Dolly Parton, Country Music Legend, Dies at 80

Dolly Parton — the rhinestoned songwriter who turned a dirt-poor Tennessee childhood into one of the most beloved careers in American music — has died.

She was 80.

Parton’s family confirmed her death Tuesday, with her nephew and longtime head of security, Bryan Seaver, delivering the news in a video posted to her official Instagram account.

“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” Seaver said.

He described the moment as one of “absolute pride and great sadness.”

“But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly,” he said. “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.”

Parton’s husband of nearly six decades, Carl Dean, died in March 2025 at 82.

Seaver said he believed she had now been reunited with Dean, her parents and other loved ones.

Few entertainers ever built a résumé like Parton’s.

She wrote thousands of songs, sold more than 100 million records and became one of country music’s defining voices with classics including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.”

She won 11 Grammy Awards, crossed effortlessly into movies and television, built Dollywood into a Tennessee landmark and created the Imagination Library, which has mailed hundreds of millions of free books to children.

Parton remained remarkably active into her final year, announcing new projects even as health problems forced her to scale back travel.

🚨 BREAKING: Country music legend Dolly Parton has passed away at 80 years old, her family confirms via video

Dolly had an INCREDIBLE 60 year career, and was loved by countless millions across the world. God bless her 🙏🏻

Just days ago, Parton said she’s having “hard times with… pic.twitter.com/RonqYIWy6j

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 25, 2026