Country music icon, actress, and philanthropist Dolly Parton has died at 80 years old.
Her death was confirmed in a statement published by her family to Dolly’s official Instagram account on August 25, 2026.
“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,” her family said in a press release.
A small, private memorial service will be held for Dolly’s immediate family. Fans and friends are encouraged to remember her with posts on social media or by leaving a message on her official website.
In lieu of flowers, Dolly’s family encourages fans to make donations to the singer’s Imagination Library, a program that mails free books to children from birth until they begin school in participating areas.
Dolly had been public with her physical health struggles over the last few months. Just three days ago, she spoke with PEOPLE, saying she had been “dealing with some health issues” that she “just didn’t pay attention to” while she was caring for her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean.
“It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told the outlet. “But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago. I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI! Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’.”
And in May, Dolly gave fans a health update in a video on her Instagram account, saying she was “responding really well to meds and treatments” and was “improving every day.”
It’s difficult to overstate Dolly’s impact on the world. She first debuted on The Cas Walker Show in 1956 at just ten years old, going on to be an icon of the 60s and 70s with a sparkling discography that carried on well into the 80s, 90s, and 2000s.
Aside from her prolific music career, Dolly was also an actress, best known for her 1980 comedy 9 to 5 and, of course, her role as Miley Cyrus’ fictional godmother in Disney’s Hannah Montana sitcom.
Parton was a philanthropist through and through; on top of her Imagination Library program, she also ran The Dollywood Foundation, a non-profit organization that offers academic scholarships, community aid, and disaster relief.
Dolly Parton was an icon and an inspirational figure to many, and her life served as a shining example of how we should live and conduct ourselves. May we all be as kind, generous, and gentle as Miss Dolly.
Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
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