American country music singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her family has announced.
Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in a statement shared on social media on Tuesday, according to reports by Reuters and The Associated Press.
The announcement came four days after Parton spoke publicly about her health, saying she had been dealing with health challenges after putting some of her own medical needs aside while caring for her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025.
Parton, born on Jan. 19, 1946, in Tennessee, rose from a poor rural upbringing to become one of the most successful and influential figures in country music.
She began singing and writing songs as a child and moved to Nashville after completing high school in 1964 to pursue a career in music.
Her breakthrough came after country music star Porter Wagoner hired her to perform on his television programme. The partnership helped launch her recording career and established her as one of the leading songwriters and performers of her generation.
Parton went on to record a string of internationally recognised songs, including “Jolene”, “9 to 5”, “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You”.
“I Will Always Love You”, which Parton originally wrote and recorded as a farewell to Wagoner, later became a global hit after Whitney Houston recorded it for the 1992 film The Bodyguard.
Parton also built a successful acting career, appearing in films including 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone and Steel Magnolias.
Beyond music and film, she became a prominent entrepreneur and philanthropist. She founded Dollywood, the theme park in Tennessee, and established the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a literacy programme that provides books to children.
Parton received numerous honours during her career, including multiple Grammy Awards and inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Her career spanned nearly six decades and included music, television, film, theatre, business and philanthropy.
Reuters reported that Parton sold more than 100 million records worldwide and wrote an estimated 3,000 songs.
Parton’s death came as she was preparing for the Broadway production Dolly: A True Original Musical, which was scheduled for later in 2026. Her official website had also announced new music-related milestones as recently as Aug. 19.
The cause of death had not been publicly disclosed by her family at the time of the reports.
Parton is survived by members of her extended family and leaves behind a legacy that extends beyond country music, particularly through her songwriting, entertainment career and philanthropic work.
Her songs, distinctive personality and contributions to education and literacy made her one of the most recognisable American entertainers of the modern era.
