Country Music Icon Dolly Parton Passes Away at 80
Dolly Parton, the legendary singer-songwriter and entrepreneur, died Tuesday in Nashville at age 80. She was known for hits like 'Jolene' and '9 to 5' and founded Dollywood. She had recently postponed concerts due to health issues.
Parton’s final months were shadowed by health setbacks, including a September postponement of Las Vegas shows and her absence from the Governors Awards, where she was to receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Her husband of nearly six decades, Carl Dean, had died earlier in 2025, and she was admitted to a Nashville hospital days before her death.
Her signature song “I Will Always Love You” gained renewed fame through Whitney Houston’s 1992 cover, which topped the Hot 100 for 14 weeks and became the best-selling single by a female artist, earning Parton over $10 million. Parton recalled nearly crashing her car upon first hearing Houston’s version on the radio, and she often praised Houston’s interpretation.
Parton’s passing may resonate deeply with fans of country, pop, and film, given her crossover appeal and entrepreneurial reach. Her catalog, especially “I Will Always Love You,” could see renewed streaming and tribute performances, while