Who Was Dolly Parton? 5 Things to Remember About the Country Legend
The hitmaker behind songs “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “9 to 5” passed away at 80 years old.
by Kyla Villena
Published on Aug 27, 2026
On August 25 in Nashville, Tennessee, Dolly Parton peacefully passed away.
Bryan Seaver, her nephew and head of security, announced the news in a video—a task Dolly had asked him to do years ago. Remembering the music icon and her legacy, he said, “Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians, and dreamers from every walk of life and across every continent. By her example, we believed that anything was possible.”
“Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because, after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.”
People around the world are mourning the loss of the legendary musician, who championed country music globally, spread love, light, and positivity, and devoted much of her life to philanthropy. In her memory, we look back at who Dolly Parton was beyond her music.
Who Was Dolly Parton?
She was 80 years old.
Dolly was born to Robert Lee Parton Sr. and Avie Lee Owens on January 19, 1946, in Pittman Center, Tennessee. She was the fourth of 12 children. At 5 years old, she wrote her first song and professionally recorded her first single when she was just 11. She went on to become “the Queen of Country,” with a career spanning more than six decades.
She fought a brief battle with cancer.
In a statement to CBS, Dolly’s team revealed that she departed this earthly life at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center after bravely facing the illness. While the type of cancer was not disclosed, it was confirmed that she was surrounded by her loved ones. In the months leading up to the somber day, Dolly had been pulling out of several public appearances due to “health challenges.”
She advocated for literacy and founded the Imagination Library.
Robert, Dolly’s father, was a tobacco farmer and construction worker who never learned how to read or write. This inspired Dolly to establish the Imagination Library more than 30 years ago to provide free books to children. Today, more than 332 million books have reached children in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland.
She has her own theme park.
Dollywood, her theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, opened in 1961. It was fashioned after the musician’s childhood fantasies and boasts a wide array of roller coasters and water rides. However, Dolly never experienced them due to motion sickness. She also preferred not to risk messing up her hair, shoes, and whatnot.
She has a song set to be released on her 100th birthday.
20 years from now, the world will get to hear a new song by Dolly Parton. Sealed inside Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort is "My Place in History," an unreleased song set to be released when the singer-songwriter turns 100 in 2046. It’s one more way her legacy will live on.
Rest in peace, Dolly Parton.
Kyla Villena loves a good lip gloss and a trip to the art gallery. She is Preview's beauty girl, who doubles as a self-proclaimed motivational speaker.