Dolly Parton
American country music icon Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, according to a statement from her family.
Parton, widely known as the “Queen of Country”, reportedly passed away on Tuesday. She leaves behind a remarkable career that spanned decades and made her one of the most successful entertainers in the world.
Born in a two-room log cabin in rural Tennessee, Parton grew up in poverty before rising to become a global music star and businesswoman. Her estimated net worth was more than $450 million at the time of her death.
Parton owned a large portion of her music catalogue, which included about 3,000 songs and some of her biggest hits such as Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You. Forbes estimated in 2025 that her song catalogue alone was worth about $120 million.
She also had a major stake in Dollywood, the popular theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Beyond music and business, Parton was widely recognised for her philanthropy. In 1995, she established the Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library, which provides free books to children from birth until they begin kindergarten.
The programme had expanded to reach nearly 850,000 children every month across communities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland.
Parton also supported various charitable causes, including disaster relief, HIV/AIDS organisations and wildlife conservation.
She had no children, while her husband, Carl Dean, died in 2025. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death on behalf of the family.
Details about the future of her fortune have not yet been announced, although her long history of charitable work has led to expectations that philanthropy could play a significant role in how her legacy is carried forward.