Dolly Parton, the legendary country music singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist whose career spanned almost six decades, has died at the age of 80.
Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, August 25, her family confirmed. No cause of death has been disclosed.
The announcement came through her nephew Bryan Seaver, who served as her longtime head of security. In an emotional video message, Seaver spoke on behalf of the Parton and Owens families and reflected on the extraordinary woman behind the global icon.
“By her example, we believed anything was possible,” Seaver said. “She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history.”
He later added: “Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly – Aunt, Granny, Gigi. May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all. She will always love you.”
How Dolly Parton died
Parton’s family said she died peacefully in Nashville, where she had spent much of her life and built her career.
Her death follows months in which the singer had been dealing with health challenges. Just days before her death, Parton had spoken publicly about experiencing “hard times with my health”, while insisting that she still had ambitions and work she wanted to complete.
Her husband of almost 60 years, Carl Dean, died in March 2025. Parton had previously spoken about the difficulty of rebuilding her life following his death.
Despite the recent health concerns, there had been no indication that Parton’s death was imminent. Her family has asked for privacy and said a small, private service will be held for immediate family.
Rather than flowers, the family has asked fans to honour her memory by supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the children’s literacy programme she established.
Tributes pour in
News of Parton’s death prompted an immediate outpouring of grief from the music and entertainment industries.
Her longtime “9 to 5” co-star Lily Tomlin shared a photograph of the pair and simply wrote: “No words.”
Country stars including Reba McEntire, Kacey Musgraves and Keith Urban were among those paying tribute, with Musgraves and others reflecting on the enormous influence Parton had on generations of musicians.
Parton’s connection to younger generations was particularly strong. Her goddaughter Miley Cyrus, with whom she shared numerous performances and recordings, was among the artists whose careers were touched by the country legend.
The Recording Academy had previously summed up Parton’s appeal during its 2019 tribute to her, describing her as a woman who had “blazing her own trail year after year, decade after decade” and declaring: “That’s why we will always love her.”
Five career highlights
- “I Will Always Love You”
Parton wrote and recorded the song in 1973 as a farewell to her former musical partner Porter Wagoner. Whitney Houston’s later version turned it into one of the world’s most recognisable ballads, while Parton retained the songwriting rights and earned enormous success from the cover. - “Jolene” becomes a classic
Released in 1973, “Jolene” became one of Parton’s signature songs and has since been covered by artists ranging from The White Stripes to Beyoncé. - The film “9 to 5”
Parton made her major film debut in the 1980 comedy alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. She also wrote the hit title song, earning an Oscar nomination for songwriting. - The creation of Dollywood
Parton transformed her Tennessee roots into one of America’s best-known entertainment destinations with Dollywood, a theme park in Pigeon Forge that became both a major tourist attraction and an extension of her personal brand. - A legacy beyond music
Parton’s influence stretched far beyond entertainment. Through her Imagination Library, she helped provide free books to young children across several countries. She also donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University vaccine research during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A legacy written in songs
Parton sold more than 100 million records worldwide, won 11 Grammy Awards and became a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Twenty-five of her songs reached No. 1 on the Billboard country charts.
Yet Parton often insisted that songwriting was at the heart of everything she did.
“I feel like I’m closest to God when I write,” she once said.
And, looking back on the career she had built from humble beginnings in Tennessee, she offered a simple description of what she hoped would remain after her death: “The songs are my legacy.”
That legacy now belongs to generations of fans, artists and listeners who grew up with her voice, her stories, her humour and her unmistakable rhinestone sparkle.
