Photo Credit: Getty Images
Dolly Parton, the country music icon whose six-decade career produced some of the genre's most enduring songs, has died at the age of 80.
Parton's death was announced on Aug. 25 by her nephew Brian Seaver, who shared the news on Instagram. "I am representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean.....It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness," he said.
Born on Jan. 19, 1946, in rural Tennessee, Parton was the fourth of 12 children. She grew up in poverty but began performing at a young age, singing in church and appearing on local radio and television. At 13, she made her first appearance at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry.
After graduating high school in 1964, Parton moved to Nashville to pursue music. Her breakthrough came after she joined The Porter Wagoner Show in 1967, a partnership that helped establish her as a major country performer.
Parton went on to write and record some of music's most recognizable songs, including "Jolene," "I Will Always Love You" and "9 to 5." "I Will Always Love You," which she originally wrote as a farewell to Wagoner, later became a worldwide hit when Whitney Houston recorded it for The Bodyguard soundtrack.
Her career expanded beyond music. Parton starred in films including 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Steel Magnolias, while continuing to release albums and collaborate with artists across generations.
She was also known for her philanthropy. In 1995, she launched the Imagination Library, a program providing free books to children. The initiative eventually expanded internationally and now distributes millions of books each year.
In 2020, Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to support COVID-19 research, contributing to work that helped fund development of the Moderna vaccine.
Her personal life also remained a significant part of her story. Parton married Carl Dean in 1966, and the couple remained together until his death in March 2025. Reflecting on their relationship months after his passing, she said, "We were together 60 years. I've loved him since I was 18 years old."
In May 2026, she cancelled a planned Las Vegas residency, citing health issues. A Broadway musical based on her life and music is also scheduled to open later this year.
