NASHVILLE — Dolly Parton, the iconic country music singer-songwriter, actress and philanthropist whose rhinestone image, soaring voice and sharp songwriting made her one of the most beloved and influential entertainers of the past seven decades, died Tuesday. She was 80.
Her family announced the death in a statement shared on her official social media accounts, saying she “died peacefully today in Nashville.” No cause was immediately released. The announcement included a video message delivered by her nephew Bryan Seaver on behalf of the Parton family.
“A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family,” the family said. “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.”
Parton had faced health challenges in recent years, particularly after the March 2025 death of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean. She canceled appearances, including a planned Las Vegas residency, and spoke openly about feeling “worn down and worn out” while still insisting she was “still healin’” and “still workin’.”
Born Dolly Rebecca Parton on Jan. 19, 1946, in a one-room cabin in Locust Ridge near Sevierville, Tennessee, she was the fourth of 12 children in a poor farming family. Music was constant in the household. She began performing in church as a young child, sang on local radio and television, and released her first single, “Puppy Love,” at age 13. After graduating high school in 1964, she moved to Nashville the next day to pursue songwriting and performing.
Her early career included writing for other artists before she joined Porter Wagoner’s television show and recording partnership in 1967. The duo produced a string of hits, but Parton left in 1974 to focus on her solo work. That same year she wrote and recorded “I Will Always Love You” as a farewell to Wagoner. The song reached No. 1 on the country charts twice for her and later became a global phenomenon when Whitney Houston recorded it for the 1992 film “The Bodyguard.” Houston’s version topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks, sold millions, and introduced Parton’s songwriting to a vast new audience. Parton retained the publishing rights, a decision that proved enormously lucrative and reflected her sharp business instincts.
Parton scored 25 No. 1 country singles, many of which she wrote herself, including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “Joshua” and “9 to 5.” The latter, the title track from her 1980 film debut, crossed over to the pop charts and earned her Grammy Awards. She was one of the first major female country stars to write the bulk of her own material, drawing comparisons to Merle Haggard for the breadth of her themes.
Her work ethic was legendary. Colleagues and family often described an almost relentless drive. She wrote constantly, recorded prolifically, toured for decades, and built a business empire while maintaining a carefully crafted public persona of glamorous self-deprecation. “It takes a lot of money to look this cheap,” she famously joked about her image of big hair, high heels and cosmetic enhancements.
In film, Parton starred opposite Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in “9 to 5” (1980), earning a Golden Globe nomination. Two years later she co-starred with Burt Reynolds in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” Their on-screen chemistry generated publicity and rumors of a romance, which Parton denied. She later wrote that she had obtained written permission from her husband, Carl Dean, for a love scene and quipped that she and Reynolds were “too much alike” — both wore wigs and high heels. Reynolds was reportedly annoyed by some of her jokes about him. The pair developed a genuine fondness despite a difficult shoot; Parton recalled consoling a troubled Reynolds on set even as they struggled with their own challenges. She also appeared in “Steel Magnolias” (1989) and later earned an Emmy for producing the television movie “Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square.”
One of her most successful musical partnerships was with Kenny Rogers. Their 1983 duet “Islands in the Stream,” written by the Bee Gees, became a massive crossover hit that topped both the country and pop charts and remains a staple of both artists’ catalogs. The two remained friends and occasional collaborators for decades.
In 1986 Parton opened Dollywood, a theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near her childhood home. The park celebrated Appalachian culture, her own rags-to-riches story and live entertainment. It grew into a major tourist destination and employment engine for the region, reflecting her deep ties to East Tennessee.
Philanthropy became an equally defining part of her legacy. In 1995 she founded the Imagination Library in honor of her father, who never learned to read. The program mails free books monthly to children from birth to age 5. It has distributed more than 200 million books across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries, reaching millions of children. Parton often said the project meant more to her than any chart success. She also supported education, health and disaster-relief causes in her home region and beyond.
Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and, in 2022, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She received the National Medal of Arts, Kennedy Center Honors, multiple Grammys, and two Academy Award nominations for original songs. Late in her career she released the star-studded album “Rockstar” (2023) and continued exploring new projects, including a stage musical based on her life.
She married Carl Thomas Dean, a Nashville asphalt contractor, in 1966. They kept their private life largely out of the spotlight for nearly six decades until his death in 2025. The couple had no children of their own; Parton often said she felt she was meant to “mother” the world’s children instead, a philosophy that guided her philanthropic work.
Parton is survived by several siblings and an extended family that remained close to her professional endeavors. Details of funeral or memorial services have not been immediately announced.
Her songs, image and generosity left an imprint that crossed genres, generations and borders. From the mountains of East Tennessee to global stages and living rooms, Dolly Parton turned a hardscrabble childhood into a career of enduring music, sharp humor and tangible kindness.
President Donald J. Trump released a statement Tuesday honoring Parton as one of the “greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER.”
“This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will. In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM. Rest in Peace, Dolly! The world loves you,” wrote Trump.
Others, including Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos, also took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their sentiments.
“Dolly spent her whole life showing us what it means to lead with love. Lauren and I are so grateful to have known her. She lifted everyone with her music, her generosity, and her joy. Sending our sincere condolences to her family and everyone she touched,” said Bezos.
Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, said Parton’s legacy is not celebrity but humanity adding: “She came from poverty to become the most important native of Tennessee. She shared her fortunes for the good of all of us and shared her soul in every note she sang.”
Governor Bob Ferguson on Tuesday directed the “Washington State and United States flags at all state agency facilities be lowered to half-staff immediately, in honor and remembrance of Dolly Parton.” Directive 26-11 states that flags should remain at half-staff until close of business or sunset on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
Editor’s Note: Article updated 10:16 p.m., August 25, 2026, to include the lower of flags by Gov. Ferguson.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
