Dolly Parton, one of the most beloved and influential figures in country music history, has died aged 80.
Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver announced her death in a video shared to Facebook. A cause of death has not yet been released.
“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 until now,” Seaver said.
“It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly.”
He added that Parton had “opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and dreamers”, describing her as someone who became an extended part of families around the world through television, records, CDs and playlists.
Parton had reportedly been hospitalised four days before her death, though no further details were given.
Born in Tennesse in 1946 as one of 12 children, Parton rose from rural poverty to become one of the most recognisable entertainers in the world.
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Her catalogue includes some of country music’s most enduring songs, among them “Jolene”, “Coat of Many Colours”, “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You”. The latter became an even bigger global phenomenon when Whitney Houston recorded it for The Bodyguard in 1992.
Despite her success as a singer, actor, businesswoman and cultural icon, Parton repeatedly described herself first and foremost as a songwriter.
“I’ve got a big ol’ mouth and personality, so it’s easy for me to get out and entertain,” she told Rolling Stone in 2020. “But when it comes to my writing… it’s just that little special thing that’s just mine.”
Her influence stretched far beyond country music. Artists including Shania Twain, Miley Cyrus, Kasey Musgraves and countless others have cited Parton as an inspiration, while her ability to move between country, pop, film and television helped create a blueprint for generations of crossover artists.
She also built an acting career that included 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Steel Magnolias, while her Dollywood theme park became both a major tourist attraction and a key employer in her home state.
Parton was equally renowned for her philanthropy. She founded the Imagination Library, which has distributed free books to children around the world, supported victims of the 2016 Tennessee wildfires and donated money towards COVID-19 vaccine research.
Her honours included induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame and, in 2022, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
In her later years, Parton remained prolific. Her 2023 album Rockstar featured collaborations with artists including Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Rob Halford, Joan Jett, Pink, Brandi Carlile and her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus.
Following the death of her husband Carl Dean in 2025, she released the tribute “If You Hadn’t Been There”. The famously private pair had been married for almost 60 years.
Parton had experienced health problems in the time before her death, and had postponed, then cancelled, planned Las Vegas performances. She still continued working behind the scenes on projects including her Nashville SongTeller hotel and museum.
She had also spent years preparing unreleased recordings so that new music could continue to emerge following her death.
Ultimately, though, Parton knew exactly how she wanted to be remembered.
“At the end of the day, I hope that I will be remembered as a good songwriter,” she wrote in 2020. “The songs are my legacy.”
