RismadarVoice Reporters
August 25, 2026
US country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her family announced on Tuesday.
Parton, who rose from poverty in rural Tennessee to become one of the most celebrated figures in American entertainment, died after a career spanning more than six decades.
Her nephew, in a social media video, said Parton had “lived in the light” and was now “in the arms of Jesus,” while praising her for opening doors for generations of musicians, singers, songwriters and dreamers.
Born on January 19, 1946, in Sevierville, Tennessee, Parton was the fourth of 12 children raised in a poor family in the Great Smoky Mountains. She began writing songs as a child and made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry at 13.
After moving to Nashville following high school, she rose to prominence through Porter Wagoner’s television show before establishing herself as a major solo artist.
Parton wrote about 3,000 songs during her career, including enduring classics such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colours and “I Will Always Love You.”
The latter became a worldwide hit after Whitney Houston recorded it for the 1992 film The Bodyguard. Parton retained ownership of her publishing rights, famously turning down Elvis Presley when he sought to record the song under terms that would have required him to receive half of the publishing.
Parton released dozens of albums, sold more than 100 million records and scored 26 No. 1 country hits. She won 10 Grammy Awards and 13 Academy of Country Music Awards.
Her success extended beyond music. She starred in films including 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias, established the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee and built a major business empire encompassing publishing, music production and other ventures.
Her distinctive appearance elaborate wigs, glamorous clothes and an hourglass figure became inseparable from her public image.
Yet behind the persona was a highly accomplished songwriter and businesswoman who successfully navigated a male-dominated industry on her own terms.
Parton’s influence also extended to philanthropy.
In 2020, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University, supporting research that contributed to the development of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Her Imagination Library literacy programme has distributed millions of books to children, helping establish her reputation as a major philanthropist.
She received a Kennedy Centre Honour in 2006 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Parton was married to Carl Dean from 1966 until his death in 2025. The couple kept their private life largely away from public attention and had no children.
From a small cabin in Tennessee to the pinnacle of global entertainment, Parton’s career transformed her from a poor mountain girl into a country music icon, Hollywood star, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Her songs were recorded by artists across generations, while her distinctive voice, songwriting and personality made her one of the most recognisable American cultural figures of the modern era.
