Dolly Parton, the country music singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist whose career stretched across more than six decades, died Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the age of 80.
Parton’s death was announced by her family and confirmed by major news organizations, including Reuters and the Associated Press. She died in Nashville, Tennessee. Her family has not publicly disclosed an official cause of death.
The news comes after a difficult period in Parton’s life in which she dealt with both significant health problems and the death of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean.
Parton had spoken openly in recent months about her health, although she repeatedly reassured fans that her doctors considered her medical problems treatable.
In May, she canceled a planned Las Vegas residency after acknowledging that she was not healthy enough to perform. She said her immune and digestive systems had become “out of balance” and that she was responding to medication and treatment. Some of the medication left her dizzy, something she jokingly described as feeling “swimmy-headed.”
Kidney stones had also caused problems. Parton had previously undergone treatment after experiencing kidney stones and an infection, and her health concerns had already forced her to postpone performances before the Las Vegas dates were ultimately canceled.
Her health again became a subject of concern this month.
Parton missed the August 14 opening of Dollywood’s new NightFlight Expedition attraction after her doctor advised her not to travel. She explained that she had been experiencing dizziness and dehydration but told fans she was feeling better and continued working from Nashville.
Only days before her death, Parton discussed her health in an interview while talking about several projects she was still developing. She said some of her medical difficulties had been neglected while she cared for Dean during his illness. Even with her health problems, she continued working on a Nashville museum and hotel, new products and her autobiographical Broadway musical.
There have been reports that Parton was hospitalized shortly before her death. TMZ reported Tuesday that she had been admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with kidney and autoimmune-related issues. However, those reports should not be treated as confirmation of what caused her death. Her family and representatives had not announced a cause of death as of Tuesday afternoon.
A Difficult Year After Carl Dean’s Death
Parton’s health problems came during an emotionally difficult period following the death of her husband, Carl Dean, in March 2025 at age 82.
Parton and Dean met outside a Nashville laundromat shortly after she arrived in the city in 1964. They married in 1966 and remained together for nearly six decades.
Dean famously avoided the spotlight despite his wife’s extraordinary fame. Parton later described his death as a major adjustment in her life and spoke about the difficulty of experiencing holidays, anniversaries and other milestones without him.
She released the song “If You Hadn’t Been There” as a tribute to him and said that working and creating music helped her through her grief.
Parton also acknowledged that while caring for her husband, she had sometimes paid less attention to her own health. She later began receiving treatment for several medical problems while trying to regain her strength.
From Tennessee Poverty to Worldwide Fame
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born January 19, 1946, in Tennessee and grew up as one of 12 children in a poor family in the Smoky Mountains.
Music provided her path out.
She began performing as a child and eventually moved to Nashville, where she built a career first as a songwriter and then as a performer. Her breakthrough included her appearances with Porter Wagoner before she became one of country music’s biggest solo stars.
Parton wrote thousands of songs during her career, including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You.” The latter became another worldwide hit when Whitney Houston recorded it for the 1992 film The Bodyguard.
Parton successfully moved beyond country music into pop music, television and film. Her movies included 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias, while her distinctive appearance, humor and personality made her one of the most recognizable entertainers in America.
She was also an unusually successful businesswoman.
Parton became closely associated with Dollywood, the Tennessee theme park that helped transform tourism in the Smoky Mountains, and she carefully retained control over much of her songwriting and publishing business.
A Legacy Beyond Music
Perhaps one of Parton’s most enduring accomplishments came outside entertainment.
She founded the Imagination Library in 1995 to provide free books to young children. The program eventually expanded far beyond Tennessee and distributed hundreds of millions of books to children around the world.
Parton also donated $1 million toward research that helped support development of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine and contributed extensively to disaster relief, education and other charitable programs.
Despite the medical difficulties that increasingly limited her public appearances, Parton remained remarkably active during her final months.
She was still developing a Broadway musical about her life, working on a Nashville hotel and museum, and planning additional business ventures. Just days before her death, she was talking publicly about projects she hoped to complete.
Her death therefore came not after a formal retirement, but while she was still creating and planning.
For now, the exact medical circumstances surrounding Dolly Parton’s death remain unknown. Her recent health difficulties are well documented, but they should not be described as her cause of death unless her family, representatives or medical authorities provide that information.
What is certain is that Parton’s influence reached far beyond country music. From a two-room Tennessee cabin to international fame, she built a career encompassing songwriting, recording, movies, television, business and philanthropy while maintaining an unusually strong connection with generations of fans.
Dolly Parton was 80.