Dolly Parton, country music icon, dies at 80

Dolly Parton, the singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur who wrote and recorded more than 1,000 songs including "Jolene," "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You," has died at 80.

Her death, on Tuesday, was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, in a video message. "It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness," Seaver said. "By her example, we believed that anything was possible. She never saw a door she couldn't open, and the doors she opened made and changed history." Parton's publicist confirmed the death; no cause has been given.

A decline over recent months

Parton had spoken publicly about health difficulties in the period before her death. In September 2025 she posted about "health challenges" requiring unspecified procedures, and in spring 2026 she referred to "a few little health issues" alongside grief over the death of her husband, Carl Dean, in March 2025, after nearly 60 years of marriage. On August 21, four days before her death, she canceled an appearance at a Dollywood attraction opening, saying in a video message: "I have had a few little health issues. And sometimes I get a little dizzy, and I get dehydrated."

A career that reshaped country music

Parton was widely known as the "Queen of Country Music." She won 10 Grammy Awards from 46 nominations and was inducted into multiple music halls of fame. Beyond music, she starred in films including "9 to 5" and "Steel Magnolias," and founded the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee. She was also known for the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a children's literacy nonprofit that mails free books to children; her family has asked that donations in her memory go there. A small private funeral service is planned for immediate family.

This report draws on reporting from ABC News and WRDW.