Dolly Parton, the singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist whose journey from poverty in the Smoky Mountains to international stardom made her one of America’s most recognizable and beloved cultural figures, died Tuesday. She was 80.
Parton died peacefully Tuesday in Nashville, according to her publicist. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed, the Associated Press reported.
President Donald Trump made a statement in advance of ordering flags be flown at half staff.
“Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will. In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM. Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you.”
Born Dolly Rebecca Parton on Jan. 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, near the Great Smoky Mountains, she was the fourth of 12 children. It was well documented that her family struggled financially but was rich in music and faith.
At 13, she made her first appearance at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. According to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Parton moved to Nashville immediately after graduating from high school in 1964, determined to build a career in music.
She succeeded beyond almost anyone’s imagination.
From the mountains to Nashville
Her first solo No. 1 country hit was “Joshua” in 1971. That was followed by songs including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You.”
“Coat of Many Colors” drew directly from Parton’s Appalachian childhood. It told the story of a coat her mother made from scraps of fabric and the ridicule Parton faced when she wore it to school.
The song became one of the clearest examples of a theme that ran throughout Parton’s career: She rarely distanced herself from the poverty or mountain culture of her childhood. Instead, she turned those experiences into stories that could be understood far beyond Appalachia.
Parton eventually recorded hundreds of songs and sold more than 100 million records worldwide, according to the Associated Press.
“I Will Always Love You,” which Parton wrote as she prepared to leave Wagoner’s television show, became a hit for Parton and later an international phenomenon when Whitney Houston recorded it for the 1992 film “The Bodyguard.”
Her 1977 hit “Here You Come Again” helped establish her with a broader audience, and her starring role alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the 1980 film “9 to 5” turned her into a movie star.
The title song, written and performed by Parton, reached No. 1 and won two Grammy Awards.
She appeared in films including “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “Rhinestone” and the 1989 Southern classic “Steel Magnolias.”
She never left the Smokies behind
In 1986, she opened Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
The theme park is one of Tennessee’s largest tourist attractions and a major employer in the surrounding region.
She established the Dollywood Foundation in 1988 with an initial focus on helping children in Sevier County succeed in school. In 1995, Parton launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The program began by mailing free books to young children in Sevier County. It has been reported that Parton said the inspiration was deeply personal. Her father, Robert Lee Parton, could not read or write.
In 31 years, the organization gifted more than 332 million books in five countries.
Parton repeatedly said the Imagination Library ranked among the accomplishments of which she was most proud.
A legacy of giving
After devastating wildfires swept through Sevier County and the Gatlinburg area in 2016, Parton helped establish a fund that provided monthly payments to families who lost their homes.
She also donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for COVID-19 research. The donation helped support research connected to development of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Among country music’s most honored artists
The honors accumulated over the decades.
Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001. She received the National Medal of Arts in 2005 and Kennedy Center Honors in 2006.
The Recording Academy presented her with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
Over her career, Parton received 55 Grammy nominations and won 10 Grammy Awards, according to the Associated Press.
Her husband, Carl Dean, whom she married in 1966, largely avoided the spotlight throughout their marriage. Dean died in March 2025 after nearly 60 years of marriage.
Parton continued working after his death and had projects underway at the time of her own death.
Speaking to the Associated Press in 2024 about how she would like to be remembered, Parton said she hoped her songs would endure and that people would remember her as someone who tried to do some good in the world.
