NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — Dolly Parton, the legendary American country music singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist, has died at the age of 80.


Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, according to her family and representatives. Her death was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, in a video message shared on Tuesday. A cause of death had not been publicly disclosed at the time of reporting.


For more than six decades, Parton remained one of the most recognisable figures in global entertainment, rising from humble beginnings in rural Tennessee to become a country music powerhouse whose influence extended into film, television, business and philanthropy.

Born on January 19, 1946, Parton grew up as one of 12 children in a poor family in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Her difficult childhood later became a recurring source of inspiration for her songwriting, including the deeply personal classic, “Coat of Many Colors.”


Parton wrote more than 3,000 songs during her career and recorded numerous international hits. Among her most enduring compositions is “I Will Always Love You,” which she originally wrote as a farewell to country singer Porter Wagoner before Whitney Houston's globally successful 1992 version introduced the song to a new generation.


She also produced some of country music's most recognisable songs, including “Jolene” and “9 to 5.” Her career earned her 11 Grammy Awards and numerous other honours, while she became one of the best-selling female country artists in history.


Five of Dolly Parton's Most Popular Songs


1. Jolene

2. I Will Always Love You

3. 9 to 5

4. Coat of Many Colors

5. Here You Come Again


Beyond music, Parton built a formidable business empire. She founded Dollywood, the Tennessee theme park that became a major tourist attraction and economic force in the region.

Her humanitarian work was equally significant. Through the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, she helped provide hundreds of millions of free books to children around the world, making early childhood literacy one of the central causes of her philanthropic legacy.


Parton also donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center during the COVID-19 pandemic, funding that contributed to research associated with the Moderna vaccine.


Her personal life also drew public attention. Parton was married to Carl Thomas Dean for nearly six decades before his death in March 2025. The couple had no children.


Parton's death marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in country music. From the poverty of rural Tennessee to international fame, she built a career defined not only by her distinctive voice and songwriting but also by her humour, business acumen, generosity and ability to connect with audiences across generations.


Dolly Parton leaves behind a catalogue of music that has crossed genres and generations, as well as a philanthropic legacy that will continue to influence millions of lives.


The country music world has lost one of its most distinctive voices — but the songs, stories and humanitarian work of the Queen of Country Music will endure.