Legendary country queen Dolly Parton dies at 80

The legendary singer, songwriter and actress Dolly Parton He died this Tuesday, August 25, at the age of 80.

The cause of death was not revealed by the family, who simply said that “passed away peacefully today in Nashville”.

The announcement was made through his official Instagram account, through a video by his nephew Bryan Seaver on behalf of the Parton family.

According to the official family note:

“A life full of brilliance that shined bright enough for the entire world to see; Dolly will always be a source of inspiration, not only for her timeless music and prolific work as a songwriter, but also for her wit, warmth and kindness, qualities that made us all feel like part of her family. Dolly Parton's legacy is one of love, compassion and resilience. Over the course of a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and her steadfast commitment to making the world a better place. better place. His songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and his philanthropy will leave a lasting mark.”

Health concerns made headlines in mid-August, when Parton explained that she would not be able to attend a scheduled event at Dollywood due to dehydration and dizziness. In 2025, her health played a key role in the suspension of a six-concert residency scheduled for December of that year at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, which would mark Parton's return to the stage. Due to the same reason, in September of the same year he declined to attend the Governors Awards at the Hollywood Academy, held in November, where he would be awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

Parton had a dazzling fame as a country music star, matched by her pop success and notable parallel careers in film and television. With her striking wigs, her exuberant figure and an unmatched soprano voice rich in vibrato, the vivacious Parton continued a successful initial stage – marked by her collaboration with the singer Porter Wagoner – with a long series of solo hits.

One of his best known songs is “I Will Always Love You“, a ballad she composed after breaking her professional relationship with Wagoner in 1974. The song reached number one on the country music charts in two different versions performed by Parton, in 1974 and 1982. It is worth noting that Parton retained the rights to the song and rejected an offer to have it recorded by Elvis Presley, who often demanded the publishing rights to the songs she performed. That decision would earn her millions when Whitney Houston recorded the song in 1992; Houston's version—included on the film's soundtrack The Bodyguard— spent a record 14 weeks at the top of the US pop music charts and sold 4 million copies. It was the title track of the film's soundtrack album, which sold 45 million copies worldwide.

Parton's most public moment in recent years was her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. Initially, when her name appeared on the list of candidates that year, she rejected the honor on the grounds that she was not a true rocker, but ended up giving in at the enthusiastic insistence of her fans. Later in 2023, Parton released what turned out to be her final album, Rockstar; In it he performed duets with big stars and finally assumed the rock identity that he had previously resisted.

She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999, and was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001. She received the National Medal of Arts in 2005 and was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 2006.

In the late '70s, Parton moved her talents to television, headlining three variety shows over the course of her career, and to film. His most notable interpretive works took place in the early 80s; He began his film career alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, in the successful comedy 9 to 5 (1980) by Colin Higgins, centered on three employees of a sexist, selfish, lying and hypocritical fanatic, who find a way to give him his own medicine, earning Parton a nomination for best comedy actress at the Golden Globes, in addition to the musical hit of the same name. He was also part of recognized and classic film projects such as The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone, Straight Talk, Steel Magnolias.

As a producer, Parton backed the hit television series Buffy the Vampire Slayerand the hit comedy franchise starring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, Father of the Bride.

Parton's larger-than-life personality and rags-to-riches journey were celebrated in her own theme park, Dollywoodlocated in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Parton was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Dean, whose death at age 82 was announced in March 2025.

Rest in peace the legend, Dolly Parton.