Country music icon Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80 after what her family described as “a brief battle with cancer.”
Her publicist Marcel Pariseau confirmed she passed away at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Centre with loved ones by her side.
The specific type of cancer was not revealed.
Her nephew Bryan Seaver, who served as her head of security, shared the news on Tuesday evening through an Instagram video, calling it “an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness.”
Dolly Parton has died aged 80 following a brief battle with cancer
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GETTYPresident Donald Trump responded by ordering flags across the United States to be lowered, declaring on Truth Social that “there has never been anyone like her.”
Iconic American landmarks were bathed in pink light overnight, including New York’s Empire State Building, Chicago’s Willis Tower, and the Pacific Park Ferris Wheel in Los Angeles.
Sir Paul McCartney, who first encountered Ms Parton at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville just before she embarked on her solo career, led the celebrity tributes as he spoke of his disbelief at the news.
“She was so bubbly and full of life; it is difficult to take in the news that she has passed,” the Beatles legend said.
Sir Tom Jones shared an emotional tribute to his Instagram account
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He hailed her as a “magnificent star” whose contributions to music and charitable work were without equal in the country genre.
“Her songwriting, her singing and her philanthropy were unrivalled in the world of country music, and it is hard to imagine living in a world without Dolly,” Sir Paul added.
Sir Elton John, who performed alongside Ms Parton at the 2005 Country Music Association Awards, said he was “shocked and devastated” by her passing, describing her as “a giant of an artist – unique and irreplaceable, with the kindest heart”.
Taylor Swift, whose own career began in Nashville’s country music scene, praised Ms Parton as embodying “true grace and true grit, all in one dazzling person”.
Sir Elton John said he was ‘shocked and devastated’ by the loss of the country legend
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INSTAGRAM / ELTON JOHN
“A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right,” Ms Swift said in a statement shared with the BBC.
The pop superstar credited Ms Parton with blazing a trail for women in the industry, thanking her “for the tightropes she walked so that young girls like me could grow up dreaming of joining the circus too”.
Ms Swift also acknowledged Ms Parton’s literary philanthropy, highlighting the millions of books distributed to children worldwide through her programmes.
Sexbomb hitmaker Sir Tom Jones took to Instagram on Tuesday to share his personal tribute to the country icon.
He wrote: “Losing Dolly leaves a great emptiness. She had an angelic but powerful voice with vast influence on generations to come. A wonderful and generous person with an amazing story. RIP Dolly.”
Sir Tom and Ms Parton had known each other for decades.
Ms Parton once revealed a cheeky memory involving the Welsh singer, admitting she streaked through his garden in Los Angeles during the 1980s.
The country star explained that she had been drinking margaritas with friends after filming was halted by bad weather when the group dared her to run through Sir Tom’s yard on their way back to their hotel.
The country music icon enjoyed an extraordinary career spanning six decades
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Ms Parton later joked about the incident in interviews.
Beyoncé, whose 2024 country album Cowboy Carter featured her own rendition of Jolene, described Ms Parton as the “north star” and “barometer” for the entire music industry.
“Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious. You taught so many lessons on how to be uniquely oneself,” the pop star wrote.
Oprah Winfrey fondly recalled “having a hoot and a holler while wearing Bob Mackie gowns on her show Dolly”, adding that Ms Parton “brought the light, and we are all better because she was here”.
The likes of Zendaya, Jane Fonda, Andy Burnham, JK Rowling and many, many more famous faces have also paid tribute.
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