Tuesday, August 25, 2026

The life of Dolly Parton

The "Queen of Country" died at 80. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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Tuesday, August 25

The legendary singer and philanthropist Dolly Parton has died at 80. She leaves behind an iconic musical legacy and a string of hits.

Country music queen Dolly Parton is back in London after performing at the King's Theatre, Glasgow, May 20, 1977.

Dolly Parton, the "Queen of Country" singing icon with a personality as bold as her signature blond coif and rhinestone-encrusted outfits, has died. She was 80 years old. Parton's death was announced by her family on her  social media pages and confirmed to USA TODAY.

The songs that made her a star: Throughout her 60-year-career, Parton painted her twang-laced soprano voice on hits-turned-classics such as "Jolene," "I Will Always Love You," "9 to 5" and "Coat of Many Colors." Her 49 studio albums earned 25 No. 1 hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, the most of any female country artist, and  spanned every decade from "Joshua" in 1971 to  "Tyrant" with Beyoncé in 2024.

One of America's most beloved entertainers: In addition to a legendary music career that earned 11 Grammy Awards (including Lifetime Achievement recognition), Parton starred or made cameo appearances in more than 20 films including her 1980 debut "9 to 5," with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" with Burt Reynolds(1982) and "Steel Magnolias" with Sally Field and Shirley MacLaine (1989).

Bigger than music: Parton's influence extended beyond her celebrity. A noted philanthropist, she donated millions of dollars for college scholarships through her Dollywood Foundation, established the Imagination Library and provided $1 million for the research that helped to create the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 during the 2020 global pandemic. After Hurricane Helene caused devastating floods in her East Tennessee homeland in 2024, Parton donated $1 million to assist flood victims.

MORE ON THIS STORY

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 03: Singer-songwriter Dolly Parton attends the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 3, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dolly Parton attends the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Nov. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles.
Dolly Parton performs a song during taping of the half-hour syndicated television show, "The Porter Wagoner Show," at the WSM-TV studios on Sept. 2, 1970.
FILE PHOTO: American country music star Dolly Parton performs on the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm in Somerset, during the Glastonbury Festival June 29, 2014. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton (BRITAIN - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)/File Photo
Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Singer Dolly Parton performs with the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders during halftime in the game between the Cowboys and the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 03: Singer-songwriter Dolly Parton attends the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 3, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dolly Parton attends the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Nov. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles.
Dolly Parton performs a song during taping of the half-hour syndicated television show, "The Porter Wagoner Show," at the WSM-TV studios on Sept. 2, 1970.
FILE PHOTO: American country music star Dolly Parton performs on the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm in Somerset, during the Glastonbury Festival June 29, 2014. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton (BRITAIN - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)/File Photo
Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Singer Dolly Parton performs with the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders during halftime in the game between the Cowboys and the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

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