NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 25, 2026Miami-Dade
Dolly Parton, country music icon and philanthropist, dies at 80
Dolly Parton, the singer-songwriter and actress known for hits like "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You," has died at age 80. Her career spanned decades, including a successful transition from country music to pop, a film career, and the founding of the Imagination Library literacy nonprofit.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
The death of a globally recognized cultural figure marks the end of a career that influenced country music, pop culture, and childhood literacy programs for over 60 years.
Key Facts
- Dolly Parton died at age 80 in Nashville, Tennessee.
- She was one of 12 children born into a family in the Tennessee mountains.
- She founded the Imagination Library, a nonprofit that provides free books to children.
- Her career began with appearances on local television and the Grand Ole Opry at age 13.
- She moved to Nashville in 1964 after graduating high school.
- Her partnership with Porter Wagoner was a significant early career influence.
- She achieved her first No. 1 solo single with 'Joshua'.
- The song 'Jolene' (1973) became a major career milestone and international hit.
- She famously declined to share publishing rights for 'I Will Always Love You' with Elvis Presley.
- She starred in the 1980 film '9 to 5' alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
- She was married to Carl Dean from the mid-1960s until his death in 2025.
- She won multiple Grammy Awards throughout her career.