Dolly Parton (Dolly Rebecca Parton, 19 January 1946 to 25 August 2026) was an American singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist who became one of the best-known figures in country music. She wrote more than 3,000 songs, including "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You", and she sold more than 100 million records. She built the Dollywood theme park and launched the Imagination Library, which gives free books to children. She died in Nashville on 25 August 2026, at the age of 80. This biography follows her life and career.
Dolly Parton at a Glance
| Full name | Dolly Rebecca Parton |
| Born | 19 January 1946, Pittman Center, Tennessee, United States |
| Died | 25 August 2026, Nashville, Tennessee (aged 80) |
| Profession | Singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist |
| Songs written | More than 3,000 |
| Record sales | More than 100 million units worldwide |
| Grammy Awards | Eleven |
| Halls of Fame | Country Music Hall of Fame (1999); Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2022) |
| Spouse | Carl Dean (married 1966; he died in March 2025) |
Early Life in Tennessee
Parton was born in the mountain community of Pittman Center, Tennessee, into a family with little money. She was the fourth of twelve children of Avie Lee and Robert Lee Parton. Her music career began when she was still a child, and she wore the big blonde hair and bright clothes that became her trademark style while she was still in her teens.
Breakthrough with Porter Wagoner
In 1967 Porter Wagoner invited her to join The Porter Wagoner Show. She wrote and recorded "Coat of Many Colors", which was added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2011. "Jolene" topped the country chart in February 1974, and "I Will Always Love You" reached number one on the country chart in 1974. The second of those songs topped the charts three times, most famously in Whitney Houston's 1992 version, which is the best-selling song by a female artist.
Film, Business and Philanthropy
Parton made her film debut in 9 to 5 (1980), and she wrote and performed its theme song, which reached number one on the country, pop and adult contemporary charts in February 1981, won a Grammy and was nominated for an Academy Award. She also appeared in Steel Magnolias (1989). She built the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee and her business interests became the main source of her wealth.
She started the Imagination Library in 1995, and its official website says that it has given nearly 308 million free books to children in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and Australia. After wildfires hit the Great Smoky Mountains in 2016, she created a fund that gave $1,000 a month for six months to about 900 families. In 2020 she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help fund research on a COVID-19 vaccine.
Late Career and Honours
Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 5 November 2022, and she received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2006. Her rock album Rockstar was released on 17 November 2023 and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. In 2025 she received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Personal Life and Death
Parton married Carl Dean in 1966, and they were together for nearly 60 years until he died in March 2025. In September 2025 she said that she had health challenges that needed a few procedures. She died on 25 August 2026 at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville after what her publicist called a brief battle with cancer, and a small private service was held for her immediate family.
Legacy
Parton is remembered for songs that moved between country and pop, for a public image of humour and generosity, and for the way she kept ownership of her songs. She was one of only 17 people inducted into both the Country Music and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame.
