Dolly Parton, the legendary American country singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist, has died at the age of 80.

Her death was announced by her nephew, Brian Seaver, in an Instagram post on Tuesday. He described the news as a moment of “great sadness” mixed with pride and honour.

Parton was one of the most influential figures in country music, with a career spanning more than six decades. She was known around the world for songs including “Jolene”, “I Will Always Love You” and “9 to 5”.

She recorded hundreds of songs and achieved 25 No. 1 singles on the US country music chart, while 47 of her albums reached the country Top 10.

Her songwriting earned her a global audience beyond country music. “I Will Always Love You”, which Parton originally wrote as a farewell to fellow country singer Porter Wagoner, became a worldwide hit after Whitney Houston recorded it for the 1992 film The Bodyguard.

Parton also achieved major success with “9 to 5”, the theme song for the 1980 comedy film in which she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The song topped the US pop chart and earned Parton an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

Parton was born into poverty in rural Tennessee and was the fourth of 12 children. Her father worked as a farmer and construction worker, while her mother raised the large family.

Her childhood experiences later influenced some of her best-known songs. “Coat of Many Colours”, for example, was inspired by a patchwork garment her mother made for her.

She began performing at a young age, singing in church and appearing on local television at 10. At 13, she recorded her first record and performed at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, where she was introduced by Johnny Cash.

After finishing high school in 1964, Parton moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music. She initially worked as a songwriter before establishing herself as a recording artist.

Her breakthrough came partly through her partnership with Porter Wagoner, with whom she performed and recorded from 1967. She later became a major solo star, scoring her first country No. 1 with “Joshua” in 1971.

“Jolene”, released in 1973, became one of her defining songs and marked her first UK chart success.

Parton's career extended beyond country music. She experimented with pop and rock sounds and achieved success with songs such as “Here You Come Again”.

She also built a successful film career, appearing in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,  Rhinestone and Steel Magnolias. Her work in film earned her two Golden Globe nominations.

In 1983, she teamed up with Kenny Rogers on “Islands in the Stream”, which became a major international hit.

Another significant project came in 1987 when Parton joined Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt for the album Trio. The record won a Grammy and became one of the most acclaimed collaborations of her career.

She continued recording music well into the 21st century, releasing several bluegrass albums and collaborating with younger artists. Her final studio album, Rockstar, was released in 2023.

Parton was also a successful entrepreneur. She co-founded the production company Sandollar, which was involved in films and television projects including Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Father of the Bride.

In Tennessee, she became closely associated with Dollywood, the theme park that grew into a major tourist attraction and one of the state's best-known entertainment destinations.

Her legacy also extended far beyond entertainment through her philanthropic work.

In 1995, she launched the Imagination Library through the Dollywood Foundation. The programme initially provided free books to children in her home county in Tennessee before expanding across the United States and internationally.

The initiative now distributes millions of books each year to children in countries including the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and Ireland.

Parton said her motivation came partly from her father, who could not read or write, and from seeing the difficulties caused by limited literacy.

Her charitable work also covered healthcare, disaster relief, conservation and education.

In 2020, Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for Covid-19 research. The funding supported research that contributed to the development of the Moderna vaccine.

She also helped victims of the 2016 Tennessee wildfires, supported the preservation of the bald eagle and contributed to healthcare initiatives in her home county.

In 2022, billionaire Jeff Bezos donated $100 million to the Dollywood Foundation in recognition of Parton's philanthropic work.

Parton remained active in music and entertainment in her later years, although health concerns affected some of her plans.

In May 2026, she cancelled a planned Las Vegas residency because of health issues. A Broadway musical based on her life and music was also scheduled to open later in 2026 following a run in Nashville.

Parton's death brings an end to the life of an artist who rose from a poor childhood in Tennessee to become a global music star, actress, businesswoman and major philanthropist.

Her songs, particularly “Jolene”, “I Will Always Love You” and “9 to 5”, have continued to reach audiences across generations, while the charitable programmes she established have affected millions of children and families.