Country music legend Dolly Parton died at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer, her publicist Marcel Pariseau confirmed in a statement to media outlets. Parton passed away at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, surrounded by loved ones. The specific type of cancer was not disclosed.
Pariseau's statement read: 'After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.' He added: 'Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand.'
Death announced by nephew on Instagram
Parton's death was announced late Tuesday via an Instagram video by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also served as the singer's head of security. Seaver described the announcement as 'an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness.' He said: 'But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.'
Parton's husband Carl Dean died last year at the age of 82. Flags will be lowered throughout America in Parton's honour, US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social.
Tributes from stars across the industry
Tributes poured in from across the entertainment industry, led by actress Jane Fonda, who starred with Parton in the film 9 To 5 and was a lifelong friend. Fonda wrote on Instagram: 'I am devastated. I just learned that Dolly has moved on. I know that millions are mourning and I want to say this – more than anyone I have ever known, Dolly will always be with us because she was so present, so powerful, so generous and playful that she is woven into all our lives and hearts forever.'
Singer Beyoncé, who worked with Parton on her 2024 album Cowboy Carter, called her the 'north star' for the industry. A statement on Beyoncé's website read: 'Dolly, you were the barometer. The north star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious. You taught so many lessons on how to be uniquely oneself. I am grateful for your art, your heart, your generosity, your humor, your entrepreneurship. I'm honored that I had the privilege to work with you. I will treasure that forever. Thank you for your profound impact on the world. You are an angel who has made this world a happier place because of your joyful art. You are truly one of one. Rest peacefully.'
Sir Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Sir Mick Jagger and Billy Joel were among the other music industry figures who honoured Parton.
Career highlights and final months
Parton was best known for genre-defining hits including 9 To 5, I Will Always Love You and Jolene. In May, she pulled out of a highly anticipated Las Vegas residency due to begin in September. She had already postponed her six-date run at The Colosseum Theatre at Caesars Palace from December 2025 to deal with 'health challenges'.
At Parton's request, a small, private funeral service will be held for immediate family, according to a statement from her family on social media. In lieu of flowers, her family asked for donations to be made to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library at imaginationlibrary.com.
Parton wrote I Will Always Love You – one of the defining love songs of the 20th century – as a goodbye to her former creative partner Porter Wagoner, who hired her as his sidekick on The Porter Wagoner Show and helped her land a record deal. The song became a blockbuster hit when Whitney Houston recorded a cover for the 1992 film The Bodyguard.
Legacy of music and philanthropy
Parton was born in a single-room cabin in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, in 1946, as the fourth of 12 children. She began her musical journey at age six, singing in the local church where her grandfather was pastor. By age 13, she had appeared at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
Over a career spanning more than 60 years, Parton sold more than 100 million records worldwide and wrote more than 3,000 songs, including hits Coat Of Many Colours and Joshua. She was a savvy businesswoman with an empire that included the theme park Dollywood and a pioneering philanthropist. Her Imagination Library, a book-gifting programme devoted to inspiring a love of reading in children, has given more than 300 million books to children in need. She also supported several charities for Black and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as the Barbara Davis Centre for Childhood Diabetes, Save the Music Foundation and the Boot Campaign. In 2020, she donated one million dollars (£733,000) to coronavirus research at Vanderbilt University, which helped fund Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine.
