Legendary American singer Dolly Parton has died
American singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist Dolly Parton died on Tuesday, August 25, at the age of 80. Her family announced the death of one of the most famous performers in country music history.
Parton died in Nashville, Tennessee. Her nephew Bryan Seaver announced the singer's death in a statement posted on her official social media accounts.
The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed at this time. The family said that the farewell will take place in a close circle.
In recent months, Parton had been experiencing health problems. She had previously postponed concerts in Las Vegas and said she was undergoing treatment. At the same time, the singer continued to work on a number of projects.
From a poor family in Tennessee to worldwide fame
Dolly Parton was born on January 19, 1946, in Tennessee and grew up in a large family. She began her musical career as a child, performing on local radio and television, and later moved to Nashville.
She achieved worldwide fame with dozens of songs, including "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors," "9 to 5," and "I Will Always Love You." The latter gained a second wave of popularity in the 1990s thanks to Whitney Houston's rendition.
Throughout her career spanning about seven decades, Parton wrote hundreds of songs and sold more than 100 million records worldwide. She received ten Grammy Awards and dozens of other music awards.
Parton also acted in films. One of her best-known works was the 1980 comedy "9 to 5", for which she wrote the title song.
Business and philanthropy
In addition to music, Parton built a large business around her own name. Among her most famous ventures is the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee, which has become one of the region's largest tourist attractions.
The singer devoted a significant part of her activities to charity. In 1995, she launched the Imagination Library program, which sends free books to children. Over time, the project spread far beyond the United States.
Parton also funded educational programs, disaster relief, and medical research. In particular, her donation to Vanderbilt University helped fund research related to the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Her husband, Carl Dean, with whom Parton had been married for nearly 60 years, died in March 2025 at the age of 82.
Dolly Parton is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of American popular music. In addition to the Country Music Hall of Fame, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Based on materials from: Associated Press, Euronews
