Dolly Parton 1946-2026: the woman behind the rhinestones

Dolly Parton, the Tennessee-born singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist who became one of entertainment's most influential figures across six decades, died peacefully in Nashville on 25 August 2026 at the age of 80. Her legacy encompasses more than 100 million records sold, thousands of songs written, major roles in films including 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias, the theme park Dollywood, and the Imagination Library, which by 2025 was distributing over three million books monthly to children worldwide.

**Dolly Parton (1946–2026)** was one of those incredibly rare entertainers who became bigger than the music she created. Singer, songwriter, musician, actress, author, businesswoman and philanthropist, she built an extraordinary career spanning more than six decades while remaining unmistakably Dolly - big hair, rhinestones, towering heels, brilliant humour and an enormous heart.

Born **Dolly Rebecca Parton on 19 January 1946** in rural Tennessee, she was one of 12 children and grew up with very little money but surrounded by family, faith, storytelling and music. She began performing as a child, appeared on local radio and television and moved to Nashville immediately after graduating from high school, determined to become a songwriter and performer.

Her breakthrough came through country music, particularly her partnership with **Porter Wagoner**, but Dolly quickly proved she was never going to remain anyone’s supporting act. Her decision to leave Wagoner’s television show and pursue her own career inspired one of the greatest songs she ever wrote, **'I Will Always Love You'** - a deeply personal farewell that became a country hit for Dolly before **Whitney Houston** transformed it into a global phenomenon almost two decades later.

[Watch on YouTube](https://youtu.be/cR4EQ_dI1BM?si=_8RLw-AIW86z_lSs)

[Watch on YouTube](https://youtu.be/lN_VQ8GWEos?si=U3-y5C6-vvBEryCk)

Then came the songs that made Dolly Parton part of the soundtrack of generations: **'Jolene', 'Coat of Many Colors', 'Here You Come Again', 'Two Doors Down', '9 to 5', 'Islands in the Stream', 'Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That'** and countless others. Behind the glamorous image was an exceptional songwriter who reportedly wrote thousands of songs across her lifetime, drawing heavily upon childhood, family, heartbreak, love, poverty, humour and the people and landscapes of the Smoky Mountains.

Dolly also possessed something few artists manage successfully: the ability to move beyond one genre without losing the audience who first loved her. Country remained her foundation, but she crossed into pop, bluegrass, gospel and eventually rock, constantly proving that she could reinvent herself without ever losing her identity.

Hollywood came calling too. Her starring role alongside **Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the 1980 comedy *****9 to 5*** introduced Dolly to an even wider audience, while the title song became one of her signature recordings. She followed it with films including ***The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone, Steel Magnolias*** and ***Straight Talk***, revealing that the charisma audiences loved on stage translated effortlessly to the screen.

But Dolly Parton was also a remarkably clever businesswoman. In 1986, she became involved with the Tennessee theme park that would become **Dollywood**, transforming it into a major tourism destination while creating employment and economic opportunities in the region where she grew up. Her business empire would eventually extend through entertainment attractions, resorts, publishing, film and television production, merchandise and numerous other ventures.

[Watch on YouTube](https://youtu.be/L0eeSoU35wM?si=0m50OTp-dZCxunet)

[Watch on YouTube](https://youtu.be/IfGQ_pNz428?si=ndh35n8xmbVYCroI)

Perhaps her greatest legacy outside music, however, was the **Imagination Library**. Dolly launched the literacy program in 1995 in her home county in Tennessee, inspired partly by her father, who could not read or write. What began as a local project grew into an international movement providing free books to young children. By its 30th anniversary in 2025, the program was gifting more than **three million books every month**, with hundreds of millions of books having reached children and families around the world.

Her philanthropy extended far beyond literacy. Dolly supported communities affected by natural disasters, education initiatives, healthcare and medical research, including contributing funding towards research associated with the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. She understood the power that came with fame and repeatedly found ways of turning that power into something that could help somebody else.

The accolades were enormous. Dolly was inducted into the **Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999**, followed by the **Songwriters Hall of Fame**, and later the **Rock & Roll Hall of Fame**. She received multiple Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors and countless industry awards and recognitions. She also belonged to the extraordinarily small group of entertainers to have received nominations across the **Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards**.

Yet awards never really explained why people loved Dolly.

There was something wonderfully human beneath all those rhinestones. She could laugh at herself before anyone else had the opportunity, speak openly about where she came from and somehow remain both larger-than-life and completely relatable. The blonde wigs, outrageous outfits and famous one-liners were part of the show, but behind them was an incredibly sharp creative mind that understood songwriting, entertainment, business and people.

[Watch on YouTube](https://youtu.be/CD8bW1rWqOA?si=HqvXIpCzmB8kjQ_K)

[Watch on YouTube](https://youtu.be/pW2TgGy5gjY?si=d84nzOF-a75NhYFP)

[Watch on YouTube](https://youtu.be/VJBz1U6Y-pg?si=NeZ8JKrRKMqJGXx0)

Her personal life was famously more private. Doll