On Aug. 25, 2026, Dolly Parton's family announced the country music legend had died at age 80. Her nephew Bryan Seaver made the announcement in a video posted to social media (archived):
Parton's storied career made her an icon of U.S. pop culture. Born in the mountains of Tennessee in 1946, she reportedly began to write music at age 10, recording her first song — "Puppy Love" — in 1959. Parton was one of the first female country musicians to gain worldwide fame, well beyond country music fandom, and she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 1999.
Her success in music and film soon led her to become a businesswoman, with her Dollywood Co. (a chain of entertainment parks and resorts), and a dedicated philanthropist, with the Dollywood Foundation active in five English-speaking countries.
Parton's broad appeal made her the target of many rumors, some true, and many false.
