JUST IN: Country music icon Dolly Parton dies at 80

Country music legend Dolly Parton has passed away at the age of 80, as confirmed by her family and news outlets. Her nephew Bryan Seaver announced her death on Instagram, expressing deep emotion over the loss. Born in Tennessee in 1946, Parton rose from modest beginnings to become one of country music's most renowned singer-songwriters.

She achieved global record sales, earning the title "Queen of Country" with hits like "Jolene," "9 to 5," and "I Will Always Love You." Parton penned over 3,000 songs, winning 11 Grammy Awards. Besides her music career, she acted in films including "9 to 5," "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," "Steel Magnolias," and "Joyful Noise."

Parton's entrepreneurial ventures included Dollywood, a Tennessee theme park, and her philanthropic efforts, notably the Imagination Library promoting literacy, earned her the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2022. Her health issues led to recent public appearances withdrawal, with her death coinciding with that of her long-time husband, Carl Dean, in March 2025.