Dolly Parton dies at 80, tributes pour in from music, film and politics

Dolly Parton, the legendary country music singer-songwriter, died on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer, her team confirmed. She passed away at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones. Parton was known for iconic songs like 'Jolene', '9 to 5', and 'I Will Always Love You', and was also a philanthropist who funded Covid-19 vaccine research and promoted children's literacy through her Imagination Library. Tributes came from across the entertainment and political worlds, including Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, and US presidents Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Trump ordered flags lowered to half-staff in her honor. Parton had recently canceled a Las Vegas residency due to health issues, citing kidney stones. She was married to Carl Dean for over 60 years until his death in 2025.