Dolly Parton, the country music icon whose songs, films and philanthropy made her one of America's most beloved entertainers, has died at age 80, her family announced Tuesday.
No cause of death was disclosed. Her publicist said Parton died peacefully in Nashville.
From rural Tennessee to country music stardom
Parton rose from a poor upbringing in rural Tennessee to become one of the most successful and recognizable entertainers in American history.
Over a career spanning nearly six decades, she sold more than 100 million records and won 11 Grammy Awards. Her enduring hits included "Jolene," "9 to 5," "Coat of Many Colors" and "I Will Always Love You."
Her career extended far beyond music. Parton became a film and television star, businesswoman and philanthropist while building a fan base that
crossed generations and musical genres.
Parton's connection to New York and Broadway
For New Yorkers, Parton's legacy also included Broadway.
She received a Tony Award nomination for writing the score for "9 to 5: The Musical," which opened on Broadway in 2009.
Parton also had recently announced plans to bring her life story to Broadway. Her autobiographical production, "DOLLY: A True Original Musical," is scheduled to begin preview performances Dec. 7 at the St. James Theatre in New York City. Opening night is planned for Jan. 19, 2027, what would have been Parton's 81st birthday.
The musical features some of Parton's best-known songs, along with new music written for the production.
Dolly Parton's philanthropic legacy
Beyond entertainment, Parton was widely known for her charitable work.
She donated $1 million to vaccine research at Vanderbilt University in 2020, becoming an early supporter of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine development.
Contributing: USA Today Network and Reuters
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Dolly Parton dies at 80, months before planned Broadway musical
