Country music legend and global entertainment icon Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, bringing to an end a career that spanned more than six decades and produced some of the most enduring songs in popular music.
Parton died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee, her family announced. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, confirmed her death in a statement shared on social media, prompting an outpouring of tributes from fans, musicians and public figures around the world. (Reuters)
The singer had reportedly been admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville earlier in the week while dealing with kidney and autoimmune-related health problems.
TMZ reported that she died at the hospital, although the specific cause of death had not immediately been disclosed. (TMZ)
Parton had acknowledged experiencing health challenges in recent months. In an interview shortly before her death, she revealed that she had been dealing with health issues that she had previously neglected while caring for her late husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025.
Her health concerns had also affected some of her professional commitments. She had scaled back public appearances, including cancelling a planned Las Vegas residency and a Dollywood appearance after doctors advised her not to travel because of dehydration and occasional dizziness. (pagesix.com)
Despite those challenges, Parton remained active creatively and continued to discuss plans for future projects, demonstrating the determination that had characterised much of her career.
Born in Tennessee in 1946, Parton rose from a poor rural upbringing to become one of the most successful singer-songwriters in the history of country music.
She began making a name for herself in Nashville in the 1960s before establishing herself as a solo performer, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist.
Her songwriting catalogue included global classics such as “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” while her 1980 film 9 to 5 further established her as a crossover entertainment star.
“I Will Always Love You” later became an international phenomenon after Whitney Houston recorded her own version for the film The Bodyguard. (Reuters)
Parton’s career extended far beyond music. She starred in several films and television productions, established the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee and built a major philanthropic legacy through initiatives supporting education and childhood literacy.
Her Imagination Library programme, in particular, became one of her most recognised charitable efforts, providing books to children and promoting early childhood literacy. Her philanthropy also extended to disaster relief and other community initiatives. (AP News)
Over the course of her career, Parton released dozens of albums, wrote thousands of songs and sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
She received numerous honours, including multiple Grammy Awards, and was inducted into major music halls of fame. (CBS News)
Her death comes about 17 months after the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, with whom she shared a marriage spanning nearly six decades. Dean died in March 2025 at the age of 82.
Parton had spoken openly about the difficulty of adjusting to life without him and continued to honour his memory through her music and public reflections. (People.com)
Tributes began pouring in shortly after news of her death emerged, with fellow entertainers remembering Parton for her songwriting, distinctive personality, generosity and ability to connect with audiences across generations. (TMZ)
Parton leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that extends beyond her status as a country music star.
Her songs became part of the global musical canon, while her work in film, business and philanthropy established her as a rare figure whose influence reached far beyond entertainment.
For generations of fans, Dolly Parton represented resilience, ambition and generosity — a woman who transformed humble beginnings into an extraordinary international career.
She was 80.