BREAKING: Country legend Dolly Parton dead at 80

Country music icon and American legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her family announced on Tuesday. Known for hit songs and movies such as "Jolene," "9 to 5," and "Steel Magnolias," Parton’s career spanned more than 60 years, with the singer selling more than 100 million records and winning 11 Grammy Awards.

In a video posted to her Instagram, Parton’s nephew, Brian Seaver, announced her passing. “My name is Brin Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next.”

“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality. As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it til now,” he added.

On Friday, Parton had shared a health update, speaking on her decline after the March 2025 passing of her longtime husband, Carl Dean.

She told People, “As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health.”

She added: “But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago. I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI! Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’! You know me — as I’ve often said — I’ve dreamed myself into a corner and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”

Parton was born on January 19, 1946 to poor parents in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. She wrote her first song at 6, and credited her mother for her love of music. She made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry at the age of 13. She first topped the country charts in 1974 with her hit Jolene, with her next four singles, including "I Will Always Love You," also being chart toppers. 

Parton opened her Dollywood theme park in the Great Smokey Mountains near her hometown in 1986, and had a long philanthropic legacy that includes the creation of the Imagination Library, which mails free books to children around the world. She said of the program, “When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer. The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.”

Parton also made appearances on the big screen, appearing in “9 to 5,” in which she also sang the theme song. She earned two Golden Globe nominations for her acting and Oscar nomination for the title song. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1984, and received a Kennedy Center Honors in 2006.