Dolly Parton
Born: 19 January 1946
Died: 25 August 2026
Age: 80
Years Active: 1956–2026
Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean (née Parton; January 19, 1946 – August 25, 2026) was an American singer-songwriter, actress and businesswoman. Dubbed the "Queen of Country", Parton was one of the most successful country music performers in history. She was also known for her cultural influence and philanthropy via Dollywood and the Dollywood Foundation. With more than 100 million records sold, Parton is among the best-selling music artists ever.
Born into poverty in rural Tennessee, Parton wrote her first song at age six, performed regularly on television by age ten, made her first recording a year later, and became a professional songwriter at sixteen. After writing songs for others, she released her debut album, Hello, I'm Dolly in 1967, starting her nearly sixty-year career. Parton released 49 studio albums and wrote more than three thousand songs, including "I Will Always Love You" – a two-time U.S. country chart-topper and an international success for Whitney Houston that became the best-selling single by a woman – "Jolene", "Coat of Many Colors", and the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "9 to 5". She also recorded the Billboard Hot 100 number‑one single "Islands in the Stream", a duet with Kenny Rogers. Her final solo studio album, Rockstar (2023), became her highest-charting album on the Billboard 200, reaching number three.
Onscreen, Parton starred in 9 to 5 (1980) and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), both earning her nominations for Golden Globe, as well as Rhinestone (1984), Steel Magnolias (1989), Straight Talk (1992), and Joyful Noise (2012). On television, she played Aunt Dolly in Hannah Montana (2006–2010), hosted Saturday Night Live (1989), and guest-starred on Reba (2005) and Grace and Frankie (2022). She produced and starred in the Netflix film Christmas on the Square (2021), winning a Primetime Emmy Award. On Broadway, she wrote the music and lyrics for the musical 9 to 5 (2009), for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Original Score. Her life will be depicted in Dolly: A True Original Musical (2026).
Parton's music received gold, platinum, and multi-platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her accolades include eleven Grammy Awards and three Emmy Awards, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, six Golden Globes and a Tony Award. She logged 25 number-one Billboard country singles (tied with Reba McEntire for the most by a woman), 44 career top-10 country albums (a record for any artist), and 110 career-charted singles over 40 years. Parton was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1984), the National Medal of Arts (2004), the Kennedy Center Honor (2006), the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2011) and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (2025).
