Dolly Parton, the legendary country music singer, songwriter, and actress, has died at age 80. Her family announced that she passed away in Nashville after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, surrounded by loved ones. Her nephew Bryan Seaver shared a statement saying, "She never saw a door she couldn't open, and the doors she opened made and changed history." Per her wishes, her funeral will be small and private.
In a recent interview, Parton had mentioned dealing with health issues while caring for her husband Carl Dean, who died in March last year. She expressed her determination to continue working, saying, "I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I'm gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life."
Parton rose from poverty in Tennessee to become a cultural icon and prolific songwriter, writing 3,000 songs including hits like "Jolene" and "9 to 5." She built a career spanning more than six decades and achieved success as an actress, appearing in major Hollywood films. Beyond entertainment, she became an accomplished businesswoman with ventures ranging from the Dollywood theme park to cosmetics and baking mixes.
Her philanthropic work was equally impressive. The Dollywood Foundation distributes approximately 25 million books annually through her Imagination Library across the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and Ireland. She also donated one million dollars for COVID-19 vaccine research, which formed the basis for the Moderna vaccine.
Following news of her death, tributes poured in from across music, film, and politics. Jane Fonda, her co-star in "9 to 5," wrote an emotional Instagram post, describing Parton as "the voluptuous embodiment of empathy" and noting that "more than anyone I have ever known, Dolly will always be with us because she was so present, so powerful, so generous and playful."
Billy Ray Cyrus, whose daughter Miley is Parton's goddaughter, shared memories of meeting her in 1992 and recalled her recent message telling him she loved him with her whole heart. Pitbull performed at a concert in New York, calling Parton "a good human being with a good heart" who believed in him when others didn't.
Other celebrities paying tribute included Beyonce, Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Christina Aguilera. The White House lowered its flag to half-mast in her honor.
In Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee announced plans to rename Nashville International Airport after Parton as a lasting tribute to the entertainer who maintained deep ties to her home state throughout her life. Searches for Dolly Parton merchandise surged dramatically following her death, with online searches for T-shirts increasing by 10,000 percent as fans sought ways to commemorate her legacy.