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By Adoa News Team
Country music trailblazer, global pop icon, and celebrated philanthropist Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80.
The passing of the beloved entertainer was announced on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, via a video statement posted to her official Instagram account. The video featured her nephew and longtime head of security, Bryan Seaver, speaking on behalf of the Parton and Owens families.
“Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others,” Seaver shared, adding that Parton had previously requested he make the announcement when the day came. Her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, passed away in 2025.
Born in 1946 in a humble one-room cabin in Sevier County, Tennessee, Parton rose from rural poverty to become one of the most successful crossover artists in entertainment history. Her legendary six-decade career earned her 11 Grammy Awards, 25 Billboard country No. 1 hits, and international fame with enduring classics such as “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You.”
Beyond her artistic achievements, Parton was widely revered for her global humanitarian efforts. Her Imagination Library initiative has gifted over 200 million books to young children worldwide to foster early literacy, and her financial contributions helped fund critical medical advancements, including early research for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Tributes from world leaders, fellow musicians, and millions of fans across the globe continue to flood social media, honoring the extraordinary legacy of an artist who brought joy, generosity, and timeless storytelling to the world. Funeral details and official public memorial plans have yet to be announced by her family.