Country Music Icon Dolly Parton Dies at 80

Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, according to multiple reports, marking the end of a remarkable career that spanned more than six decades.

Parton’s death was reportedly announced on Tuesday by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, in a statement shared on Instagram. He described the moment as one filled with both pride and profound sadness.

Born on January 19, 1946, in a two-room log cabin in Tennessee, Parton grew up as the fourth of 12 children in a poor family. Her father worked as a sharecropper before later owning a small tobacco farm, while her mother introduced her to traditional folk music.

Parton began performing as a child and, at 13, appeared on local radio and television, performed at the Grand Ole Opry and recorded her first single, “Puppy Love”. After graduating from high school in 1964, she moved to Nashville to pursue music professionally.

She released her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967 and later gained wider recognition through her work with country star Porter Wagoner. She launched her solo career in the 1970s, producing some of her most enduring songs, including “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You”.

Her success expanded beyond country music. She won 11 Grammy Awards, sold more than 100 million records worldwide and became widely known as the “Queen of Country”.

Parton also enjoyed a successful acting career, starring in films such as 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Joyful Noise. Her 1980 film 9 to 5 also produced a chart-topping theme song that earned an Oscar nomination.

Beyond entertainment, Parton built a business empire that included Dollywood and became renowned for philanthropy. Her Imagination Library has promoted childhood literacy, while she also supported medical research, disaster relief and other charitable causes.

Her health concerns became public in 2025 after she postponed a Las Vegas residency and reduced public appearances.

Parton’s death follows that of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at 82. They married in 1966.