Country music icon Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, it was announced Tuesday evening. The news was delivered on ITV News by presenter Mary Nightingale, who became visibly emotional, her voice breaking as she shared the sad update.
"Just before we go to the break tonight, some very sad news I'm afraid," Nightingale said. "The country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80."
After a news package detailing Parton's life and career, Nightingale, 63, appeared to well up. "And take a deep breath..." she added, prompting viewers to comment on her visible distress, describing the moment as endearing and a reflection of Parton's impact.
Parton's death was confirmed in an Instagram video by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security. According to TMZ, she was admitted to Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Friday with autoimmune and kidney problems. Loved ones had reportedly begun traveling to Nashville upon hearing of her hospitalization.
Seaver stated that Parton had asked him years ago to make the announcement video, which he described as a "future reality." He hailed his aunt as someone who "lived in the light" and is now "in the arms of Jesus," reunited with her late husband Carl Dean and her parents.
Parton, often referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed a career spanning six decades. She was known for hits such as "Jolene" and "9 to 5." Her passing followed months of public appearances being canceled due to unspecified health issues.
Born in Pittman Center, Tennessee, on January 19, 1946, Parton was the fourth of 12 children. Raised in the Great Smoky Mountains, her family lived without running water, gas, or electricity. She developed an early love for music, singing on local radio and appearing on television as a child before releasing her first single, "Puppy Love," at age 13.
Parton's songwriting often drew from personal experiences. She explained in a 2008 NPR interview that "Jolene" was partly inspired by a bank teller who paid attention to her late husband. "I Will Always Love You," written about her decision to leave her business partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, became a major hit for Whitney Houston in the soundtrack for the 1992 film The Bodyguard.
Parton famously retained the rights to "I Will Always Love You" after refusing an offer from Elvis Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, who demanded half the publishing rights. "Well, I said, because I had a number one song on it, I said: 'This is the most important copyright in my whole publishing company, and I can't do that,'" Parton recalled in a 2023 BBC Radio 2 interview. She expressed that she was heartbroken not to hear Presley perform it.
In an interview published just four days before her death, Parton expressed a desire to continue working, stating she had "so many things I want to achieve" and would "continue working as long as I can to see everything come to life." She mentioned grappling with "some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl."