Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80 — and the world has lost one of its most talented, generous and genuinely beloved icons.
Dolly Parton passed away on August 25, 2026, following a brief battle with cancer at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones. Her representatives confirmed the news, bringing an end to a remarkable six-decade career that made her one of the most recognisable entertainers on the planet.
But calling Dolly simply a country music legend doesn’t really do her justice.
She was a songwriter, singer, actress, entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, cultural icon and, above all, an absolute queen.
From Jolene and 9 to 5 to I Will Always Love You, Dolly created songs that escaped their genres and became part of global culture. Her songwriting was extraordinary — emotionally direct, instantly memorable and capable of turning heartbreak, ambition and everyday life into something universal.
