NASHVILLE:Country music icon, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. Her family confirmed her passing on Tuesday, concluding a legendary career that spanned nearly six decades.
From her beginnings in a one-room cabin in rural Locust Ridge, Tennessee, Parton rose to become one of the best-selling female artists of all time, with over 100 million records sold worldwide. Her distinctive soprano voice, self-deprecating wit, and iconic look brought country music to global audiences while endearing her to fans across generations and political divides.
Timeless Hits: Parton authored thousands of songs, earning 11 Grammy Awards—including a Lifetime Achievement Award—and crafting immortal classics such as “Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You”.
Beyond the stage, Parton founded the Dollywood theme park in her native East Tennessee and starred in hit films including 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias.
A champion of literacy and public health, Parton founded the Imagination Library, which has gifted over 200 million books to young children globally. In 2020, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University, funding early research critical to the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
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