Dolly Parton Dies at 80

Dolly Parton, the iconic country music singer, songwriter, and actress, has died at the age of 80, as announced by her publicist and nephew Bryan Seaver on social media. Parton's death comes after a year of struggling with unspecified health issues that forced her to curtail public appearances and cancel her planned 2025 Las Vegas residency.

Parton's health issues had become a concern in the fall of 2025, when she announced that she would not be able to follow through on a six-show December residency at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace. She had also announced that she would not be participating in the Motion Picture Academy's Governors Awards in November to accept the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

Dolly Parton is survived by her legacy of thousands of deeply personal and instantly relatable songs, including '9 to 5', 'Jolene', and 'I Will Always Love You'. Her song 'I Will Always Love You' was recorded by Whitney Houston for the 1992 film The Bodyguard and sold more than 20 million copies.

## What happens next A small, private service will be held for Dolly Parton's immediate family. Fans and friends are encouraged to pay tribute to her on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com.

## Why it matters Dolly Parton's death marks the end of an era in country music. With a career spanning over six decades, Parton had become a beloved figure in entertainment, earning countless awards and building an empire that stretched far beyond music. Her legacy will continue to inspire and influence generations of musicians and fans alike.

Dolly Parton's husband, Carl Dean, died on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82. The couple had been married for nearly 58 years.