The news of Dolly Parton’s death has been met with widespread heartbreak after the country music icon died at 80 following a “brief battle” with cancer.
Miley Cyrus, Parton’s goddaughter, remembered her “Aunt Dolly” as an “angel,” saying, “I will always love her and want to make her proud.”
“My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply,” Cyrus said.
Everyone from Taylor Swift and Beyoncé to Eminem and Linda Ronstadt paid tribute to Parton, describing her as “the gift that kept on giving” and saying her legacy would be “an everlasting one.” Paul McCartney also remembered Parton, saying her songwriting, singing, and philanthropy were “unrivaled in the world of country music.”
Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver announced the news of her death saying: “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.” Her representative later confirmed that she had died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones.
US president Donald Trump ordered flags to fly at half-staff in the US to honor Parton, writing: “This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will.”
Full story: Country legend dies aged 80 after a brief battle with cancer
Her death was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, in an Instagram video posted Tuesday afternoon. The musician’s publicist confirmed Parton’s cancer diagnosis to the Associated Press later in the day, but did not give further details on her illness.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement from her reps to People magazine read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.”
Jacob Stolworthy & Kevin E G Perry26 August 2026 04:08
Kesha pays tribute to Dolly with cover of ‘Old Flames’ at Pittsburgh concert
Singer Kesha has paid tribute to Dolly with a cover of “Old Flames (Can’t Hold a Candle to You)” at her concert in Pittsburgh Wednesday.
“For those of you who don’t know, I come from a long lineage of songwriters and before I was born, my mom actually wrote a song for Dolly Parton. And that song bought us a house, like a roof. That song put me through school,” Kesha told her fans of the 1980 hit, per CBS News.
Rachel Dobkin27 August 2026 01:48
ABC to air 9 to 5 film Sunday night
For those who want to pay tribute to Dolly Parton by watching9 to 5, ABC will air the 1980 film Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET, according to reports.
Parton starred in the comedy with Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, and she also wrote the song “9 to 5” for it, which became one of her most popular songs.
Rachel Dobkin27 August 2026 01:34
Sandra Bullock recalls time she and Dolly slept in ‘side-by-side’ tour buses
Actress Sandra Bullock has recalled the time she and Dolly Parton slept in “side-by-side” tour buses while working together on the 2005 comedy Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous.
“I hated flying for the longest time, and I used to just take a tour bus everywhere and I would sleep on the tour bus,” Bullock told People Wednesday.
“[Parton] came to Vegas, and she pulled her tour bus up next to mine—I think it was pink, of course—And I said, ‘Okay, So, Miss Parton, we’ve got a hotel and room for you that’s massive.’ And she goes, ‘No, I’ll stay in the bus.’ ”
“So she and I slept side-by-side on the bus,” Bullock said.
Rachel Dobkin27 August 2026 01:18
Joni Mitchell honors Dolly
“Remembering Dolly Parton, whose unmistakable voice was matched by her warmth, wit, and generosity,” the singer wrote on X.
Rachel Dobkin27 August 2026 01:09
Chris Isaak pays tribute to ‘gracious and gorgeous’ Dolly
“I’m saddened to hear Dolly’s gone. Every time I saw her she seemed so positive and full of energy. In person she was gracious and gorgeous.
“I remember doing a Kenny Rogers special with Dolly. There was a moment when she and I were backstage. I asked her if she could tell me if a story I heard was true and she said OK. I said I’d heard that she once bought Porter Wagoner‘s song catalog when he was on hard times and a few years later, Porter asked if he could buy his songs back. She said no, she wouldn’t sell him back his songs but would give him back his songs.
“I asked if that was true. She said yes and nothing more. I think she didn’t like to speak of her good deeds, but being a songwriter, knowing how much songs mean to a writer, it made me have great respect for her. God bless her,” the singer wrote on X.
Rachel Dobkin27 August 2026 00:56
Peter Gabriel: ‘Dolly was the essence of the American dream’
“Dolly was the essence of the American dream. She came from nothing, was entirely self created, hard working, hard selling – always heavily made up but made up with warmth, wit and compassion and a wonderful musical talent that could reach and touch anyone who heard her.
“It’s easy now to forget she was the butt of so many jokes, so many ignorant and sexist jokes, but with her extraordinary repartee they all bounced off her like water off a duck’s back putting her right back in the driver’s seat. It left her always looking out and defending others being targeted, like her longtime support for the LBGTQ community,” the singer wrote in a blog post.
“A world without Dolly feels empty. Maybe the Smoky Mountains should now have their own giant Rushmore-like carving of their own daughter, Dolly – the little girl who grew up to become the Queen of America,” the post continued.
Rachel Dobkin27 August 2026 00:41
Streams of Dolly’s music on Spotify surge over 2,000% after death
Streams of Dolly Parton’s music on Spotify have surged more than 2,000 percent after her death.
Spotify streams of Parton’s music increased about 2,320 percent in the U.S. and about 1,260 percent globally, Variety reported.
“Jolene” was the most-shared of Parton’s songs on Spotify, followed by “I Will Always Love You” and “Islands in the Stream,” according to the entertainment outlet.
Rachel Dobkin27 August 2026 00:27
Mariah Carey honors Dolly: ‘I will always love you’
“Rest in Peace Dolly, one of the most brilliant, iconic, and prolific artists of all time. Your kindness and generosity will never be forgotten. I will always love you,” the singer wrote on X.
Rachel Dobkin27 August 2026 00:13
Dolly racked up 11 Guinness World Records in her lifetime. Here’s what they are
- Most consecutive decades with Top 10 album entries on the Billboard country chart (female)
- Longest span of No.1 hits on the US Top Country Albums chart (female)
- Most decades with a Top 20 hit on the US Hot Country Songs chart
- Most Top 10 entries on the US Top Country Albums chart (female)
- Most studio albums released by a female country singer
- First country singer to be nominated for the EGOT
- Longest span of No.1 hits on the US Hot Country Songs chart
- Most Grammy nominations for a female country artist
- Most hits on the US Hot Country Songs chart by a female artist
- Most decades on the US Hot Country Songs chart (female)
- Most No.1 hits on the US Hot Country Songs chart by a female artist
Rachel Dobkin26 August 2026 23:58