NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Country Music icon Dolly Parton, whose songs, generosity, and spirit made her one of the most beloved figures in American culture, died Tuesday at her home in Nashville. She was 80.
A family statement attributed to her nephew Bryan Seaver said Parton died peacefully. A small, private service will be held for close family. No cause of death has been officially released.
Her death comes after Parton announced in May that she had been undergoing treatment for kidney stones for several years and that her immune and digestive systems had gotten “all out of whack.” She had also been open about neglecting her own health while caring for her husband Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 after 58 years of marriage.
Parton wrote hundreds of songs, including classics like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You,” that totaled more than 100 million worldwide sales and more than 1 billion online streams.
Beyond her music, Parton’s legacy was defined by her generosity. When a deadly wildfire swept through the Smokies in 2016, she held an all-star telethon and established a foundation that sent monthly checks to residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed. She opened Dollywood theme park in East Tennessee, a major economic driver in Appalachia, and established the Dollywood Foundation, which launched the Imagination Library program that has donated millions of books to children worldwide.
A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see,” her family’s official obituary read. “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.”
She is survived by her extended family. She had no children.
