Dolly Parton, the once-in-a-lifetime country superstar and storyteller who shaped generations of singer-songwriters, died on Tuesday. She was 80.
Her musical legacy includes enduring classics like “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You,” which
surged on the charts after Whitney Houston recorded it for the 1992 film The Bodyguard. Throughout her career, she recorded more than 50 albums, made dozens of films, and even starred in a short-lived ABC variety show. She won 11 Grammys, three Emmys, and was nominated for multiple Oscars, Golden Globes, and a Tony. All of it culminated into a legendary career, one that continues to inspire generations.
But in addition to being one of the most successful country artists of all time, Parton was also a philanthropist, and an inspiration across the entertainment world. “I just wanted to do really good work,” Parton said in 2020. “And I wanted it to make a really big difference in the world.”
So much of Parton’s appeal was rooted in humble beginnings: She was born in 1946, the fourth of 12 children, in a one-room cabin in Pittman Center, Tennessee. After getting her start as a child singer, Parton soared through the entertainment industry, winning over legions of fans with her unabashedly bright and humorous approach to life. “When I’m done, I can rest in peace knowing I’ve done my best. I hope that when my time comes, I’ll leave something behind that others can use to lift themselves up,” she said in her memoir Star of the Show.
Here’s a look at Parton’s life and legacy in pictures.
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