Dolly Parton, one of the music prolific and revered country singers of all time, has died aged 80.
The singer’s nephew Brian Seaver announced the news on behalf of the Parton and Owens family, revealing that Dolly had asked him years ago to be the one that made the announcement when the time came.
Born Dolly Rebecca Parton, the country music legend’s career spanned over six decades, becomes one of the genre’s most celebrated figures, soaring far beyond her humble roots in Nashville.
Perhaps one of the most renowned highlights of her career, Whitney Houston’s 1992 cover of Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” morphed the song into a groundbreaking musical phenomenon, becoming a chart fixture with 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and a vocal blueprint for singers and fans alike.
Tributes are pouring in from millions of fans, public figures, and fellow artists mourning the loss of a true cultural treasure.
Beyond music, Parton’s commitment philanthropy was just as legendary. Through her Imagination Library, she championed childhood literacy globally, mailing millions of free books to children from birth until school age. She also continually poured resources back into her native East Tennessee through job creation, disaster relief funds, and educational programs.