The singer, songwriter and philanthropist has died at the age of 80.
Dolly Parton’s family have announced her peaceful passing on August 25, 2026.
Across a career spanning more than six decades, Parton became one of the defining voices of American music. Emerging from the mountains of East Tennessee, she helped redefine country songwriting through an unmistakable combination of emotional clarity and wit, writing songs including Jolene, Coat of Many Colors and I Will Always Love You.
Her influence stretched far beyond Nashville. Over the course of her career, Parton wrote more than 3,000 songs, sold more than 100 million records worldwide and won 10 Grammy Awards, becoming a touchstone for generations of artists across country, pop and beyond.
Her generosity was just as far-reaching. Through her philanthropy, most notably the Imagination Library, she helped put hundreds of millions of books into the hands of children around the world.
Parton also used her platform to voice support for LGBTQ+ rights and the Black Lives Matter movement, speaking with a characteristic directness about equality and acceptance.
Away from music, she built a formidable business empire on her own terms, spanning publishing, film and television production and the Dollywood theme park, while retaining control over some of her most valuable work.
Dolly Parton leaves behind an extraordinary body of music and a legacy that reaches far beyond it. With her passing, country music has lost one of its defining voices, and popular culture one of its true originals.
Donate to the Imagination Library here.
