Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, according to reports by The Independent, The Guardian and Sky News.
Parton’s death was reportedly announced on Tuesday by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who paid tribute to the iconic singer-songwriter in an emotional Instagram post.
Parton rose from humble beginnings in Tennessee to become one of the most celebrated figures in country music. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she sold more than 100 million records worldwide and earned the title “Queen of Country.”
She was renowned for timeless hits including Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You. Parton wrote more than 3,000 songs and won 11 Grammy Awards, while also establishing a successful career in film and television.
Born on January 19, 1946, in a two-room cabin near the Little Pigeon River in Tennessee, Parton was the fourth of 12 children. She grew up in a poor family, with her father working as a sharecropper before eventually owning a small tobacco farm.
Parton began performing as a child and, by the age of 13, had appeared on local radio and television, performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and released her first single, Puppy Love.
After completing high school in 1964, she moved to Nashville and began building a reputation as a songwriter. She released her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967 and joined The Porter Wagoner Show, where she was mentored by country music star Porter Wagoner.
In 1973, Parton embarked on her solo career and wrote I Will Always Love You following her professional separation from Wagoner. The song became a major hit and was later famously recorded by Whitney Houston for the 1992 film The Bodyguard.
Around the same period, Parton wrote Jolene, another of her signature songs. Her 1974 album of the same name helped expand her audience beyond country music.
Parton also enjoyed considerable success as an actress. She made her film debut in the 1980 comedy 9 to 5, starring alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. She also wrote and performed the film’s theme song, which topped the charts and earned an Oscar nomination.
Her other notable films included The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Joyful Noise.
Beyond entertainment, Parton built a successful business empire that included television productions, food products and Dollywood, the Tennessee theme park she acquired and renamed in 1986.
She was equally recognised for her philanthropy. Through the Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library, she supported childhood literacy by providing books to children. She also contributed to medical research, disaster relief and other charitable causes, including a $1 million donation towards COVID-19 vaccine research.
In 2022, Parton received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in recognition of her charitable work.
Her health concerns became public in September 2025 when she postponed her Las Vegas residency. She had also withdrawn from several public appearances in recent weeks amid ongoing health issues.
Parton’s reported death comes just months after the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at the age of 82. The couple had been married since 1966, spending nearly six decades together.
With her music, acting, business ventures and philanthropy, Dolly Parton leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond country music and has touched generations of fans around the world.
