Dolly Parton, one of the biggest country music stars and an icon of American pop culture, died on Tuesday August 25, 2026 at her home in Nashville. She was 80 years old. The information was provided in a special video by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who served as head of her protection for more than two decades.
The family said Parton left peacefully. Causes of death have not been revealed. In recent years, the artist has struggled with health problems. In 2025 she canceled her performances in Las Vegas, and in May 2026 she had to cancel her performances again. A few days before her death, she talked about problems with the immune and digestive system.
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on 19 January 1946 to a poor family in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. She grew up in a one-room hut in the Dragon Mountains. As a child, she wrote songs and performed locally. In 1964, she moved to Nashville. The breakthrough became cooperation with Porter Wagoner in the second half of the 1960s. In 1974, she wrote "I Will Always Love You", a song that later made Whitney Houston a world hit.
Her biggest hits include "Jolene", "Coat of Many Colors", "9 to 5" and "Here You Come Again". She sold over 100 million records, won 11 Grammy Awards (including for her entire work), was nominated for Oscars and Emmys. She performed in films, ran her own amusement park Dollywood and conducted a wide philanthropic activity, including supporting children's education and combating illiteracy through the Imagination Library. She was also the godmother of Miley Cyrus.
Parton was known for its distinctive appearance, sense of humor and ability to connect people over political divisions. Her husband Carl Dean died in 2025. The couple have been together since the mid-1960s.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that flags throughout the United States would be abandoned for a week as a sign of mourning. The funeral is meant to be private.
