Dolly Parton, Country Music Icon and Philanthropist, Dies at 80
Dolly Parton, the beloved country music icon and philanthropist, passed away at 80 in Nashville, though the cause of her death remains undisclosed. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, shared the news on social media. Born on January 19, 1946, in the Great Smoky Mountains, Parton rose to fame with her first single, "Dumb Blonde," in 1967. She achieved Hollywood success with the 1980 film "9 to 5" and won a Golden Globe for "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" in 1982. An inductee of the Country Music Hall of Fame since 1999, she founded the Imagination Library and was married to Carl Thomas Dean for nearly six decades. She leaves behind six siblings.
Key facts
- Dolly Parton died at age 80 in Nashville.
- Cause of death not yet made public.
- Nephew Bryan Seaver announced her death in a video on her social media.
- Born January 19, 1946, in the Great Smoky Mountains.
- First country single "Dumb Blonde" reached number 24 in 1967.
- Signed with RCA Victor in late 1960s, collaborated with Porter Wagoner.
- Hollywood breakthrough in 1980 film "9 to 5".
- Won Golden Globe for "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982).
- Inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999.
- Founded Imagination Library in 1995.
- Donated $1 million to COVID-19 vaccine research in 2020.
- Married to Carl Thomas Dean for almost 60 years.
- Survived by six siblings.
Entities
Artists
- Dolly Parton
- Porter Wagoner
- Jane Fonda
- Lily Tomlin
- Sally Field
- Shirley MacLaine
- Olympia Dukakis
- Daryl Hannah
- Julia Roberts
- Emmylou Harris
- Linda Ronstadt
- Cat Stevens
- Whitney Houston
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Bryan Seaver
- Carl Thomas Dean
Institutions
- RCA Victor
- Columbia Records
- Country Music Hall of Fame
- Dollywood Foundation
- Imagination Library
- My People Fund
- Entertainment Tonight
Locations
- Nashville
- Tennessee
- Great Smoky Mountains
- East Tennessee
- Pigeon Forge
- Sevier
- Broadway
- New York City