Dolly Parton Dead at 80

Legend Dolly Parton Dead at 80

Published August 25, 2026 10:53 AM PDT

Dolly Parton -- the country music icon behind some of the biggest songs ever recorded -- has died.

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Her head of security announced her death Tuesday on Instagram.

The legendary singer, songwriter and actress leaves behind a career spanning more than six decades ... with hits including "Jolene," "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You."

Dolly became one of the most beloved figures in entertainment ... earning countless awards while building an empire that stretched far beyond music.

Dolly had been dealing with health issues in recent months ... postponing six shows from her Las Vegas residency last September.

As we reported ... she also abruptly canceled a Dollywood appearance earlier this month after her doctor advised her not to travel while she dealt with dehydration and occasional dizziness.

Her sister, Freida Parton, had also asked fans to pray for Dolly last October ... saying she hadn't been feeling her best.

It came during an already difficult stretch for Dolly, who lost her longtime husband, Carl Dean, in March 2025.

The two were married for 58 years and never had children.

Dolly sold more than 100 million records worldwide during her legendary career ... cementing herself as one of the best-selling artists of all time.

She also made a major mark in Hollywood, starring in films including "9 to 5" and "Steel Magnolias" ... and earned an Oscar nomination for the title song from "9 to 5."

Her impact went far beyond entertainment, too ... with her Imagination Library giving millions of books to children around the world.

From growing up dirt poor in Tennessee to becoming one of the biggest stars on the planet ... Dolly's story was truly one of a kind.

She was 80.

RIP