OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
11:12 AM – Tuesday, August 25, 2026Dolly Parton, the beloved icon whose unique voice, prolific songwriting and vibrant personality shaped country music and American pop culture for over six decades, has passed away at the age of 80.
Her death was confirmed Tuesday by Bryan Seaver, her nephew, who has also served as her head of security for more than two decades.
The trailblazer leaves behind an unmatched legacy that bridges generations, genres and geographic boundaries.
Born in 1946 in a small, one-room cabin in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, Parton rose from humble, impoverished roots to become one of the most successful and decorated performers in history.
Across a career that produced over 3,000 written songs and 50 studio albums, her storytelling yielded timeless classics like “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You” — which was later covered by Whitney Houston.
In addition to her staggering collection of Grammy Awards, Country Music Association honors and inductions into both the Country Music and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, Parton earned equal acclaim as an accomplished actress, entrepreneur and humanitarian.
Beyond her artistic achievements, Parton’s philanthropy touched millions of lives globally.
Her Imagination Library initiative has gifted more than 240 million free books to young children worldwide, and her charitable endeavors spanned disaster relief, education and healthcare funding.
Known for her self-deprecating wit, dazzling feminine style and relentless commitment to lifting others up, Dolly transcended the entertainment industry to become a universally cherished national treasure whose music and generosity will continue to resonate for generations to come.
Dolly did not have children, and her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, passed away in March 2025.
Nonetheless, she is survived by a large extended family, including several of her 11 siblings — such as her sisters Willadeene, Stella, Cassie, Freida and Rachel, and her brother Bobby — along with numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren, including her goddaughter Miley Cyrus.
“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,” Dolly’s family said in a statement.
A message from the family of Dolly Parton: pic.twitter.com/9DNRgRx0uH
……..On Friday, Parton had announced that she had been dealing with her own health issues after the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, last year.
“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,” Parton told PEOPLE Magazine.
Parton continued, “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, in a one-room cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains of Pittman Center, Tennessee. She was the fourth of twelve children in a poor farming family. She began performing as a child, singing on local radio and television, and moved to Nashville the day after high school graduation to pursue a music career.
In the 1970s Parton became one of country music’s biggest stars with hits such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You.”
She crossed over into acting with roles in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Steel Magnolias.
Over her career she has released dozens of albums, sold more than 100 million records, and earned numerous awards, including multiple Grammys and inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Beyond music and acting, Parton is known for her extensive philanthropy, most notably the Imagination Library, which has distributed millions of free books to children.
Parton also built a successful business empire that includes the Dollywood theme park.
According to news reports, she had a ‘brief battle with cancer’.
Dolly was one of a kind. Her accomplishments and talent really made an impact on music and entertainment. I loved watching her interviews. She was humorous, spontaneous, and down to earth.
Rest in Peace Dolly.
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