Dolly Parton, the legendary country music singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist, has died at the age of 80, her family announced Tuesday.
Parton died surrounded by loved ones after a brief battle with cancer, according to her team.
Her nephew, Brian Seaver, announced her death in a video posted on Parton’s Instagram.
“My name is Brian Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” Seaver said.
He said Parton had asked him years ago to make the announcement when the time came.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, described the moment as difficult for the family.
He added that Parton “lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by [her late husband] Carl, her parents, and countless others.”
“Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly — Aunt, Granny, Gigi. May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all. She will always love you,” he said.
Health struggles
Dolly Parton’s death came months after she cancelled a Las Vegas performance and disclosed that she had been receiving treatment for kidney stones.
In May, she said she had experienced health problems affecting her immune and digestive systems.
“Lord, they dig more stones out of me a year than the rock quarry in Rockwood, Tennessee,” Parton said at the time.
“But seriously, my immune system and my digestive system got all out of whack over the past couple three years, and they’re working real hard on rebuilding and strengthening those, and hopefully, I’ll be up to snuff again soon.”
Just days before her death, Parton said she was still recovering from the death of her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at the age of 82.
“Even though I’m still healin’,” she told People. “I’m still workin’! You know me — as I’ve often said — I’ve dreamed myself into a corner, and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”
A career spanning more than six decades
Parton became one of the most successful figures in country music during a career that lasted more than 60 years.
She sold more than 100 million records and won 11 Grammy Awards. Her distinctive voice, songwriting and personality made her one of the most recognisable entertainers in the world.
She also achieved major success in Hollywood, starring in films including 9 to 5, Steel Magnolias and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She wrote and performed the theme song for 9 to 5.
Born on January 19, 1946, Parton grew up in a poor family in a one-room cabin near Sevierville, Tennessee. She was the fourth of 12 children.
Her father, Robert Lee Parton, could not read or write and supported the family through farm work and construction jobs. Her mother, Avie Lee Parton, managed the household and introduced her daughter to traditional Appalachian music.
Dolly Parton began performing at church as a child. At 13, she was already appearing on local radio and television programmes and later made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry.
After graduating from high school in 1964, she moved to Nashville and began building a career as a songwriter.
She released her first album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967 and later became a regular performer on Porter Wagoner’s television show.
Her career took a major turn in 1974 when she topped the country charts with “Jolene”. She later wrote “I Will Always Love You”, which became a global hit after Whitney Houston recorded it in 1992.
Business and philanthropy
Dolly Parton was also a successful businesswoman. Her business empire included Dollywood, the theme park she opened in 1986 in the Great Smoky Mountains near her hometown.
She also established the Dollywood Foundation and launched the Imagination Library, a programme that provides free books to children.
The Imagination Library has distributed more than 300 million books to children in several countries.
Parton said the programme was inspired by her father, whose inability to read and write had affected his life.
“When I got this idea to do the Imagination Library, I wanted to get Daddy involved in it,” she wrote on her website. “He got to live long enough to hear the kids call me the Book Lady.”
Dolly Parton also donated $1 million to research at Vanderbilt University that contributed to the development of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine.
Her death has prompted tributes from fellow entertainers, fans and public figures across the United States.
