Country Icon Dolly Parton Passes Away at Age 80

Dolly Parton, the celebrated singer-songwriter and actress, died on August 25 at 80 years old, with her family confirming the news through an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver. Health challenges that surfaced in the fall of 2025 had already led her to cancel a planned six-show Las Vegas residency and withdraw from the Motion Picture Academy’s Governors Awards ceremony. Despite those setbacks, she continued to engage in creative endeavors, including the premiere of “Dolly: An Original Musical” at Belmont University and the debut of a traveling concert series that pairs her songs with local symphonies.

Parton’s career spanned chart-topping country singles, pop collaborations, film roles, and television production, earning her induction into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She also founded Dollywood and the Dollywood Foundation, supporting literacy and health initiatives. Her legacy includes numerous Grammy wins, a National Medal of Arts, and a lasting influence on multiple generations of musicians.