Dolly Parton dies at 80 in Nashville

Dolly Parton, the country music icon whose songs, sparkle and philanthropy made her one of the most beloved entertainers in the United States, has died at 80, drawing tributes from President Donald Trump, fellow musicians and officials across Tennessee and beyond.

Parton died peacefully Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee, her publicist said in a statement. Her nephew Bryan Seaver, who was also her head of security, announced her death in a prerecorded video posted to social media.

“It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness, but sadness lies with us, not with Dolly,” Seaver said. “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.”

In a video posted on Parton’s Instagram account, Seaver said she was “surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens.” He added that Parton “opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians, and dreamers from every walk of life and across every continent.”

Trump said on social media that he would order American flags lowered across the United States for one week in Parton’s honor, beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday. “There has never been anyone like her, and never will,” Trump wrote. “This is a true loss for millions of people. Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you.”

Parton was born Jan. 19, 1946, in Tennessee and rose from humble beginnings in a log cabin to international fame. She was one of 12 children. Her first musical performances were in church, where her grandfather was a preacher, and at 13 she appeared at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, introduced by Johnny Cash as “a little girl here from up in East Tennessee.”

Over a decades-long career, Parton wrote hundreds of songs, including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “Coat of Many Colours.” She became known for towering blonde wigs, glittering outfits and a self-deprecating wit, while earning 55 Grammy nominations and 10 wins. Al Jazeera reported that total made her the third-most nominated woman in Grammy history. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999.

Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, said in a statement that “Dolly Parton’s legacy is not celebrity, but humanity.” He added, “She came from poverty to become the most important native of Tennessee. She shared her fortunes for the good of all of us, and shared her soul in every note she sang.”

Tennessee’s two U.S. senators called her death a major loss for the state. Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty said Tennessee had lost “one of its greatest legends” and called Parton “a true Tennessee treasure.” Sen. Marsha Blackburn wrote, “There are no words to adequately express the sorrow our family and indeed, all Tennesseans, feel in the loss of Dolly Parton.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont highlighted Parton’s work beyond music, calling her “a lifelong philanthropist and advocate for literacy, education, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare and disaster relief.”

Parton founded the Imagination Library in Sevier County, Tennessee, in 1995 to honor her father, who never learned to read. According to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the program gave 1,700 free books to children in its first month. In 2018, Parton visited the Library of Congress to donate the program’s 100 millionth book. The book-gifting effort now operates in all 50 states and has expanded to Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Parton’s Imagination Library had sparked “brighter futures for thousands of children” in his state. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called her death “heartbreaking” and said the Empire State Building would light up in pink Tuesday night in tribute.

Country star Reba McEntire thanked Parton for “all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth,” writing, “There will never ever be another you.” Kacey Musgraves wrote on X, “The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden.”

Parton was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at 82. The two met in 1964 outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat on Parton’s first day in Nashville and married two years later. After Dean’s death, Parton said, “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.”