NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) 鈥� , the iconic songwriter, singer and actor, has died. A statement from her publicist says she died peacefully Tuesday at the age of 80 in Nashville, Tennessee. Parton wrote and sang hundreds of songs, including 鈥淐oat of Many Colors鈥� and 鈥淚 Will Always Love You,鈥� that totaled more than 100 million worldwide sales and more than 1 billion online streams. Tributes are pouring in for Parton, who was among the 鈥� the rare celebrity whose appeal transcended generations, geography and politics.
Here’s the Latest:
Stars from TV and film pay tribute to Dolly
Actor Jamie Lee Curtis called her 鈥渁 great example for us all.鈥�
Actor and producer Seth MacFarlane worked with her on 鈥淭he Orville鈥� and said her 鈥渒indness, generosity, and authenticity were evident from moment one.鈥�
Actor Patricia Heaton simply said: 鈥淲hat a gift. What a loss.鈥�
A playlist of Dolly Parton鈥檚 greatest songs, and the stories behind them
Parton was more than a musician, actor, author, philanthropist, or theme-park entrepreneur.
She occupied a space in our global cultural imagination 鈥� a figure of American mythology, someone best described as larger than life 鈥� and then a little bit more. But from the very beginning, at the heart of everything she accomplished, she was a songwriter.
Selecting 11 songs across her many decades of recorded music is a fool鈥檚 errand, but there are some classics that stand above others, from 1968鈥檚 鈥淛ust Because I鈥檓 a Woman鈥� through 2014鈥檚 鈥淏lue Smoke.” Listen to all of the tracks on .
鈻禨ee the full list and the stories behind .
Read AP鈥檚 obituary for Carl Dean, Parton鈥檚 husband of nearly 60 years
Carl Dean, Parton鈥檚 devoted husband of nearly 60 years who avoided the spotlight and inspired her timeless hit 鈥淛olene,鈥� died in March 2025. He was 82.
鈥淐arl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can鈥檛 do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,鈥� Parton wrote after his death.
Parton met Dean outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat the day she moved to Nashville at 18.
鈥淚 was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me),鈥� Parton said. 鈥淗e seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.鈥�
鈻禦ead more from the AP鈥檚
In her last AP interview, Parton reflected on her husband鈥檚 death
Dolly鈥檚 angelic voice floated throughout her first gospel album in 1971 with songs like 鈥淚 Believe,鈥� 鈥淟ord Hold My Hand鈥� and the title track, 鈥淕olden Streets of Glory.鈥�
She told The Associated Press last year that the steadfast faith that inspired those hymns anchored her throughout her grief after the death of her husband, Carl Dean.
鈥淚 am a person of faith, and I truly believe that I鈥檓 going to see him again someday. And I see him every day in my memories and in my heart, and in all the things that we used to do and all the things that we鈥檝e built together,鈥� Parton said in 2025. 鈥淵ou just kind of have to learn to kind of make new plans 鈥� but that鈥檚 the hardest part.鈥�
鈻� Read more from the AP鈥檚 May 2025
Country Music Association CEO remembers Dolly Parton
Sarah Trahern said, 鈥渇ew artists define鈥疌ountry Music better than the one-word,鈥疍olly.鈥�
The CMA executive recalled Parton was always the most professional in every setting, 鈥渙ften鈥痺alking鈥痮ff the bus in heels鈥痑nd鈥痟air鈥痑nd makeup ready to go.鈥�
She says Parton will be remembered for 鈥渢he genuine difference she has made in people鈥檚 lives throughout the world.鈥疶here will鈥痮nly ever be one Dolly.鈥�
Parton earned nine CMA Awards across her career. Her first was awarded to her in 1968. She also received CMA鈥檚 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Dionne Warwick mourns Dolly Parton
Dionne Warwick says her heart is heavy from the news that Dolly Parton has died.
鈥淭he Heavenly Father has made the decision to bring another of his children to him. Dolly a true child of God is in the best hands now,鈥� Warwick said in a statement Tuesday.
鈥淚 will certainly miss her laughter, jokes and her being. Rest well and in total peace my friend.鈥�
Trump pays tribute to Dolly Parton, orders flags lowered
President Donald Trump in a statement on social media called Dolly Parton 鈥渙ne of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond.鈥�
鈥淭his is a true loss for millions of people,鈥� Trump added. 鈥淭here has never been anyone like her, and never will.鈥�
Trump also said that he was ordering the lowering of U.S. flags throughout the country for a week period beginning on Tuesday evening.
Dolly鈥檚 nephew says the superstar opened doors for many other musicians
Bryan Seaver, Parton鈥檚 nephew and head of security, said she opened doors for her family and for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and dreamers from every walk of life.
鈥淏y her example, we believed that anything was possible,鈥� Seaver said in a video posted to X.
The nephew noted, 鈥淪he never saw a door she couldn鈥檛 open, and the doors she opened made and changed history.鈥�
Country star Kacey Musgraves reacts to Parton鈥檚 death
鈥淭he world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden,鈥� the singer posted on X.
鈥淪o glad she鈥檚 with her Carl Dean. No one talk to me today.鈥�
A rare kind of celebrity, Parton had an appeal that transcended generations
Parton wrote hundreds of songs, including classics like 鈥淛olene,鈥� 鈥淐oat of Many Colors鈥� and 鈥淚 Will Always Love You.鈥� All told, her songs totaled more than 100 million worldwide sales and more than 1 billion online streams.
Known for her curvy physique, massive blonde wigs and skin-tight outfits that served her self-deprecating wit, she was among the most beloved personalities in music and beyond. Hers was a unique celebrity appeal that transcended generations, geography and politics.
Parton also was a successful businesswoman whose projects included near her birthplace.
Parton 鈥榮hared her soul in every note she sang鈥�
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young shared a statement about the passing of the superstar, who was inducted into the hall in 1999.
鈥淒olly Parton鈥檚 legacy is not celebrity, but humanity,鈥� Young said, calling her a 鈥渃hampion of equality and literacy.鈥�
鈥淪he was a picture of dignity, even when dressed outrageously. Anyone who seeks to be more like Dolly is on the right track, but they鈥檒l never get to the finish line. She came from poverty to become the most important native of Tennessee. She shared her fortunes for the good of all of us, and shared her soul in every note she sang.鈥�
A beloved music and film star, Parton had a career spanning decades
The beloved American music and film star was known for her vibrant personality and poignant songwriting. Her career spanned decades, with hits like 鈥淛olene鈥� and 鈥淚 Will Always Love You.鈥�
She was born in Tennessee and rose from humble beginnings to become a country music icon. Her ensuing partnership with Porter Wagoner helped launch her career, and she later became a successful actor and businesswoman.
Parton was also a philanthropist, founding her Imagination Library to promote children鈥檚 literacy. Her charm and humor made her a beloved figure across generations and political divides.
Parton was known for her down home charm
For millions of fans, she was simply 鈥淒olly,鈥� a mixture of Southern charm, humor and glamour. But she was also considered a feminist role model for holding the reins of her own career, writing her own songs, owning her content and looking after her finances in an entertainment world dominated by men.
Parton was open to making fun of herself; when she hosted 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� in 1989 she told the writers that her only restrictions were she wouldn鈥檛 curse and she wouldn鈥檛 make fun of Jesus.
She regularly joked about her breasts or her dumb blonde appearance, but with a wink that she was the one controlling the laughs. In the memoir 鈥淢y Life So Far,鈥� Jane Fonda remembered Parton鈥檚 way with a wisecrack, 鈥渦sually high raunch,鈥� and a laugh that was 鈥渟omewhere between a girl鈥檚 giggle, an explosive shriek, and a cascade of little bells.鈥�
Parton鈥檚 life inspired a musical set for Broadway later this year
Producers tell The Associated Press that 鈥渁s was Dolly鈥檚 wish, the Broadway production of 鈥楧olly: A True Original Musical鈥� will begin previews on Dec. 7 at the St. James Theatre in New York City.鈥�
Parton was writing new songs to go along with some of her past hits and co-writing the stage story, teaming up with Maria S. Schlatte on the story.
It won鈥檛 be the first time Parton鈥檚 music will be heard on Broadway.
A stage version of 鈥�9 to 5鈥� landed in 2009 starring Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty and Allison Janney, and the 1993 Christmas special 鈥淐andles, Snow & Mistletoe鈥� contained her song 鈥淲ith Bells On.鈥�
Fans pay tribute from Parton’s Tennessee hometown to Hollywood
In Sevierville, Tennessee, fans laid flowers at the base of a statue of the singer holding a guitar. Parton was born near Sevierville and she spoke proudly of her upbringing there.
In Nashville, fans lined up at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to write notes to the late singer, who is enshrined in hall. Outside the hall of fame, fans left yellow and pink flowers on another plaque dedicated to Parton.
Across the country in California, fans also placed flowers on Parton鈥檚 star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Tuesday afternoon. Someone also left a picture there of Parton with the caption, 鈥淔arewell to a beloved American icon.鈥�
Parton honored for her legacy in boosting literacy
The digital library app Libby wrote on Facebook that Parton inspired generations of young readers through her Imagination Library, which provided free books to millions of kids around the world.
Parton created the program in honor of her father, who never learned to read or write.
鈥淒olly was a beloved artist and cultural icon, but perhaps just as importantly, she was a lifelong champion of literacy and the belief that everyone deserves access to books,鈥� Libby wrote in the post.
Separately, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio and his wife, Fran, said she changed many lives through her efforts. Fran DeWine had worked with Parton to create one of the largest Imagination Library programs in the nation.
鈥淏ecause of Dolly, millions of children around the country and the world are getting free books and learning how to read, which will, in many cases, change the trajectory of their lives,” Fran DeWine said.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon also praised Parton, saying she “helped spark a lifelong love of reading鈥� in generations of youth.
Parton lauded for her inclusivity and philanthropy
Throughout her career, Dolly Parton was embraced by the LGBTQ community. And for good reason: acceptance has long been a theme in her music.
Take, for example, 鈥淔amily鈥� on her 1991 album 鈥淓agle When She Flies.鈥� It鈥檚 a moving song about tolerance in which Parton sings: 鈥淪ome are preachers, some are gay / Some are addicts, drunks and strays / But not a one is turned away / When it鈥檚 family.鈥�
鈥淚 don鈥檛 condemn nor condone anything,鈥� Parton once told The Associated Press regarding the song. 鈥淚 just love and accept people where they are for who they are.鈥�
On Tuesday, GLAAD鈥檚 President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis issued a statement paying tribute to Parton.
鈥淒olly Parton was not only the 鈥楺ueen of Country Music鈥�, but indeed the queen of inclusivity and philanthropy,鈥� Ellie wrote. 鈥淧arton鈥檚 entire career was built on love and respect for all, and her unwavering allyship is a legacy that will last forever.鈥�
Like her music, Dolly’s name is in the air
A weather system brewing in the Atlantic Ocean off Africa could develop enough to become Tropical Storm Dolly sometime over the next few days. That鈥檚 according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Meteorologists at the center said Tuesday that the tropical wave south of the Cabo Verde Islands has about a 70% chance of becoming a tropical depression by Thursday. If it ultimately develops into a tropical storm 鈥� with sustained winds of at least 39 mph 鈥� it would likely be named 鈥楧olly.鈥�
The name isn鈥檛 a tribute to the queen of country, but rather the next name up on the World Meteorological Organization鈥檚 rotating list of potential Atlantic hurricane names. The alphabetized list repeats every six years, and names are only retired if they are used for a particularly deadly or destructive storm.
Known for dispensing folksy down-home wisdom, Parton was often quoted as saying, 鈥淭he way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.鈥�
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