Dolly Parton, the iconic country singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist whose career spanned more than six decades, has died at the age of 80. She pᴀssed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee, surrounded by loved ones. Her publicist later confirmed that she had faced a brief battle with cancer.

The news was first announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, in a video message shared on Parton’s official social media accounts. Speaking on behalf of the Parton and Owens families, Seaver said Parton had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement when the time came. “By her example, we believed anything was possible,” he stated. “She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history.” He added that she was now “in the arms of Jesus,” reunited with her late husband Carl Dean and other family members.

In a formal statement, Parton’s publicist Marcel Pariseau reflected on her life’s impact. He noted that she spent her career bringing “joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,” and highlighted her “unmatched generosity.” This included the Imagination Library, which has distributed hundreds of millions of free books to children worldwide, and her early financial support for research that contributed to the development of a widely used COVID-19 vaccine. “After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today… surrounded by loved ones,” the statement read.

Parton had been dealing with health challenges in the period leading up to her death. She postponed a planned Las Vegas residency in 2025 and later canceled it entirely in May 2026, explaining that she still needed time to heal. In the days before her pᴀssing, she spoke openly about health issues she had neglected while caring for her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025. She was admitted to hospital several days prior to her death. Despite these difficulties, she continued working on projects, including a Broadway musical based on her life that was scheduled to open later in 2026.

Born Dolly Rebecca Parton on January 19, 1946, in a one-room cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, she grew up in poverty as one of 12 children. She began writing songs as a young child and moved to Nashville as a teenager. Over the following decades she became one of the best-selling female recording artists of all time, with more than 100 million records sold worldwide. Her songwriting credits include enduring classics such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “I Will Always Love You” (later a global hit for Whitney Houston), and “9 to 5.” She also built a successful film and television career, starred in movies including 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias, and created the popular Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Beyond entertainment, Parton was widely admired for her philanthropy and business ventures. Her Imagination Library has helped promote childhood literacy for decades. She was known for her distinctive personal style—blond wigs, rhinestones, and a larger-than-life persona—combined with genuine warmth, sharp humor, and a refusal to take herself too seriously. Fans and fellow artists often described her as both a cultural force and a deeply kind presence.

Tributes arrived rapidly from across the music industry and beyond. Beyoncé called her “the north star” and “one of one,” expressing graтιтude for her art, heart, generosity, and entrepreneurship. Country legend Reba McEntire shared personal memories, while artists including Pink, Sabrina Carpenter, Eminem, and Billy Ray Cyrus (whose daughter Miley considered Parton a godmother) offered their own reflections. President Donald Trump ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff for a week in her honor. Fans gathered at landmarks including the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Empire State Building was illuminated in pink as a mark of respect.

Parton’s final in-person public appearance took place on June 24, 2026, at the grand opening of Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee. Witnesses described her as appearing in good spirits and in her usual playful form that day. A private funeral service for close family is expected.

Dolly Parton’s influence extended far beyond country music. Through her songs, her business empire, her charitable work, and her optimistic public spirit, she left a lasting mark on American culture. Her music and legacy continue to reach new generations of listeners around the world.