Dolly Parton, Beloved Country Music Legend, Dead At 80

Dolly Parton, one of the most celebrated entertainers in music history, died peacefully in Nashville on Tuesday at 80 after a brief battle with cancer.

A spokesperson did not provide more details, but Parton was reportedly admitted into a hospital on Friday for kidney and autoimmune issues.

Born January 14, 1946, in a one-room Tennessee cabin as the fourth of twelve children, Parton rose from poverty to score 26 number-one hits.

She sold over 100 million records and wrote thousands of songs in her career, including timeless classics like “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You.”

Parton earned a total of 11 Grammys and remained active until the end, developing a Nashville hotel, museum, truck stop, and a new coffee line called Cup Of Ambition. Beyond music, she founded the Imagination Library book program and donated millions to a variety of charitable causes.

Tributes poured in from across the entertainment world.

Reba McEntire wrote on Facebook, “There will never ever be another you,” while Carole King called Parton “an exemplary human being,” and Kacey Musgraves wrote, “The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden.” Paul McCartney called Parton a “magnificent star,” while Oprah said she “brought the light” and Elton John dubbed her a “giant of an artist” who was “irreplaceable.”

Taylor Swift said “she was true grace and true grit, all in one dazzling person” and Mick Jagger called her a “wonderful songwriter and singer” who “brought so many people together.”

Categorised in: Country Music News

This post was written by Cheryl Johnstone