Dolly Parton, Country Music Legend, Actress & Beloved Cultural Icon, Dies at 80, Family Issues Official Video Statement

The entertainment world has lost one of its most beloved and enduring icons.

Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her family confirmed on Tuesday, August 25. The legendary singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist died peacefully in Nashville. A cause of death has not yet been publicly announced.

News of Parton’s passing was shared by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who reflected on the enormous loss for their family while celebrating the extraordinary life she lived. The sad news comes roughly a year and a half after the March 2025 passing of Dolly’s husband of nearly six decades, Carl Dean.

Born Dolly Rebecca Parton on January 19, 1946, in Tennessee, Dolly rose from humble beginnings as one of 12 children to become one of the most recognizable entertainers in the world. Her career would ultimately span more than six decades and cross the boundaries of country, pop, gospel, film, television and Broadway.

Her unmistakable voice and songwriting gave the world classics including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “Here You Come Again,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” The latter became an international phenomenon again decades later when Whitney Houston recorded her version for The Bodyguard.

Dolly also proved to be just as successful on the big screen. Her starring role alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the 1980 comedy 9 to 5 helped establish her as a Hollywood star, followed by memorable appearances in films including The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk.

Over the course of her career, Parton earned numerous honors, including multiple Grammy Awards, induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a Kennedy Center Honor and the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

But Dolly’s legacy extends far beyond entertainment.

In 1995, she launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, initially providing free books to young children in her home county in Tennessee. The initiative eventually expanded across the United States and internationally, providing hundreds of millions of books to children from birth through age five.

She also became known for giving back following natural disasters, supporting education and healthcare initiatives and donating money that helped fund research connected to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Even in her final years, Dolly continued creating.

She remained involved with Dollywood, developed an autobiographical stage musical based on her extraordinary life and was preparing several new ventures in Nashville. Just days before her death, Parton spoke publicly about future projects and made it clear that despite recent health challenges, she still had plenty she wanted to accomplish.

That determination was quintessential Dolly.

For generations of fans, she represented far more than country music. She was a songwriter’s songwriter, an unlikely Hollywood leading lady, a savvy businesswoman, a philanthropist, a fashion icon and one of pop culture’s most universally beloved personalities.

From the mountains of Tennessee to stages around the world, Dolly Parton built a legacy almost impossible to duplicate.

And while the woman behind “I Will Always Love You” may be gone, the music, laughter, generosity and countless lives she touched ensure the world will be loving Dolly for generations to come.

Rest in peace, Dolly Parton. 1946–2026.