Country music legend Dolly Parton, whose songs, unmistakable style and warmth made her one of America’s most enduring entertainers, has died aged 80, her family said on Tuesday.
Parton rose from a poor childhood in rural Tennessee to become one of the world’s best-selling female artists, selling more than 100 million records and winning 11 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Her catalogue included “Jolene”, “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You”, while her distinctive soprano, towering blond hairstyles and flamboyant costumes helped take country music to audiences far beyond the U.S.
Born Dolly Rebecca Parton on 19 January 1946, she was one of 12 children and grew up in a one-room cabin in Tennessee. She began writing songs as a child, was singing on local radio by 11 and appeared at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry at 13.
After high school, Parton moved to Nashville and forged a successful partnership with country singer Porter Wagoner. She later wrote “I Will Always Love You” as a farewell to Wagoner when she left to pursue her solo career. Whitney Houston’s version became a global hit in 1992.
Parton wrote an estimated 3,000 songs during her life, recording about 450. Twenty-five reached No. 1 on Billboard’s country charts.
Her success extended well beyond music. She made her film debut alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in 1980’s “9 to 5”, earning an Oscar nomination for its title song, and later appeared in films including “Steel Magnolias” and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”.
She also built a business empire that included Dollywood, the Tennessee theme park that became one of the state’s best-known tourist attractions.
Parton’s philanthropy became another defining part of her public life. She donated $1 million to coronavirus vaccine research at Vanderbilt University in 2020, helping support work linked to Moderna’s vaccine.
Her Imagination Library literacy programme has distributed free books to children in the U.S. and several other countries, reflecting a commitment to education inspired partly by her father, who could not read or write.
Despite her fame, Parton repeatedly said songwriting mattered most.
“At the end of the day, I hope that I will be remembered as a good songwriter. The songs are my legacy.”
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