The Announcement from her family:
“Dolly Rebecca Parton (January 19, 1946 – August 25, 2026) Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old.
Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942 – 2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923 – 2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921 – 2000).”
“A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.
At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com.”
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[SOURCE]
We know of her talent from how she excelled with her work in the entertainment industry. It brought her fame, and with it financial wealth. What she did with that wealth, through her generous philanthropic activities, gave us insight as to her true character.
“By their deeds you will know them…….”
-Matthew 7:16
Just realizing that we area slowly losing a very important generation with these stars like Dolly dying out.
Grand Ole Opry people Dolly and others were/are known more for their giving and there code of good Christian type ethics.
The Grand Ole Opry peoples seem to have managed to survive with their ethics even though Hollywood and other Music genres seemed to go in another almost Evil anti America direction.
When I think of people like Dolly, Hank, Minnie Pearl Judds and other Country type names of the Grand Ole Opry Generation I see good moralistic patriotic values though most of their music
Oh some of them did crazy things, but did try to show why their crazy past was not the road to travel once they straighten out.
A beautiful lady with a beautiful voice, soul, and heart to match! I remember as a boy listening to Porter Waggoner at his roadshow in the DFW metroplex. His female singer was Norma Jean and soon thereafter she was replaced by Dolly. I grew up with her, and she’ll be sorely missed. Rest in peace Dolly. May God bless you and your family.
Me too. Loved her since I saw her on Porter’s show 💔
I met dolly by accident when she was touring with porter wagoner in the 60s. She was a real person, not fake, not overbearing. i was about 17.
Dolly I thank you for all the joy you added to our lives. See you in Glory!
i think she missed Carl dearly. They will be together again, all is good!
It always surprised me a little that, “publicly, you rarely saw Carl.” But it was always obvious that this quiet and utterly faithful marriage was an anchor to her.
I sorta knew, when he passed, “she’s not going to be long behind him.” About a year of separation, but now never again. It is fitting …
“publicly, you rarely saw Carl.” But it was always obvious that this quiet and utterly faithful marriage was an anchor to her.
All have been blessed by her presence. Publicly, we had her for a little while. Privately, they have each other for eternity. May they both rest in peace.
Mike Robinson,
Carl would buy a ticket when he attended her shows. In all the years of my employment with her, I never met Mr. Carl Dean. I heard he was legend, though.
Fun fact : Carl Dean’s favorite band? Led Zepplin
They had a very intriguing relationship. Dolly was the most-public person in the world, while Carl remained by her side yet out of sight. Any attempt to suggest any improprieties in that relationship fell flat on their face: it simply couldn’t be considered by the fan-rag pushers. They would be wasting their time. He was who he was, and he stayed that way. Dolly anchored herself on it.
Dolly was so special that I can’t even share this with event with some people. They will have to find out from someone else. Who could ever forget her? She was special in all the ways that really counts. The music and the looks were just a vehicle for her to show a better way. Loved the music and the looks but she was so much more.
As a recipient of Dollys generosity after Hurricane Helene, I can attest to what a special heart she had.
It’s hard to say goodbye….
Yes, she loved her people and the area she was from.
And I, my family, and my town from the 2016 gatlinburg wildfires.
I will so miss her. She was a hard working woman and blessed so many. ❤️
Fly to Jesus, Dolly. What an amazing heart she had.
There Was Jesus
I am probably the only person on this site who, despite knowing a fair amount of her music and performing a couple, had never heard this.
Thank you. Goosebumps.
DOLLY PARTONS LIFE WAS WHAT LEGENDS ARE MADE FROM. THE LOSS OF DOLLY IS A STAGGERING BLOW TO THE WHOLE WORLD THIS IS WHO SHE WAS.GOD BLESS YOU DOLLY YOUR WORK HERE ON EARTH IS DONE.
Loved Dolly,,..beautiful person inside and out….but was hugely disappointed with her Jolene “vax” song. RIP
The audience at Glastonbury was the biggest crowd I have ever seen in my life (and I was at Woodstock ’99)!
She outsold both Metallica and the Rolling Stones!
She had her pick of time slots, and chose 5pm, so that our tour busses (and crew) would not be stuck in traffic.
Always thinking of others.
What a treasure…
If you watch until the end, you might catch a glimpse of “Skippy-do” as well!
May God Rest your Soul, Miss Dolly
You were one of a kind.
Much Love and Respect,
skippy-do
Glastonbury 2014 – Dolly Parton Interview
@3:40 Johnny Carson says “Sit down and take a load off your feet” and her adorable laugh is priceless.
Straight-faced as always, he knew what he was doin’!
You could do that kind of joke in 1977 on the Tonight Show. Adult humor but still clean.
I miss Johnny too
I was living in Oahu and was hired to do some work on a Nice!!! house in Portlock (Hawaii Kai). Dolly asked me to do some work on on some sliding doors. By the time she came with some ice tea I was finished (light adjustment). She mentioned that she had been fighting that door forever. She asked me for the bill…N/C? I told her I was going surfing out front (China Wall) and asked if I could park in the driveway? When I returned there was a note on my windshield…Dinner at the Plantation (she owned it)…Dolly
Tremendous one hour tribute to Dolly on tonight’s early evening edition of War Room. Very moving and extremely well done considering such a short time to put together a show of this quality. There was not a dry eye in our house during the entire presentation. You can catch it on Rumble by bringing up Bannon’s War Room.
Oh gosh, I’m going to be blubbering all day. It’s not like I thought Dolly would live forever, none of us do. It’s just that she represented all that’s good in the Appalachian mountains of Tennessee and Nashville. You’d be hard pressed to find another talent like her and one that firmly decided long ago not to use her fame for “activism”. She was a very good business woman, but kind and generous, a sharp mind, always focused on giving to the community.
Rest in Eternal Peace Dolly.
Heaven gained an angel today, but we had her all this time. Thank you Almighty Father for the gift of Dolly. May you rest in abiding peace Dolly.
For a laugh go see the statue of Dolly in her home town. It was from before the chest was added. I never could understand why she did that. She was beautiful before.
Bob,
She called them “Thelma and Louise” !!
Dolly had been sick for awhile, and I read that her brother, two years older than her, passed away about a month ago. I think it’s hard to hang on when your loved ones are disappearing over the horizon one by one like that. God rest her.
R.I.P.
You were always a pleasure to listen to and watch.
Dolly you will be missed. 😥 If teardrops were pennies and heartaches were gold…..it’s like a Hard Candy Christmas.I’m barley gettin thru tomorrow..but still I won’t let sorrow bring me way down.
One of my favorite of hers…
Never heard this one.
Thanks for posting.
Blessings dear Dolly and thank you.
https://www.commentary.org/articles/rob-long/the-beauty-parton/
Dolly Parton’s singing “I Will Always Love You” to Porter Wagoner is one of those moments you hear about and think, This is going to be an Oscar-winning movie scene someday. But what came after the song wasn’t so nice. Porter Wagoner sued Dolly Parton for $1 million and trash-talked her for years. And then, a few years later, when she was a superstar and he had fallen on hard times, she bought his music-publishing company from his creditors and gave it back to him.
Weren’t you furious with him? the podcast producers want to know. He sued you. He took your money. Some have said he abused you. Again Dolly demurs. See it from his side, she says. Wagoner made her a star. He took a chance on her, introduced her to an enormous audience, stood by her. She was grateful to him. And she forgave him. She helped him financially and reconciled with him and was there at his deathbed to remind him that the words she sang to him years before were still true.
You forgave him? they ask, as if the word is strange and foreign and written in a different alphabet. Forgiveness, she says. “That’s all there is.”
Dolly was Hamiltonian before Hamiltonian was cool.
Applying her creativity to undeveloped property in one of the poorer counties in Tennessee, she envisioned and built Dollywood, which generates an estimated $1.8 billion in annual economic impact and serves as the largest employer in Sevier County, Tennessee. The theme park employs more than 4,000 workers during peak seasons and is credited with supporting over 23,000 regional jobs.
The park draws roughly 3 million visitors each year, making it the most visited ticketed attraction in Tennessee. Despite ranking around 20th in population across Tennessee counties, Sevier County generates the third-highest amount of state tax revenue, largely driven by this tourism engine. Ongoing multi-million and half-billion dollar investments by the park into local infrastructure, new roads, and resort expansions continue to stimulate adjacent commercial and hotel development in Pigeon Forge.
She used her glitz & glamour, talent and personality, and her resulting fame, to improve life for people. She didn’t mount a soapbox for things in far away countries. She took care of home, improving life for the people whose challenges she knew and understood.
Dolly and Porter Wagoner were a regular weekly event that Ma’s Dad, Joe introduced me and my siblings to. Dolly came later to the show after a few years but WOW!!!!
What memories of listening to that and the Grand Ole Opry. My Dad was half Greek and half Italian, Mom was 100% Irish. Their parents and grandparents assimilated, grateful after the Argentinian and Greek Genocide and Potato Famine.
God Bless America. And rest peacefully Dolly. I remember the first time I heard” I Will Aways Love You’ and “Jolene” in the late sixties. Nothing gets better than that for keeping it real.
Armenian.
I am horrified by my auto correct. That sucks.
😢
Icon, great example for how to develop one’s skills and abilities to help others. Role model, Extraordinairre!
Let Her Fly
I’m not good at indicating that it’s a link. Huge fan, my daughter is a sourdough baker, her starter is named Doughlene. Haven’t cried since Charlie.
Dolly Parton – Puppy Love (Billy Version) (Official Audio)
Dolly Parton recorded her first single in Lake Charles 67 years ago
Remembering the country music and philanthropy icon after her death at age 80
https://www.kplctv.com/2026/08/25/dolly-parton-recorded-her-first-single-lake-charles-67-years-ago/
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – The world is mourning singer-songwriter, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton after her family announced her death today.
Parton achieved worldwide stardom during her 60 years in the spotlight, but before the fame, her music career can be traced back to Lake Charles.
Parton recorded her first single, “Puppy Love,” at Goldband Studio on Church Street in 1959, when she was just 13. Goldband Records was one of the largest Cajun music labels but also produced other types of music, including gospel, blues and rockabilly.
Goldband was a staple of the Southwest Louisiana music scene for decades. When founder Eddie Shuler died in 2005, it was the longest established independent record label in America.
Boozoo Chavis, Phil Phillips, Sidney Brown, Rockin’ Sidney, JoEl Sonnier and Freddy Fender also recorded at the studio, which was demolished in 2017 after falling into disrepair.
How Dolly Parton became part of a Louisiana town while filming ‘Steel Magnolias’
Dolly Parton’s “Steel Magnolias” role created a lasting bond with Natchitoches, where she trained with local beauticians and returned for the 1989 premiere.
When Dolly Parton took over Mardi Gras and celebrated New Orleans on national TV
Decades before her death at 80, Dolly Parton celebrated New Orleans during Mardi Gras and brought some of Louisiana’s biggest music legends to national television.
This recording studio is not Parton’s only connection to the Bayou State. She performed in Louisiana many times, returning to Lake Charles for a show at the civic center on June 11, 1978.
Ten years later, Parton joined the Krewe of Endymion as a celebrity guest for Mardi Gras in 1988. She also played Truvy Jones in the film adaptation of “Steel Magnolias,” a story rooted in a real Louisiana family.
The Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library program has provided over 37,000 free books to Louisiana children since its founding in 1995, with a statewide expansion of the program in 2023.
Note: Posted also on Open Thread
I didn’t put my flag at half staff for Carter or Grahmnasty but I have for Dolly. Great lady that has helped so many people. We lost one of our best.
It’s estimated that, over the course of her life, Dolly gave over $600 million to individuals, groups and organizations that were in need.
I don’t know of anyone of her stature who more completely obeyed Jesus’ command to love others as yourself.
I’ve heard: “even more than that.”
And that is just the ones that were public. No one but Dolly and Jesus will ever know how much she truly donated.
and first of all, before giving,
Dolly learned about appreciation of little things
and
Dolly placed forth the effort
to earn the funds
(which is a musical / spiritual gift to us for a long, long time).
You do not know love
until you give it away…
She gave…
imho
Dolly on vacay in Ireland sings impromptu at an Irish pub.
Dolly was a down to earth person and a genius.
The world lost a fine human being… we need all of those we can get…
What a lovely tribute by her nephew. The songbird sings in another realm. Long live the songbird.
Dolly exuded happiness and kindness every waking moment of her life.
She was unfailingly pleasant and thoughtful, living out that southern
hospitality and endless charm. She will be long remembered and sorely
missed.
Dolly’s signature turned out to be:
Humbly Yours,
Dolly
As many have pointed out, one outstanding character trait that never changed or wavered with Dolly was her humility.
And consider, Dolly Parton’s level of Fame and Popularity and Appreciation of her music was right up there with Elvis. How many others are there at this level of Fame?
Elvis, Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe?
Feisty Hayseed,
In a conversation with her, I described her as the “female Elvis” (the young Elvis, of course)….
I was relieved that she was sincerely complimented by that comparison!
The word “iconic” comes to mind.
Rest in peace sweet Dolly💕
Anyone who has watched the new documentary “Fiddlin'” on Prime will understand what her influence really is and will remain in all the aspiring young people who are taking up old dance mountain music, bluegrass and more. It is an incredible look at the influence that will carry on for generations. It is real American music, from which all of our current music came from! Check it out!!!
sunnydaze,
Unfortunately, Robert Plant was out of town, when she sold out TWO nights in a row, at O2 in London.
A technician who knew both of them, tried to coordinate a duet, but alas, it was not to be.
It would have been EPIC!!
She will be missed.
😭 Love you, Dolly. Rest now in G-d’s loving arms. Carl’s waiting for you at the Gate.
Dolly “When Jesus Comes Callin’ for Me”
Heavy. Rest in Pease Dolly. Genuine person.
One of the most underrated song writers of all time. Amazing talent and one of the most authentic people around. A class act who stayed humble. RIP.
The purity of her goodness was and will always remain equally admirable and inspiring. May she Rest In Peace in our Savior’s heavenly kingdom. 🙏✝️❤️
Dolly had a history of past health issues.
But, I always wonder about covid vax connections. I can’t help those suspicions.
+++
Dolly Parton’s health battles through the years
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/dolly-parton-health-battles-years-195204013.html
composed over 3,000 songs.
three thousands songs.
I can’t put two verses together…
I will always love you…made popular in a very big way sung by Whitney houston (eff you Bobby Brown)..remains a top pop and deeply emotional transit for so many.. written by Dolly
She had 44 career top-10 country albums, a record for any artist, and 110 career-charted singles over 40 years. Her 49th and final solo studio album, Rockstar (2023), became her highest-charting Billboard 200 album, peaking at number three.
I’ll always remember Dolly as a classy woman, who did not stoop to gross behavior and potty language.
That is something seems to be in rare fashion these days.
tomorrow, the hangar is gonna be Dolly Parton non stop all day. And I’m sure everyone will appreciate the salute.
God Bless America
Dolly (also Susan Anton) with Ted Nugent from Mike Douglas Show 1980. Poor video quality but fun to watch.
Just the music segment. Dolly touches Ted’s beard at the end!
Ted interview with Dolly commentary. You can tell She liked Ted! Also includes the music segment.
Sad, but not surprising. Type in Dolly Parton, clot shot. The woman actually made a video advising others to take the shot. There are certainly more never made public because they are simple folk. People are dying constantly due to side effects.
They showed a video of it last night on TV. Backstory, a Vanderbilt doctor helped her in a health situation and she donated a million dollars to the university to help aid the covid shot.
Dolly got a new job when she got to heaven. She is the new choir director to the Angels! RIP Dolly, We. Will always love you too!
Thank you everyone for a good cry this morning after reading your posts and seeing the videos. My brother Paul lives in Sevierville and thinks the world of Dolly.
Hard Candy Christmas got the tears flowing. She is irreplaceable and a gift from God.
Praying.
I was an airline pilot in the 80s, often flying into Knoxville and throughout the Southeast, and had the incredible good luck to have Dolly on my plane several times. She was absolutely wonderful in every respect, unlike the vast majority of “celebrities” who think that they are above and beyond ordinary people. Dolly was gracious, open, and full of life, and she loved to share that with everyone. The world is a dimmer place without her light!