Dolly Parton, Legendary US Country Singer, Dies Aged 80

Summary

• Legendary country music singer Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80
• “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience,” her team says – read their statement in full
• This is a breaking news story, we’ll bring you more on this shortly

Dolly Parton was one of the greats

No-one did it like Dolly.

She was the grande dame of country. Someone every songwriter and performer looked up to. A force of nature. A true one of a kind.

One of 12 children, she grew up in “dirt poor” poverty on a rundown farm in Tennessee; but her life changed when her uncle Bill Owens gave her a guitar at the age of seven.

Before long, she was a regular radio performer. She made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry in 1959, introduced by Johnny Cash, at the age of 13.

Her initial attempts at a recording career weren’t successful, however. Early songs like Puppy Love and Happy, Happy Birthday Baby failed to chart.

But after she teamed up with country star Porter Wagoner for the 1968 duet The Last Thing on My Mind, she broke into the country music top 10, kick-starting a six year streak of hits.

The song’s she’ll be remembered for, however, are the ones she wrote herself. Songs like Jolene, Coat of Many Colours and I Will Always Love You. Honest, sincere, and authentic, she captured the trials and tribulations of life in a way that was always relatable, even when her stage outfits and her hairstyle remained larger than life.

When I interviewed her in 2016, inspiration was still fertile. “Almost every day I come up with a few song titles or a sweet melody,” she told me, claiming to have written more than 3,000 songs in her career.

Dolly Parton’s career spanned six decades

Dolly Parton, the country singer from the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, will be remembered for her songs that told beautiful stories, such as Coat of Many Colours, Jolene, and I Will Always Love You.

The country legend sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and wrote over 3,000 songs.

Parton took her writing seriously, and considered herself primarily a songwriter. “It’s my way of expressing myself. It’s my therapy,” she said.

The singer was also a savvy business woman, and was armed with a wit and charm that enabled her to ride through a career in show business that spanned over 60 years.

We’ll bring you more on the life and career of Dolly Parton shortly, along with tributes that have started to pour in for the star.

A church singer who went on to greatness

Dolly Parton was born in 1946 into a poor farming family who lived in a one bedroom cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Tennessee.

She was the fourth of 12 children. Her father, Robert Lee Parton, was a tobacco farmer and paid a missionary a sack of cornmeal for delivering her.

Dolly said her mother, Avie Lee, used to sing folk songs all the time. She was also influenced by her Aunt, who played the guitar and wrote songs.

Her uncle accompanied her on the guitar during some of her first performances.

Parton sang in the local church where her grandfather was the pastor, from the age of six and – before reaching her teens – she was performing on her local TV station.

By the age of thirteen, she had reached country music’s summit: with an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

‘Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration’: Full statement announcing Parton’s death

We can now bring you a statement put out by Dolly Parton’s public relations team, confirming the death of the country singer.

“Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old.

“Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942 – 2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923 – 2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921 – 2000).

“A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.

“Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”

Dolly Parton dies aged 80

Iconic country musician Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her family announced on her social media.

“Sadness lies with us, not with Dolly,” Parton’s nephew Brian Seaver said in a video announcement. “Dolly lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely.”

This is a breaking news story, we’ll bring you more on this shortly.

Source: BBC