June 7 at the annual awards dinner in New York.

Previous honorees include Kris Kristofferson, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Carole King, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Hal David and Burt Bacharach.

Hits by Parton, 61, include "I Will Always Love You," "Here You Come Again" and "Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That."

She was inducted into the hall of fame in 2001.