Country music icon Dolly Parton, whose remarkable career spanned seven decades and made her one of the world’s most recognisable entertainers, has died at the age of 80.
Parton died peacefully in Nashville on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, with her family confirming the news through a video shared by her nephew, Bryan Seaver.
The announcement came just days after Parton had spoken publicly about her health, revealing that she had been dealing with health problems that she had initially neglected while caring for her late husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025.
Despite her struggles, Parton had assured fans that she intended to keep working, saying she still had many things she wanted to accomplish.
Her death brings to an end one of the most extraordinary careers in country music. From humble beginnings in the Tennessee mountains, Parton rose to become a singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist whose influence extended far beyond music.
Born on January 19, 1946, she was the fourth of 12 children and grew up in a poor farming family. Her early experiences would later provide much of the inspiration for her deeply personal songwriting.
Songs such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You” became enduring classics, while her distinctive voice and larger-than-life personality helped make her a global star.
Parton was also remarkably prolific. She wrote approximately 3,000 songs, sold more than 100 million records worldwide and won 10 Grammy Awards, among numerous other honours.
But despite her success in film, television and business, Parton consistently regarded songwriting as the heart of her career.
For decades, she also used her wealth and influence for philanthropy, most notably through her Imagination Library, which has supported children’s literacy.
Her journey from a one-room cabin in Tennessee to international superstardom became one of the most celebrated stories in entertainment.
Parton’s death also comes months after the loss of her husband of nearly 60 years, whose death in 2025 deeply affected her. She had spoken openly about the grief and physical and emotional toll that followed.
With her death, country music loses one of its defining voices, while the world bids farewell to an entertainer whose songs, business ventures, films and philanthropy touched generations.
Dolly Parton leaves behind a legacy built not only on fame, but on storytelling, resilience, generosity and an extraordinary ability to turn personal experiences into music that belonged to everyone.
A message from the family of Dolly Parton. pic.twitter.com/9DNRgRx0uH
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) August 25, 2026
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