Country music star Dolly Parton died after a “brief battle with cancer”, her publicist has announced.
In a statement to media outlets, her publicist Marcel Pariseau said: “After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Centre surrounded by loved ones.”
The singer, 80, was best known for her genre-defining hits including 9 To 5, I Will Always Love You and Jolene.
The statement continued: “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.
“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.”
The type of cancer was not disclosed.
Parton’s death was announced late on Tuesday via an Instagram video by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also served as the singer’s head of security.
He said it was “an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness”, to share the news of her death, adding: “But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly.
“Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.”
Flags will be lowered throughout America in Parton’s honour, US President Donald Trump announced, posting on Truth Social “there has never been anyone like her”.
Tributes also came from all over the entertainment industry following the news of her death.
In a statement shared with media outlets, Taylor Swift said that “a world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right”.
“But because of the eternally generous way she spent her time on this earth and the countless lives she changed for the better, her legacy will be an everlasting one,” she said.
She continued: “She managed to give the world the ultimate mystery and fantasy in some corners of her life, but to give full transparency in the ways that counted.
“Somehow she was true grace and true grit, all in one dazzling person”, she added.
The Jolene singer thanked Swift and then-fiancé Travis Kelce in an Instagram post last month for their 2 million dollar (£1.4 million) donation to the country songstress’s non-profit, Imagination Library, adding she was “blown away” by the gesture.
Swift joined a chorus of other famous faces in honouring the singer.
Popstar Miley Cyrus, who is Dolly’s goddaughter, saying the world had lost “the purest soul”.
She posted on X: “I can’t believe we just lost the purest soul. Rest in Glory, Dolly. My heart aches.
In another message, she added: “RIP Dolly, you transcended time & you live in the hearts of entire generations.”
Sir Paul McCartney paid tribute to the country star in a heartfelt post on Instagram describing Parton as a “magnificent star” and “wonderful woman” who he met at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
it is one of the nation’s most well-known country music venues and where Parton first appeared at age 13.
He said: “Her songwriting, her singing and her philanthropy were unrivaled in the world of country music and it is hard to imagine living in a world without Dolly.”
Beyonce, who worked with Parton on her 2024 album Cowboy Carter, said in a statement on her website: “Dolly, you were the barometer. The north star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious.
“You taught so many lessons on how to be uniquely oneself.
“I am grateful for your art, your heart, your generosity, your humor, your entrepreneurship.”
Popstar Sabrina Carpenter also paid tribute to the country star, who featured on the deluxe version of her song Please Please Please.
She said in a post on Instagram: “I will cherish our laughter and conversations and I will keep your wisdom, your playful outlook on life, and perfect sense of humor in my pocket for the rainy days.”
Julia Roberts paid tribute to her Steel Magnolias co-star, telling Page Six in a statement: “Dolly was a magical and joyous human. I hold knowing her as a treasure in my life. The sun has dimmed today.”
Meanwhile, Singer Billy Joel wrote on Instagram: “Dolly Parton has transcended time and become one of those iconic artists who is known for just being Dolly, beyond a specific song or moment in time.
“I was one of the lucky ones whose music she covered.”
The Empire State Building tower lights honoured the singer by turning the lights to a “pink sparkle” at 9.25pm local time.
Parton told people magazine four days before her death that she had been struggling with health issues, although did not go into detail on these.
“I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to,” she said, adding that she had been focused on caring for her husband Carl Dean who died in March 2025.
The singer cancelled her Las Vegas residency in 2025 due to “health challenges”, shortly after being unable to attend the announcement of a new attraction at her Tennessee theme park Dollywood due to a kidney stone.
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