Dolly Parton, the American country music star whose career spanned nearly six decades across music, film, television and business, has died at the age of 80.
Parton died on Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee, her family announced.
No cause of death was disclosed, although the singer had spoken publicly about dealing with health issues in recent weeks.
Her death marks the end of a career that transformed her from a child raised in poverty in rural Tennessee into one of the world’s most recognisable entertainers.
What they are saying
Parton was known for songs including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You,” which became a global hit for Whitney Houston after she recorded it for the 1992 film *The Bodyguard*.
She sold more than 100 million records worldwide and won 11 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Beyond music, Parton built a business empire around her name and image. She founded Dollywood, a theme park in Tennessee that became a major tourist attraction, while her Imagination Library literacy programme distributed free books to children.
Her business Interests reflected a career that extended well beyond the recording studio. Parton appeared in films including 9 to 5, Steel Magnolias, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Straight Talk. Her performance in 9 to 5 also earned her an Academy Award nomination for the film’s title song.
Brief biography
Born Dolly Rebecca Parton on January 19, 1946, in Tennessee, she was one of 12 children raised in a poor family in the Great Smoky Mountains. Her early experiences of poverty, family and rural life later became recurring themes in her songwriting.
- Parton began writing songs as a child and was performing publicly by her early teens. She…
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