Global music stars Celine Dion, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have paid emotional tributes to legendary country music singer, songwriter and actress Dolly Parton, who died at the age of 80.
Parton died on Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee, with her death announced by her family through social media. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, said she had died after a brief battle with cancer.
Following news of her death, tributes have poured in from musicians, actors, public figures and fans around the world, celebrating Parton’s remarkable career and influence.
Multiple Grammy-winning singer Celine Dion described Parton as “pure light” with a kind heart and generous spirit.
“Thank you for the music, the laughter, and the love you gave us all. We will always love you,” Dion wrote in an Instagram tribute.
Taylor Swift, in her tribute, said a world without Parton “doesn’t feel possible, real, or right.”
She praised Parton for using her life to inspire others to embrace their individuality, adding that her legacy would endure because of the countless lives she positively impacted.
Beyoncé, who collaborated with Parton on her 2024 country album Cowboy Carter, described the late singer as “the barometer” and “the north star.”
She praised Parton’s talent, generosity, humour and entrepreneurial spirit, saying she was grateful for the opportunity to work with the country music icon.
“Thank you for your profound impact on the world. You are an angel who has made this world a happier place because of your joyful art. You are truly one of one. Rest peacefully,” Beyoncé said.
Parton, who rose from humble beginnings in Tennessee to become one of the most celebrated figures in country music, enjoyed a career spanning more than six decades.
Born Dolly Rebecca Parton on Jan. 19, 1946, she was the fourth of 12 children. Her father, an illiterate sharecropper, later worked his way up to owning a small tobacco farm.
Parton often described her childhood family as “dirt poor” but credited her mother with introducing her to traditional folk music and her father with instilling in her a strong work ethic.
She began performing as a child and, by age 13, had appeared on local radio and television in East Tennessee, performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and recorded her first single, Puppy Love.
After graduating from high school in 1964, Parton moved to Nashville the following day to pursue a career in music and songwriting.
She released her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967 and joined The Porter Wagoner Show the same year. Wagoner, an established country star, mentored her, and the pair recorded several successful albums together.
Parton later focused on her solo career and wrote the acclaimed song I Will Always Love You following her professional separation from Wagoner. The song became a hit for Parton before achieving global recognition when Whitney Houston recorded it for the 1992 film The Bodyguard.
Parton also wrote Jolene, another of her signature songs, around the same period. Both songs appeared on her 1974 album Jolene, which helped broaden her appeal beyond country music.
In 1977, she released Here You Come Again, her first album to sell one million copies. The project also earned her first Grammy Award.
Over her career, Parton wrote more than 3,000 songs, sold more than 100 million records worldwide and won 11 Grammy Awards, earning her the enduring title of the “Queen of Country.”
She expanded into acting in 1980, making her film debut alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the workplace comedy 9 to 5. She also wrote and performed the film’s theme song, which became a number-one hit and earned an Academy Award nomination.
Her successful acting career continued with films including The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Steel Magnolias (1989) and Joyful Noise (2012).
Beyond entertainment, Parton built a remarkable philanthropic legacy through initiatives including the Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library, which promotes childhood literacy by providing free books to children.
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She also supported disaster relief, medical research and other charitable causes, including a $1 million donation towards COVID-19 vaccine research.
In 2022, she was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy for her contributions to society.
Parton’s death comes about 17 months after the passing of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at the age of 82.
