Country music icon Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. Her family confirmed her passing in a statement on Tuesday.

Parton’s death comes more than a year after her husband, Carl Dean, died in March 2025 at age 82. At the time of his passing, Parton shared a heartfelt statement about their 60-year marriage and indicated she would be taking a brief hiatus from music to cope with the grief.

In the months that followed, Parton experienced various health issues that led to the cancellation of several public appearances. In September 2025, she postponed an appearance at Dollywood due to an infection, though she reassured fans she was recovering. Later that month, she postponed her Las Vegas residency for unspecified procedures, later joking in a social media video that she was "not dead yet." She also missed her 80th birthday celebration at the Grand Ole Opry in January 2026. By May 2026, she had canceled her Las Vegas residency, stating she was responding well to treatment and improving daily.

Born January 19, 1946, in Pittman Center, Tennessee, Parton was one of 11 children. She grew up in poverty, which she often referenced in her music. Influenced by her mother, she began writing songs at age 5 and appeared on local radio shows by age 10. She made her first performance at the Grand Ole Opry at 13, where she met Johnny Cash, who became a mentor.

Parton's early career involved writing and performing, sometimes sleeping in a car while on tour. Her breakthrough came in 1967 with the Billboard country chart hits "Dumb Blonde" and "Something Fishy." She gained significant exposure performing on Porter Wagoner's syndicated show from 1967 to 1974.

Her debut album, "Hello, I'm Dolly," was released in 1967. Over her career, Parton released numerous successful songs, including "Jolene" (1973), "Coat of Many Colors" (1971), "I Will Always Love You" (1974), and the 1983 duet "Island in the Stream" with Kenny Rogers. She earned 11 Grammy Awards, with her first for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Here You Come Again" in 1979.

Beyond music, Parton had a notable acting career. Her debut was in the 1980 film "9 to 5," where she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, tackling themes of workplace inequality. She also starred in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982) and "Steel Magnolias" (1989). In 1984, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 1986, she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and opened her theme park, Dollywood.

Parton was also known as the godmother of pop star Miley Cyrus. She also inspired many artists, including Whitney Houston, Kelly Clarkson, and Beyoncé, who covered her songs.

Parton's philanthropy extended beyond the music industry, most notably through her Imagination Library, which has distributed over 318 million books to children worldwide since 1995. She leaves behind a vast musical legacy and a generation of fans.

Parton was remembered for her wit, often sharing memorable quotes such as, "It costs a lot of money to look this cheap."