Dolly Parton, country music icon and songwriting legend, has died aged 80.
A statement from her team said: "Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old.
"Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942-2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923-2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921-2000).
"A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.
"Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact."
One of the most gifted and highly-decorated songwriters in American music history, Parton wrote more than 3,000 songs including From 9 To 5, I Will Always Love You and Jolene.
She notched up 25 RIAA-certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards, 26 No.1s on the US country charts, 44 career Top 10 country albums, 110 career-charted singles and over 100 million records sold worldwide.
Meanwhile, her legendary Glastonbury 2014 performance attracted one of the largest crowds in the festival's history and broke the BBC’s viewing figures record.
"I take my songwriting so personally, and I often say in jest that my songs are like my children, and I expect them to support me when I’m old," said Parton in an extensive 2020 interview with Music Week.
"I don’t think of myself as a star,” she continued. “I’m really a working girl. This is really a way of life for me and I just pray every day that I’ll be guided in my life, and in my career. When I did get to see my dreams come true, I always joked and said, ‘I have dreamed myself into a corner’ – meaning that I have seen my dreams come true and now I have to be responsible for them. I feel blessed; what a wonderful problem to have, so to speak. I just [make sure I] know what’s coming next, brace myself for it and take care of business.”
Parton earned nine Country Music Association (CMA) Awards in addition to being honoured with CMA’s Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999, and in 2021, she was awarded the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award.
“At the end of the day, few artists define country music better than the one-word, Dolly," said CMA CEO Sarah Trahern. "Over her decades-long career, I worked with her on a number of programmes. She was always the most professional in every setting, often walking off the bus in heels and hair and makeup ready to go, before expected and before the cast and crew.
"However, along with the music, our biggest loss today is her work as a philanthropist and the genuine difference she has made in people’s lives throughout the world. There will only ever be one Dolly.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
PHOTO: Getty Images
