Ashville, Tennessee: Dolly Parton, the Tennessee-born singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist whose distinctive voice and flamboyant style made her one of America’s best-loved entertainers, died in Nashville, AP reported.
She was 80.
“After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” her publicist, Marcel Pariseau, said in a statement on Tuesday.
Parton rose from poverty in the Smoky Mountains to become a global music star. She wrote hundreds of songs, including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You,” while selling more than 100 million records worldwide and earning over 1 billion online streams.
Wagoner Partnership
After finishing high school in 1964, Parton moved to Nashville with her uncle and songwriting partner, Bill Owens. Producer Fred Foster recognised her talent and helped place her compositions with other performers while also recording her own work.
Her career accelerated after she joined Porter Wagoner’s syndicated television programme. Their first duet, “The Last Thing On My Mind,” was released in 1967. Parton later scored her first solo No. 1 with “Joshua” before breaking through with “Jolene” in 1973.
She left Wagoner’s show in 1974. Their professional relationship eventually soured, and Wagoner sued her in 1979 over management fees and royalties.
From country to Hollywood
Parton followed “Jolene” with “I Will Always Love You,” a farewell song written for Wagoner. She declined Elvis Presley’s request to record it because she refused to surrender part of the publishing rights. Whitney Houston’s 1992 rendition later became an international blockbuster.
Her move towards pop brought her first Grammy for “Here You Come Again” in 1979. She also recorded “9 to 5,” starred in the film of the same name alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, and performed “Islands in the Stream” with Kenny Rogers.
Her film credits included “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and “Steel Magnolias.” She later appeared on “Hannah Montana,” wrote books and helped create “9 to 5: The Musical.” “DOLLY: A True Original Musical” is scheduled to open on Jan. 19, 2027.
A legacy Beyond Music
Parton used her appearance — blond wigs, rhinestone clothing and exaggerated glamour — as part of her public identity, while her humour helped her control the way she was portrayed. She was also admired for managing her own career and retaining control of her songs and business interests.
Her philanthropy included the Dollywood Foundation, the Imagination Library and aid for Tennessee families affected by the 2016 wildfires. Dollywood became a major attraction and economic force in Appalachia.
With 55 Grammy nominations and 10 victories, Parton was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She avoided partisan politics, saying, “I don’t do politics,” and adding, “I have too many fans on both sides of the fence. Of course, I have my opinion about everything, but I learned years ago to keep your mouth shut about things.”
She was married to Carl Dean until his death in 2025. Her upbringing in a poor family of 12 children shaped her music, charity and lifelong commitment to literacy.