Beyond the wigs, there was always Dolly Parton’s wondrous wit and wisdom

Dolly Parton, a renowned American singer, songwriter, and actress, has died at the age of 80. According to her nephew Bryan Seaver, she had lived a full life and was now "in the arms of Jesus". Parton rose from a poor background in rural Tennessee, born on January 19, 1946, into a family of 12 children.

She began her entertainment career as a child, performing on local radio and television, and at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville by the age of 13. Parton went on to write over 3,000 songs, including enduring hits like "Jolene", "I Will Always Love You", and "9 to 5". Her career spanned over six decades, with numerous awards, including 10 Grammys and 13 Academy of Country Music awards.

Parton's legacy extends beyond music, with a successful businesswoman's portfolio that includes her Dollywood theme park, cosmetics, pet apparel, and baking mixes. Her philanthropic efforts also had a significant impact, particularly in her home state of Tennessee. Tributes have poured in for the country music icon, with fans encouraged to leave messages on her website following a small private funeral service.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Sydney Morning Herald, New Straits Times, Daily Post Nigeria, The Age, Vancouver Sun — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.