Country music icon Dolly Parton died peacefully in Nashville on Tuesday 25 August 2026 at the age of 80. The seven-decade entertainer was one of the most beloved and generous figures in the history of popular music. Image: Getty Images
Country music icon Dolly Parton died at the age of 80 on Tuesday 25 August 2026 in Nashville. Her nephew Bryan Seaver confirmed the news on behalf of the Parton family in a video statement. Furthermore, he released the statement on her official social media. As a result, the world has lost one of the most beloved and talented entertainers in the history of popular music.
The family described her life as a rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see. They said Dolly would forever stand as an inspiration through her timeless music, prolific songwriting, wit, warmth and kindness. Furthermore, President Donald Trump ordered US flags lowered in her honour on the day of her death. As a result, tributes poured in from musicians, politicians and fans across the world within hours.
Parton had been open about health challenges for the past two years. Her husband Carl Dean died in March 2025 and she admitted she neglected her own health while caring for him. “Back when my husband Carl was very sick — and then when he passed, I didn’t take care of myself. So I let a lot of things go that I should have been taking care of,” she told fans in a video message earlier in 2026. Furthermore, she entered Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on Friday 21 August with kidney and autoimmune issues. Her family had not officially confirmed the cause of death at the time of publication. As a result, her health had been closely watched by fans for months before Tuesday’s news.
Parton grew up in a one-room cabin in the mountains of East Tennessee. She went on to become one of the most recognised entertainers on the planet. She wrote hundreds of songs including Jolene, Coat of Many Colors and I Will Always Love You. Those songs totalled more than 100 million worldwide sales and more than one billion online streams. Her career spanned seven decades. Furthermore, she earned induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2025. As a result, her professional legacy stands among the greatest in music history.
Her humanitarian work matched her musical achievements. When wildfires swept through the Smokies in 2016, Parton held a telethon and set up a foundation sending monthly cheques to affected residents. Her Imagination Library programme donated more than 200 million books to children around the world. Furthermore, she quietly funded early research into the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine without seeking credit. As a result, Parton’s impact on the world extends far beyond her music into the lives of millions she helped without fanfare.
Parton spoke openly about her Christian faith while championing the LGBTQ community. “I keep saying: If you’re the fine Christian that you think you are, why are you judging people. That’s God’s job,” she said in 2017. She turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice before finally accepting it. She also refused a statue in her honour in Nashville, saying she did not deserve a pedestal while still alive. Furthermore, she remained one of the rare public figures who people across politics, race and generations all loved equally. As a result, the world she leaves behind is a better place for the seven decades she spent in it.
Her family will hold a small private service. Further details about any public memorial had not been announced at the time of publication.
Editors Note The cause of Dolly Parton’s death had not been officially confirmed by her family at the time of publication. All information is based on statements by the Parton family and reporting by CNN, NBC News, NPR, Variety and TMZ published on 25 August 2026. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.