Dolly Parton dies at 80 after seven-decade music career
Why it matters: The country icon sold more than 100 million records and built a children’s literacy charity with broad national reach.
Dolly Parton, the country singer-songwriter whose career stretched across seven decades, died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee, on Aug. 25 at age 80, according to statements from her representatives and a video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver. Parton rose from poverty in East Tennessee to become one of country music’s most recognizable stars, with signature songs including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You.” Her work topped 100 million sales worldwide and drew more than 1 billion online streams. Beyond music, she expanded into acting, business and philanthropy, including the Imagination Library, which sends free books to children.
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