The singer-songwriter behind “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You” died peacefully Tuesday in Nashville. Her family did not disclose a cause of death.
By Hola America News
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dolly Parton, the country music singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist whose career reached audiences across generations, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton died peacefully, her publicist confirmed. Her family announced her death through her nephew, Bryan Seaver, but did not release a cause.
“By her example, we believed anything was possible,” Seaver said. He added that Parton opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and other performers.
A message from the family of Dolly Parton. pic.twitter.com/9DNRgRx0uH
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) August 25, 2026
Parton leaves a catalog that includes “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” She sold more than 100 million records and wrote hundreds of songs during a career that moved between country, pop, gospel, bluegrass, film and television.
Parton began performing as a child in East Tennessee
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born Jan. 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. She was the fourth of 12 children and grew up in a one-room cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Music was part of her family life from childhood. Parton began appearing on local television in Knoxville by age 10 and performed at the Grand Ole Opry when she was 13.
She moved to Nashville immediately after graduating from high school in 1964. Her early work as a songwriter led to a recording career, followed by a prominent role on “The Porter Wagoner Show” beginning in 1967.
Parton later pursued a solo career and wrote “I Will Always Love You” as a farewell to Wagoner. Her original recording became a country hit, while Whitney Houston’s version introduced the song to another generation through “The Bodyguard.”
“Jolene,” released in the 1970s, became another of her defining compositions. Artists working in country, rock and pop continued recording the song decades after its release.
“9 to 5” expanded her career into film and pop music
Parton made her major film debut in the 1980 comedy “9 to 5” alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. She wrote and performed the title song, which earned two Grammy Awards and an Academy Award nomination.
Her other film roles included “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Rhinestone” and “Straight Talk.”
Parton also recorded with Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette and other leading country artists. Her collaboration with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris produced the 1987 album “Trio,” which reached No. 1 on the country albums chart and won a Grammy.
Related: Linda Ronstadt built a country music career on her own terms, including her work with Parton and Harris.
Parton earned 10 Grammys and two Hall of Fame inductions
The Recording Academy lists Parton with 10 competitive Grammy wins and 55 nominations. She also received the academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
“Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” entered the Grammy Hall of Fame. Parton joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Her success extended beyond performing. Parton retained control of her songwriting catalog, built several entertainment businesses and developed Dollywood into one of Tennessee’s best-known tourist destinations.
Imagination Library sends more than 3 million books each month
Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995 after drawing inspiration from her father, who had difficulty reading and writing. The program began by mailing free books to young children in her home county in Tennessee.
It later expanded across the United States and into Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland. The program now sends more than 3 million age-appropriate books each month at no cost to participating families.
Information about the program and its continued work remains available through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Parton also supported disaster recovery, education and medical research. In 2020, she donated $1 million to research at Vanderbilt University that contributed to the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Her family plans to continue the work she established
Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, died in March 2025 at age 82. The couple had been married for nearly 60 years and largely kept their relationship outside public view.
Seaver said Parton’s family and the team responsible for her work would preserve the projects and legacy she entrusted to them.
No cause of death or public memorial arrangements had been announced as of publication. The Country Music Hall of Fame has added Parton’s death date to its official account of her life and career.
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