Dolly Parton, the beloved singer-songwriter, actress, and philanthropist who became one of the most recognizable figures in American music, has died at age 80.
Parton’s death was announced Tuesday by her family, with her publicist confirming she died at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones, after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer. Her family said she died “peacefully,” and a small, private service will be held for close family.
The news was announced by her publicist and shared on her official Instagram through a video from her nephew, Bryan Seaver, speaking on behalf of the Parton family.
Parton had spoken publicly about health struggles in recent years. In September 2025, she wrote on Instagram that she was “dealing with some health challenges” and would need to undergo a few procedures, though she never specified what they were. At the seasonal opening of her Dollywood theme park roughly six months later, she said she was still dealing with “a few little health issues” she was taking time to recover from.
She had also been open about the toll of losing her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 — sharing that she had let her own health go while caring for him and grieving afterward, and that she’d been working to rebuild herself “spiritually, emotionally and physically.” Just ten days before her death, she canceled an appearance at a new Dollywood attraction opening, saying her doctor had advised against travel.
Over a six-decade career, Parton wrote more than 3,000 songs, released 49 albums, and won 11 Grammy Awards, becoming one of country music’s most successful crossover artists. She was known for classics like “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “9 to 5,” the last of which also became a hit film starring Parton herself. She won a 2021 Emmy for the TV movie “Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square,” and her final Grammy came the same year for a Christian music recording with Zach Williams.
Beyond music, Parton was widely celebrated for her philanthropy, including her Imagination Library children’s book program. Her family has asked that donations in her memory be made to the Imagination Library.
