American country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her family has announced.
Newsonspot reports that Parton’s nephew, Brian Seaver, announced her death on Tuesday in a video shared on her social media account, describing the moment with “absolute pride and great sadness.” The family did not immediately disclose the cause of death.
In a separate message, Seaver said Parton had “lived in the light” and was now “in the arms of Jesus,” while praising her for opening doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and dreamers around the world.
Born on January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, Parton was the fourth of 12 children raised in a poor family in the Appalachian region. Her mother’s love for traditional music helped inspire her passion for singing and songwriting from an early age.
After graduating from high school in 1964, Parton moved to Nashville, where her songwriting talent quickly attracted attention. She went on to build a career spanning more than six decades, becoming one of the most recognisable entertainers in the world.
Often described as the “Queen of Country,” Parton sold more than 100 million records globally and received numerous honours, including multiple Grammy Awards.
Her best-known songs include “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” “9 to 5” and “Coat of Many Colors.” Her song “I Will Always Love You” became an international hit again when Whitney Houston recorded it for the 1992 movie The Bodyguard.
Parton also enjoyed a successful career in Hollywood, appearing in films such as 9 to 5, Steel Magnolias and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Away from entertainment, she became a successful businesswoman and philanthropist. She established Dollywood, the popular Tennessee theme park, in 1986 and founded the Dollywood Foundation, whose Imagination Library initiative provides free books to children.
Her charitable work extended to healthcare and scientific research. In 2020, Parton donated $1 million to coronavirus research at Vanderbilt University, funding that supported research connected to the development of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Parton had also faced health challenges in recent months. In May, she cancelled a planned Las Vegas performance after revealing that she was undergoing treatment for kidney stones and experiencing problems involving her immune and digestive systems.
Despite those challenges, she maintained her determination to continue working. Shortly before her death, she indicated that she still had projects she wanted to complete, saying: “Even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’!”
Parton’s personal life was closely linked to her husband, Carl Dean, whom she married in 1966. The couple remained together for nearly six decades until Dean died in March 2025. They had no children.
Although she achieved worldwide fame, Parton remained deeply connected to her Tennessee roots and devoted much of her wealth and influence to education, healthcare, literacy and community development.
Her death marks the end of an extraordinary career that crossed generations and musical boundaries. Beyond her songs and acting roles, Dolly Parton leaves behind a lasting philanthropic legacy and an influence that reached far beyond country music.
Comments 1