Dolly Parton dead at 80: Tennessee pays tribute to hometown hero

Country music icon Dolly Parton passed away at the age of 80 on Tuesday in Nashville, following a brief illness with cancer, according to her publicist. Born in the mountain community of Pittman Center, Tennessee, she was the youngest of twelve siblings. Despite achieving global fame, Parton remained deeply connected to her roots; upon turning 80 in January, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee declared her birthday as Dolly Parton Day, describing her as "Tennessee's favorite daughter".

Tributes poured in from all corners of the state, including her homes in Brentwood and Nashville, her Music City Walk of Fame star, and the Grand Ole Opry, where she launched her career over half a century ago. Parton, who had moved to Nashville after high school, made a significant impact on the city, including providing books to every childcare center through her Imagination Library.

Her Imagination Library, inspired by her father who couldn't read, donates free books to children from birth to age five, expanding across the U.S. and globally. She also generously supported Tennessee during natural disasters, including setting up the My People Fund in 2016 for families affected by wildfires and donating $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for COVID-19 and pediatric research in 2020 and 2022.

Her final public appearance before her death was a surprise visit to Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop, a gas station and restaurant in Cornersville, about 60 miles from Nashville, in June.