Dolly Parton, Country Music Icon, Dies at 80

What the report says

Dolly Parton, the American singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist whose work shaped country music and popular culture for more than seven decades, has died at 80, according to a statement from her family reported by Nile Post. The article says she died peacefully on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, also announced the news in a video posted on her social media accounts. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Nile Post said Parton’s career began in Tennessee, where she grew up in a large, poor family and later moved to Nashville after high school to pursue music. Her early success came through Porter Wagoner’s television show, before she built a major solo career with songs such as Jolene, 9 to 5, Coat of Many Colors and I Will Always Love You. The report also noted her film and television work, her Dollywood theme park and her many awards, including multiple Grammys and honors from U.S. cultural institutions.

The story also highlighted Parton’s philanthropy, especially the Imagination Library literacy program and donations for education, disaster relief and Covid-19 research. It said she had faced health challenges in recent years, including postponements and a cancelled Las Vegas residency. Her husband, Carl Dean, died in March 2025. More broadly, Parton was widely seen as one of the most influential and best-known figures in American entertainment.