Dolly Parton, the singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist who became one of country music’s most enduring and beloved figures, died Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80.
News of her death was shared on her official Instagram account by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, on behalf of the Parton family. No cause of death has been disclosed.
Parton was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 59 years, Carl Thomas Dean, who died in March 2025 at age 82; her mother, Avie Lee Caroline Owens Parton; and her father, Robert Lee Parton Sr.
At her request, a small private service will be held for immediate family. Fans and friends are encouraged to share tributes on social media by tagging @DollyParton or leaving a message at dollyparton.com. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Born January 19, 1946, in Sevier County, Tennessee, one of twelve children, Parton began writing songs as a child and signed her first record deal with Monument Records in 1965. She joined The Porter Wagoner Show in 1967 and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1969. She earned her first No. 1 single, “Joshua,” in 1971, and went on to write and record some of country music’s most recognized songs, including “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” both released in 1974.
Parton’s career expanded well beyond music. She starred in films including “9 to 5,” “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and “Steel Magnolias,” and in 1986 opened the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, which grew into a broader business empire. In 1995 she founded Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a children’s literacy program that has distributed more than 300 million free books worldwide.
Over her seven-decade career, Parton won 11 Grammy Awards, 10 CMA Awards and five ACM Awards, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. She had 25 songs reach No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts, a record among female artists, and sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.
Her health had been a subject of public concern in recent months. She postponed a planned Las Vegas residency last fall, citing health challenges, and gave an update as recently as August 21st, telling People she was “dealing with some health issues” but continuing to work.
Her stage musical, “Dolly: A True Original Musical,” which she wrote the book and music for, is scheduled to premiere on Broadway in December 2026.
