The death of country music legend, singer-songwriter, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton has brought an end to a career that spanned more than six decades.
Parton died peacefully in Nashville on Tuesday at the age of 80, according to a statement from her nephew, Bryan Seaver. Her publicist, Marcel Pariseau, said the legendary singer died after “bravely facing a brief battle with cancer.”
Born into a poor family in Tennessee, Parton went on to become one of the biggest names in American music and one of the country’s most loved entertainers.
News of her death has drawn tributes from musicians, politicians and fans around the world. Flags at the White House were also lowered to half-staff in her honour following an order from President Donald Trump.
In an interview published days before her death, Parton disclosed that she had been “dealing with some health issues.” She had kept the details private while caring for her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025.
Her family said her funeral will be private and attended by close family members.
Here are 13 things to know about Dolly Parton:
- Dolly Parton was born on January 19, 1946, in a one-room cabin in Tennessee. She was the fourth of 12 children born to Robert and Avie Lee Parton.
- She started performing as a child, appearing on local television at age 10 and recording her first song at 13.
- Parton became a household name in country music after joining The Porter Wagoner Show in 1967, which helped introduce her to a much wider audience.
- She wrote two of her biggest songs, “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” on the same day. Whitney Houston later turned “I Will Always Love You” into a worldwide hit with her 1992 version.
- Parton sold more than 100 million records worldwide and won 11 Grammy Awards during her career.
- She also enjoyed success as an actress, appearing in films such as 9 to 5, Steel Magnolias and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
- Parton became closely linked to Dollywood, the Tennessee theme park that took on the name in 1986 and later became one of the state’s major tourist attractions.
- In 1995, she launched the Imagination Library, a programme that gives free books to children from birth until they turn five. The programme has since expanded to other countries.
- Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
- She married Carl Dean in May 1966. They remained married for almost 60 years until his death in March 2025.
- Following her death, President Donald Trump announced that US flags would be flown at half-staff for a week in honour of the country music legend.
- Parton died three months after cancelling a Las Vegas performance amid health concerns and her reported battle with cancer.
- At the time of her death, Parton was estimated to have a net worth of about $600 million. Her wealth came from her long-running music career, acting, business ventures and other investments. She continued to release music throughout her career, including “When Life Is Good Again” in 2020, and also appeared in the Netflix film Christmas on the Square.
