By DONNA BALANCIA
Dolly Parton, legendary singer-songwriter, actor and humanitarian, has passed away at the age of 80.
Born in a one-room cabin in Pittman Center, Tennessee, on January 19, 1946, Parton emulates “The American Dream,” many have said, as she rose from poverty to achieve superstar status. She taught herself to play a homemade guitar and started performing on local radio and TV as a child.
Dolly moved to Nashville at 18 years old and so began a remarkable six-decade career. Known for her unique vocals and captivating storytelling through song, Parton wrote timeless anthems including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You,” the latter of which was penned when she split with Porter Wagoner. The song saw a worldwide resurgence as a Whitney Houston release to accompany the film “The Bodyguard” in 1992.
Dolly, who achieved crossover success from country to pop and rock music, also made a mark in front of the camera, starring in feature films “9 to 5” (1980), “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” (1982), “Rhinestone” (1984), “Steel Magnolias” (1989), “Straight Talk” (1992), and “Joyful Noise” (2012).
Her TV productions include “Wild Texas Wind” (1991), “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” (2015), “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love” (2016) and “Christmas on the Square” (2020).
Dolly achieved 25 No. 1 country singles and sold more than 100 million records worldwide, earning numerous Grammy Awards and inductions into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She wrote songs for a range of other artists as well, including Merle Haggard, Bill Pittman and Emmylou Harris. She notably teamed with friend Kenny Rogers on a duet of the Bee Gees song, “Islands In The Stream,” in 1983.
Dolly’s charisma and self-deprecating yet confident sense of humor captured the hearts of fans around the world. Her appearance at Glastonbury in 2014 before a crowd of 180,000, illustrated her worldwide appeal, and the performance is considered an iconic benchmark in festival history.
In addition to music and movies, Parton developed a reputation as a savvy businesswoman and philanthropist. She built an empire that includes Dollywood, her Tennessee theme park, and many connected businesses which continue to grow. The businesses she built in Pigeon Forge, in particular, employ thousands of people.
Through her Imagination Library, millions of free books are delivered to children globally. She also funded medical research and has aided disaster relief.
Among her many honors and awards, including her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, she was honored for her philanthropy by the Los Angeles Press Club in 2018 with the Bill Rosendahl Public Service Award.
Upon accepting the award and following an introduction by her former agent Sam Haskell, Dolly regaled reporters and editors with amusing and heartwarming stories of her life. She also spoke about the books — and the joy — that her Imagination Library has delivered.
Parton, whose passing was announced on Tuesday, Aug. 25, is predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Carl Dean, who died March 3, 2025.
Watch Dolly receive the Bill Rosendahl Public Service Award here: