Country Music Icon Dolly Parton Dies at 80
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
American country music legend Dolly Parton passed away on Tuesday at age 80 in Nashville, Tennessee. The celebrated singer-songwriter, known for classics including I Will Always Love You, died peacefully according to her family and publicist. President Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-mast nationwide for one week in her honor, calling her one of the greatest country singers of all time.
Key Points
- Dolly Parton died on Tuesday at age 80 in Nashville, Tennessee, with her family announcing the news via social media and her publicist confirming she passed away peacefully
- She released 49 studio albums and over 100 compilation or collaborative albums, composed approximately 3,000 songs, and achieved 25 Billboard country chart number-one hits
- Her career spanned nearly 60 years with record sales exceeding 100 million copies, earning her 11 Grammy Awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award
- She received the National Medal of Arts in 2005 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2006, and was nominated for Grammy Awards 55 times
- Her husband Carl Dean passed away last year after nearly 59 years of marriage; in May, she canceled Las Vegas concerts citing health concerns and ongoing treatment
Why It Matters
Dolly Parton's death marks the end of an era in American music, as she was one of the few remaining giants of classic country music whose influence stretched across genres and generations . Her songwriting legacy, including the iconic I Will Always Love You which became an even greater hit through Whitney Houston's 1990s cover, will continue to inspire musicians worldwide for generations to come.
Dolly Parton's death marks the end of an era in American music, as she was one of the few remaining giants of classic country music whose influence stretched across genres and generations . Her songwriting legacy, including the iconic I Will Always Love You which became an even greater hit through Whitney Houston's 1990s cover, will continue to inspire musicians worldwide for generations to come.