Dolly Parton’s cause of death revealed as tributes pour in

Kevin Costner joined in the collective grief of Dolly Parton’s death.

“Oh my goodness. Where did you go Dolly? We are all breathless. The feeling of who you are and who you were are so close,” he wrote on Instagram.

“We have all stopped for a moment to think of the miracle that was you.”

Costner, 71, praised the late icon for “trusting” him to effectively use her classic hit in the ’92 film he both starred in and produced, “The Bodyguard.”

“Thank you for trusting me with ‘I Will Always Love You.’ So gracious in all things,” he wrote.

Whitney Houston played superstar Rachel Marron who was followed by a stalker, while Costner portrayed her bodyguard, Frank Farmer.

Parton wrote and released the song in 1974 as a final goodbye to her mentor, Porter Wagoner, as she left his series.

“Kevin Costner and his secretary are the ones that loved the song,” Parton told CMT in 2011.

“They had another song that was going to go in that place, and someone had recorded the song they were going to use. They were just in a panic at the last minute. And so they asked me about the song. I sent it. I didn’t hear anything more.”

Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tenn. on Tuesday following a “brief battle with cancer,” according to her representatives. She was 80.

“We are all at a loss this moment,” Costner wrote. “Forgive us, but we will miss you so much. So much.”

Dolly Parton may have influenced generations, but her moniker wasn’t guiding the decision to name the next tropical storm.

The name of the fourth storm in this year’s hurricane season will be “Dolly,” which forecasters believe has a 60 percent chance of forming this week.

Storm systems are named by procedures set by the World Meteorological Organization, and the lists of names are reused every six years.

For the Atlantic region, the lists are alphabetical and alternate male and female names.

“The only time that there is a change in the list is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name for a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity,” the National Hurricane Center wrote in a post online about storm names.

“If that occurs, then at an annual meeting by the WMO committee (called primarily to discuss many other issues) the offending name is stricken from the list and another name is selected to replace it.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Dolly Parton was more than a musician, and left behind a legacy rich with philanthropic pursuits.

A March 2026 UMass/YouGov poll showed that 70% of Americans expressed a favorable review of the “Jolene” singer, according to the New York Times.

Parton earned the highest percentage of approval for any person named in the poll, beating out a list of names that also included Barack Obama and Volodymyr Zelensky.

Additionally, the country music icon was twice as popular in that poll as Taylor Swift, who earned a 35 percent favorable mark.

Only 5 percent of adults said they viewed Parton unfavorably, the outlet reported, with roughly one quarter of Americans saying they did not have an opinion or had not heard of her.

Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tenn. on Tuesday following a “brief battle with cancer,” according to her representatives. She was 80.

Dolly Parton and Carl Dean never had children, but the couple once had a name ready if they welcomed a baby girl.

Parton said she and Dean, who married in 1966, often wondered what their children might have looked like.

“You always wonder,” she told The Guardian in 2014. “My husband and I, when we first got married, we thought about if we had kids, what would they look like? Would they be tall because he’s tall? Or would they be little squats like me?”

“If we’d had a girl, she was gonna be called Carla,” added Parton. “Anyway, we talked about it, and we dreamed it, but it wasn’t meant to be. Now that we’re older? We’re glad.”

The singer often spoke candidly about the life she and Dean built together outside of parenthood, including their nearly six-decade marriage before Dean died in 2025 at age 82.

“Since I had no kids, and my husband was pretty independent, I had freedom,” she said during a 2020 appearance on “The Oprah Conversation.” “So I think a big part of my whole success is the fact that I was free to work.”

“I didn’t have children because I believed that God didn’t mean for me to have kids so everybody’s kids could be mine, so I could do things like Imagination Library, because if I hadn’t had the freedom to work, I wouldn’t have done all the things I’ve done,” she told Winfrey. “I wouldn’t be in a position to do all of the things I’m doing now.”

Despite the decision, Parton knew she would have been a wonderful mother but it would have changed the direction of her life.

“I would have been a great mother, I think,” she told The Guardian. “I would probably have given up everything else. Because I would’ve felt guilty about that, if I’d have left them [to work, to tour]. Everything would have changed. I probably wouldn’t have been a star.”

The Dollywood Foundation remained dedicated to Dolly Parton’s philanthropic missions in the wake of the country singer’s death.

Created in 1988, the foundation’s original goal was to promote educational success, and has since spawned a number of literary programs and scholarships.

The nonprofit “has prepared carefully for the future and remains honored to carry the mission Dolly entrusted to it,” they said in a release. “The Foundation is strong, its mission is clear, and the values Dolly instilled in the organization will continue to guide its work and growth in the years ahead.”

“Dolly often said that she had been blessed far beyond anything she ever dreamed possible, and she believed deeply that those blessings came with a responsibility to give something back,” Jeff Conyers, President of The Dollywood Foundation, said in a release.

“That belief is woven into everything we do at The Dollywood Foundation. While we are heartbroken by her loss, the mission she gave us is as clear today as it has ever been, and we will carry it forward for generations to come.”

Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tenn. on Tuesday following a “brief battle with cancer,” according to her representatives. She was 80.

Tennessee State Senator Jessie Seal (R-New Tazewell) wants to permanently honor the life and legacy of Dolly Parton.

Seal will propose legislation in the 2027 session to mark Sept. 25 (9/25) as “9 to 5 Day.”

“Dolly will go down as one of the most legendary Tennesseans of all time,” Seal said in a release. “Not only will her music stand the test of time, but so will her legacy of faith and kindness.” 

He added, “She embodied the true Volunteer State spirit like no other. While every day is a fitting day to honor Dolly, ‘9 to 5 Day’ will give Tennesseans an opportunity each year to set aside a little extra time to listen to one of her most iconic songs and reflect on the once-in-a-century legend.”

Earlier this year, Gov. Bill Lee designated Jan. 19, 2026, as Dolly Parton Day to commemorate her 80th birthday.

Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tenn. on Tuesday following a “brief battle with cancer,” according to her representatives. She was 80.

Dolly Parton’s death may have closed an extraordinary chapter, but the country icon’s vision will continue to unfold in the months and years ahead.

From a new coffee line and travel-stop brand to collectible dolls, a jewelry collaboration and home goods, Parton had an ambitious slate of projects in the works at the time of her death. Parton’s longtime manager Danny Nozell confirmed the launches will move forward, giving fans new ways to experience the music, humor and larger-than-life spirit she brought to everything she touched.

Here’s what is still to come:

Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stops: The travel-stop brand will celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week beginning Sept. 13, 2026.

Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel: Guests can begin booking stays at the Nashville hotel on Sept. 14, ahead of its grand opening on Sept. 29.

Dolly Dolls: A new line of Dolly-inspired dolls is set to launch online Sept. 15.

Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum: The museum dedicated to Parton’s life and career will celebrate its grand opening in Nashville on Sept. 29.

Dolly’s Cup of Ambition Coffee: The coffee line will launch online Sept. 29, with a retail rollout planned for spring 2027.

Dolly on the Holly: A new holiday project is slated for the 2026 holiday season.

“DOLLY: A True Original Musical” on Broadway: Previews begin Dec. 7, 2026, before opening night on Jan. 19, 2027 — Parton’s birthday. Tickets are currently on sale through Nov. 21, 2027.

Kendra Scott x Dolly — The 9 to 5 Collection: The jewelry collaboration is scheduled to launch in January 2027.

Dolly’s Dog Treats: A pet treat line will arrive in early 2027.

Dolly Bedding & Home Decor: Parton’s home collection is expected to launch in the third quarter of 2027.

Dolly Parton’s greatest legacy may have arrived not on a stage, but in a child’s mailbox.

The country music icon launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 1995 in her Tennessee hometown, inspired by her father, Robert Lee Parton, who never learned to read or write. Determined to give young children the opportunity he never had, Parton created a program that sent free, age-appropriate books to children from birth until age 5.

What began as a local effort in the Smoky Mountains grew into a global literacy movement. The Imagination Library now distributes millions of books each month to children in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland.

Parton never treated philanthropy as a side project. She saw it as a responsibility.

“I think it’s important for everyone to do their share to help their fellow man,” she told The Associated Press in 2022. “I get paid more attention than maybe some others that are doing more than me.”

Ohio first lady Fran DeWine praised Parton’s impact on young readers, calling her “devotion to children and literacy” unparalleled. More than 1 million children in Ohio had received nearly 28 million books through the program, according to DeWine.

“Her generosity and selfless spirit leave a legacy that will live on for generations to come,” DeWine said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Dolly Parton had a number of projects in development before she died Tuesday following a brief battle with cancer. She was 80.

“Dolly worked up until the day she died. She loved seeing her dreams come to life, and loved knowing her work brought people joy,” longtime manager Danny Nozell said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.

“Ever the planner, Dolly worked with the team that she handpicked, for the past several years to build a project roadmap that will guide us for decades to come.”

Nozell wrote that Dolly’s team will “ensure the many dreams she had yet to fulfill are brought to life.”

“Many projects were in various stages of development, and we want to be transparent with her fans about this fact,” he noted. “If you see unreleased music, products, books, experiences, and campaigns launched through official Dolly Parton channels, you can have confidence in knowing that she placed her personal stamp on it.”

Of the myriad projects, a “Dolly Musical documentary, a Dolly biopic, a Dolly docuseries, a Dolly scripted series, and many more – will be revealed soon.”

Dolly Parton’s death on Tuesday followed a brief bout with cancer, according to statements from her family. She was 80.

“After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the family shared in a statement with Fox News Digital.

The revelation of the singer’s previously undisclosed cancer battle raised questions about why some patients choose to keep a diagnosis private, even as public figures’ health struggles can spark wider awareness.

Keeping the disease private at first is a “very natural response,” Dr. Kristin Higgins, chief clinical officer at City of Hope Cancer Center in Atlanta, told Fox News Digital.

“It’s very natural to cling to that identity of being a healthy, vibrant person without a diagnosis of cancer,” Higgins said.

“The patient really needs to acclimate to the idea of themselves having this disease and then start to tell friends and family kind of slowly after they go through that adjustment process.”

Read more about why Higgins believes patients often need more time to understand a diagnosis.

Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.

Allison Janey, Megan Hilty and Stephanie J. Block remembered once sharing the stage with Dolly Parton during the original Broadway production of “9 to 5: The Musical.”

Janney, who earned a Tony nomination for her performance as Violet Newstead in the 2009 stage adaptation of the 1980 film, felt “incredibly lucky” to work with the country music legend.

“She had that rare ability to light up every room she walked into, not just with her extraordinary talent, but with her graciousness, her humor, and the love and support she gave so generously to everyone in this cast,” Janney, 66, wrote on Instagram.

“There was something truly magical about being in her presence. She made every person feel seen and valued, and being with her really did feel like being in the presence of an angel.”

Hilty portrayed Doralee Rhodes, a character first played by Parton.

“She made more of an impact on me than I can express in an Instagram post and this deep and profound loss will take quite some time to process,” Hilty wrote online. “I am so grateful to have been in her orbit and we are all so lucky this actual angel walked among us.”

Block shared a number of images featuring Parton on her Instagram stories as she reflected on the “pure joy” of working with Dolly.

“You’ve got some big lungs, Steph. Yours are in the inside. Mine are on the outside,” Block recalled Parton’s words of wisdom in a throwback shot.

“We will ALWAYS love you,” Block shared online.

Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tenn. on Tuesday following a “brief battle with cancer,” according to her representatives. She was 80.

Dolly Parton’s unmistakable voice made songs like “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You” timeless. But the country icon’s songwriting reached far beyond her own recordings, with artists from Whitney Houston to Tina Turner, Merle Haggard and Kenny Rogers bringing her stories to life.

Here are nine songs fans may not realize Parton wrote.

Bill Phillips scored one of country music’s biggest hits of 1966 with this early Parton composition. Parton sang uncredited backing vocals on the record, which helped open the door to her own breakout career.

Parton co-wrote this song with her uncle Bill Owens before Skeeter Davis turned it into a hit in 1967. Parton also included her own version on her debut album, “Hello, I’m Dolly.”

Tina Turner recorded the Parton-penned ballad for her 1974 solo debut, “Tina Turns the Country On!” The song showed just how easily Parton’s songwriting could cross genre lines.

Hank Williams Jr. recorded this breakup lament, which Parton also released on “Hello, I’m Dolly.” The vulnerable country song was an early example of the emotional honesty that defined much of her writing.

Parton first recorded the song in 1974 as a goodbye to Porter Wagoner. Nearly two decades later, Whitney Houston transformed it into a global phenomenon for “The Bodyguard” soundtrack.

Parton wrote the character-driven country song about a man whose gambling destroys his family. Merle Haggard recorded his own version, which became a No. 1 country hit.

Emmylou Harris took this Parton song to the top of the country chart in 1978. Parton had written the story song about a woman who leaves her unhappy marriage and later recorded it herself.

Kenny Rogers recorded this emotional Parton composition in 1984. The song follows a young man who meets the father who abandoned him after his mother dies.

Parton wrote the romantic song for Waylon Jennings, who took it to the country Top 10 in 1984. Her brother, Floyd Parton, later recorded it for the “Rhinestone” soundtrack.

SiriusXM is giving Dolly Parton’s music a dedicated home following the country icon’s death.

The satellite radio service launched The Dolly Parton Tribute Channel on Channel 105 and the SiriusXM app, giving fans a place to revisit the singer’s unmistakable voice, timeless songs and seven-decade career.

Listeners can hear tracks from Parton’s celebrated catalog, including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” as well as music from her friends and collaborators. The limited-run channel will also feature special programming and memories from throughout Parton’s extraordinary career.

SiriusXM will also air tributes across several of its country music stations in the days ahead, including The Highway, Y2Kountry, Willie’s Roadhouse, Outlaw Country and Bluegrass Junction.

Parton died peacefully in Nashville on Aug. 25 following a brief battle with cancer, Fox News Digital confirmed.

Country music icon Dolly Parton died peacefully in Nashville on Tuesday at 80 years old. Parton’s team shared a statement with Fox News Digital on Tuesday night and confirmed that she died after a “brief battle with cancer.”

Throughout the span of her career, which ignited as a performer on “The Porter Wagoner Show,” Parton always shared what mattered most to her – her Tennessee upbringing, her faith, her beloved husband, Carl Dean, and family.

Born in 1946 in rural Sevier County, Tennessee, Parton grew up in a large, poor family in the Smoky Mountains. She began singing in church as a child and started writing songs at a young age.

“I think my childhood made me everything I am today,” she told Entertainment Tonight in 2015. “I would trade nothing for being brought up in the Great Smoky Mountains. I’ve never been ashamed of my people no matter how poor or dirty we might have been.”

Read more about Parton’s lasting legacy and how her faith impacted the way she lived.

Fox News Digital’s Janelle Ash contributed to this report.

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed faced heat online over what critics called a politicization of Dolly Parton’s passing.

“Dolly Parton used her gift for music to highlight the challenges of poverty, inequality, and struggle in ways that uplifted and inspired working people,” El-Sayed posted on X Tuesday shortly after Parton died following a brief battle with cancer. She was 80.

“And I told ’em all the story / Momma told me while she sewed / And how my coat of many colors / Was worth more than all their clothes,” El-Sayed added, quoting Parton song lyrics.

El-Sayed’s post was “ratioed” on social media, yielding far more negative comments and quote tweets that positive ones from users accusing the far-left candidate of injecting his political message into his Parton tribute.

Read more about the backlash to El-Sayed’s social media tribute to the country music legend.

Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller and Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.

Dolly Parton’s hometown paid tribute to the late country music legend in a unique way.

The bell at the top of Sevier County Courthouse, built in 1896, rang a reverent toll for five minutes Wednesday at noon in honor of the Tennessee legend. 

A statue of Parton was placed in front of the courthouse and portrays the icon sitting barefoot on a rock while wearing jeans and holding a guitar on her lap.

In addition, all Sevier County schools observed a moment of silence in remembrance of Parton’s deep connection to Sevier County.

Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tenn. on Tuesday following a “brief battle with cancer,” according to her representatives. She was 80.

“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,” her team said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.

“Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand. Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact.

“After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.

Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton is honoring the woman he called the park’s “Dreamer in Chief” following Dolly Parton’s death on Tuesday.

“This is a really heavy day for all of us here at Dollywood Parks & Resorts,” Naughton said in an emotional Instagram video shared by the park on Wednesday. “We’ve been dealing with the news of our ‘Dreamer in Chief’ passing.”

Naughton acknowledged that many fans are worried about what Dollywood will look like without its beloved co-founder.

“A lot of people are concerned that things are going to change without Dolly being present here,” he said. “I want to assure you, it’s not. Just know we’re all going to keep her alive here.”

Naughton encouraged visitors to honor Parton by embracing the values she lived by.

“Show kindness, don’t be afraid to love big, don’t be afraid to dream big, don’t be afraid to care more about others,” he said. “That’s exactly what we’re gonna do. That’s exactly what she’d want us to do. The show must go on.”

Dollywood will remain open, in keeping with Parton’s wish that the Tennessee park continue to be a place of joy, music and shared dreams.

Dolly Parton’s music echoed through concert venues around the world as artists and fans mourned the country icon after her death.

Pitbull paused his show at New York’s Northwell at Jones Beach Theater on Aug. 25 to honor his friend and former collaborator. The rapper reflected on working with Parton on the 2024 track “Powerful Women” and praised the singer for believing in him.

“There’s someone that was very special to me and showed me love and believed in me when a lot of folks didn’t and gave me an opportunity,” Pitbull told the crowd. “And her name is Dolly Parton.”

Calling Parton “hardworking,” “powerful” and “a good human being with a good heart,” Pitbull dedicated the moment to the singer before taking a swig from a bottle onstage. Parton’s “9 to 5” then played over the venue speakers as a photo of the two appeared behind him.

“So, to all the powerful women here tonight, this is dedicated to y’all, but more than anything to the legend that will live forever,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tame Impala paid tribute before taking the stage at Nationwide Arena in Ohio. Fans inside the venue sang along to Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” as the beloved ballad played ahead of the show.

Spencer Pratt hailed Dolly Parton as “American royalty” in a heartfelt tribute following the country icon’s death.

Pratt re-shared the royal family’s X post honoring Parton and praised the singer as an example of greatness that went far beyond her music career.

“This is fitting. Dolly Parton is American royalty,” Pratt wrote. “She easily could’ve been a billionaire, but she just kept giving away her money.”

The former “Hills” star pointed to Parton’s charitable legacy, including her support for families displaced by the deadly 2016 Gatlinburg wildfires. Pratt noted that Parton gave direct monthly assistance to families who lost their homes, as well as her education benefit for Dollywood employees.

“She simultaneously built a formidable business empire, and fostered a universally-beloved reputation that spans every clique in America,” Pratt wrote. “I’ve literally never heard a single disparaging word about Dolly from anyone.”

Pratt also said Parton transcended political divisions throughout her life and urged fans not to claim her legacy for “their pet political issue.”

“She was just a genuine blessing to our country, and perhaps the best example of what an American should aspire to be,” he wrote, calling Parton “faithful, great, prolific, kind, generous” and “humble.”

Cher is remembering Dolly Parton as a one-of-a-kind friend whose infectious spirit never faded.

In an emotional interview with CBS News, Cher reflected on the nearly 50-year friendship she shared with the country icon, recalling their first meeting at the home of their mutual manager, Sandy Gallin, in 1978.

Cher said she was immediately struck by Parton’s larger-than-life personality — and the connection between them was instant.

“She just had a spirit,” Cher said. “It was a spirit that was always thinking the best was happening, the best was going to happen.”

Cher also praised Parton’s rare ability to make people feel seen, adding that she will miss her friend’s laugh most of all.

“I Will Always Love You” and “Islands in the Stream,” she said, remain two of her favorite Parton songs.

Anne Hathaway remembered Dolly Parton as a one-of-a-kind star whose work — and example — will outlive her.

“Dolly, aw heck … Heaven just got one of its own back,” Hathaway wrote in an emotional Instagram tribute to the country music icon.

“Alright my loves, I know this is hard but just think: she left us so much to work with,” she added. “She shared with us so many melodies, so many lyrics, so many stories, so many jokes, so much laughter, so many iconic performances but most of all, so many shining examples of how to be a treasure of humanity. She more than deserves her rest, and now it’s up to us to do our best and follow in her brilliant, adorable, one-of-a-kind, bedazzled footsteps so that we still feel that magic in our world.”

“Dolly, you have always been one of my angels,” Hathaway wrote. “I will always love you.”

Parton’s family confirmed to Fox News Digital that the beloved singer died after a brief battle with cancer. She was 80.

Miley Cyrus broke her silence Wednesday following the death of her beloved godmother, Dolly Parton.

“The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share,” she wrote on Instagram. “Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts.”

“What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong,” she added. “I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis.”

“I will always love her and want to make her proud,” Cyrus continued. “My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply. We’re in this loss together and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things.”

Fans watched their bond play out on “Hannah Montana,” where Parton appeared as Aunt Dolly, before the pair later shared the stage for performances of “Jolene” and collaborated on several projects. Cyrus recently joined Parton, Reba McEntire, Lainey Wilson and Queen Latifah on a new version of “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.”

On Tuesday, Rhonda Vincent opened the Grand Ole Opry with a heartfelt tribute to Dolly Parton, telling the audience, “This is for Dolly,” before performing the country icon’s beloved hit “Coat of Many Colors.”

The Opry member later returned to the stage to honor Parton with renditions of “9 to 5” and “Jolene,” while Morgan Myles performed Parton’s 1973 classic, “I Will Always Love You.”

The Grand Ole Opry will continue celebrating Parton’s life and legacy during Saturday night’s show, which will be dedicated to the Country Music Hall of Fame member and longtime Opry star.

Carly Pearce, who began her career at Dollywood and was surprised by Parton with an invitation to join the Opry in 2021, is among the scheduled performers.

“Dolly Parton was perhaps the most loved and admired artist from her home state of Tennessee,” Colin Reed, executive chairman of Ryman Hospitality Properties, said in a press release obtained by Fox News Digital. “Her music and sense of humor will live on for generations to come.”

The show will air on WSM-AM, Opry.com and SiriusXM channel 58.

Dolly Parton spent decades sharing herself with the world. Carl Dean was the man who got to keep her to himself.

The country music icon met Dean outside Nashville’s Wishy Washy laundromat in 1964, on her first day in town after moving from Sevierville to chase her music dreams. Parton, then 18, later recalled that she was not looking for love, but Dean caught her attention because he seemed genuinely interested in who she was beneath the blonde hair and big ambitions.

Parton and Dean celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2016 by renewing their vows.

“My first thought was ‘I’m gonna marry that girl,'” Dean told Entertainment Tonight of his first encounter with Parton. “My second thought was, ‘Lord she’s good lookin.’ And that was the day my life began. I wouldn’t trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth.”

For nearly six decades, their marriage endured while Parton became one of the most famous women in the world. Dean, who ran an asphalt-paving business, remained fiercely private and mostly stayed away from red carpets, cameras and the glare of Dolly’s superstardom.

Their differences became part of the relationship’s charm. Behind the scenes, they favored simple pleasures over Hollywood spectacle.

“Dolly and Carl spent many beautiful years together taking sightseeing trips around the country in their RV, staying in roadside motels, having date nights at the drive thru and often revisiting the church where they married for simple picnics around their anniversary,” Parton’s biography read. “Carl notably didn’t care for the spotlight of Dolly’s career, but his love, support and consistency built an unshakable foundation for her to come home to when she was off the road.”

Dean died in 2025 at the age of 82 after a prolonged unspecified illness. Parton joined her husband on Aug. 25 after a brief battle with cancer.

Julia Roberts has never forgotten a piece of advice Dolly Parton gave her on the set of “Steel Magnolias.”

During a 1989 appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, a clip of which has recently resurfaced, Roberts recalled the cast filming in Louisiana’s brutal summer heat and complaining about the conditions.

Parton, who was already an established star, offered a perspective that stayed with the then-rising actress.“When I was a little girl, I wanted to be famous and I wanted to be rich, and now I’m both those things,” Parton told Roberts. “I’m not going to complain about it.”

Roberts said the moment has stuck with her for decades, explaining that whenever she feels tempted to complain, she remembers Parton’s words — and the gratitude behind them.

Years before her death, Dolly Parton donated millions to support medical care and research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Parton gave $1 million to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a gift rooted in a deeply personal connection to the facility. Her niece had been treated there for leukemia as a child in the 1990s, and Parton later used her platform and resources to support the hospital’s work caring for seriously ill children and their families.

In 2022, she gave another $1 million to fund pediatric infectious disease research.

She also played an important role in supporting coronavirus vaccine research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center that helped lead to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. Parton gave $1 million in honor of her friend Dr. Naji Abumrad, whose son hosted the podcast “Dolly Parton’s America.”

Parton’s contribution helped fund critical early-stage research that paved the way for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Parton had been hospitalized at Vanderbilt four days before her death, People magazine reported. The “I Will Always Love You” singer’s family confirmed Parton had been battling cancer.

Dolly Parton built far more than a music career. The country icon created a business empire that stretched from the Smoky Mountains to grocery-store shelves — and ensured her name became synonymous with far more than rhinestones and hit songs.

At the center of it all was Dollywood. Parton partnered with the Herschend family to open the Tennessee theme park in 1986, transforming it into a sprawling resort destination complete with a water park, hotels, cabins and dinner attractions. She also lent her name and vision to Dolly Parton’s Stampede and Pirates Voyage dinner shows, which drew families to locations across the country.

But the singer’s business savvy began with her music. Parton wrote thousands of songs, including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” creating a catalog that continued to generate enormous value long after the songs first climbed the charts.

She then brought her larger-than-life personality into American kitchens through a partnership with Duncan Hines and its parent company, Conagra Brands. The deal expanded from baking mixes and frostings to a broader line of comfort-food products inspired by Parton’s favorite recipes.

Even in the months before her death, Parton continued to dream bigger. She had plans for the SongTeller Hotel and Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum in Nashville, along with a Broadway-bound musical based on her extraordinary life.

Parton’s family confirmed to Fox News Digital that she died after a brief battle with cancer. She was 80 — but the empire she built from her Tennessee roots will keep carrying her name, songs and spirit forward.

Dolly Parton’s legacy took over Google in a touching tribute to the country music legend.

A search for Parton’s name on Aug. 26 prompted a flurry of monarch butterflies to flutter across the screen as a message appeared: “We’ll always love you.” The tribute also featured sparkling stars and orange hearts alongside a throwback image of the singer.

The phrase appeared to nod to Parton’s beloved hit, “I Will Always Love You,” which she wrote and first released in 1973 before Whitney Houston took the song to new heights with her iconic cover nearly two decades later.

Parton’s family confirmed to Fox News Digital that she died after a brief battle with cancer. She was 80.

Dolly Parton’s music is climbing the charts as fans continue to celebrate her extraordinary legacy.

The country icon’s beloved 1973 hit “Jolene” reached No. 1 on Apple Music’s U.S. songs chart following her death at age 80.

Several of Parton’s other classics also saw a surge in listening, including “9 to 5,” “I Will Always Love You,” “Islands in the Stream” and “Coat of Many Colors.”

More than five decades after “Jolene” was released, the song’s return to the top spot is a powerful reminder of Parton’s lasting impact on generations of music fans.

Natalie Grant remembered Dolly Parton as an American icon whose warmth and faith were never an act.

The Christian singer recalled first meeting Parton while opening Dollywood’s season, when the country star asked if she could join Grant onstage to sing. “I’m at a park that’s named after you, of course you could come,” Grant said on “Fox & Friends,” laughing.

The pair later recorded “Step by Step,” the song Whitney Houston famously recorded for “The Preacher’s Wife” soundtrack. Grant said Parton initially had to decline because of her own busy recording schedule — but changed her mind weeks later after the song stayed with her.

“I received a letter and I’ll never forget it, on letterhead that had pink Dolly just as it would across the top,” Grant said. “Natalie, I just, I don’t know if you’ve found someone to sing this song with you yet, but this song just keeps ringing and calling me back.”

Grant said the personal note was a testament to Parton’s “authentic kindness” and “genuine generosity,” qualities she said marked the singer’s life just as much as her music did.

“Dolly is one of the greatest icons America has ever produced,” Grant said. “But for me, what marked my life was what her life was marked by, and that was authentic kindness, genuine generosity and a woman who really loved Jesus.”

Parton’s family confirmed to Fox News Digital that she died after a brief battle with cancer. Grant said the singer’s ability to bring people together made the loss feel especially profound.

“The sky was darker because we lost our brightest star,” Grant said. “She knew how to unite people.”

Grant remembered seeing that generosity firsthand backstage at Dollywood, where she said Parton knew the names of roughly 25 employees and asked about their families.

“She genuinely loves people,” Grant said. “This isn’t a persona, this isn’t an act. She is a genuine lover of people, and we all could learn a little something from Dolly.”

Dolly Parton’s hometown became a place of remembrance as fans gathered beneath her larger-than-life likeness.

Mourners paid tribute to the country music legend at the statue of Parton outside the Sevier County Courthouse in Sevierville, Tenn., on Aug. 25. Fans stopped by the bronze monument with flowers, signs and personal messages honoring the singer’s towering legacy.

The statue, which sits on the courthouse lawn in the city where Parton was born and raised, offered a fitting backdrop for those remembering a woman whose voice, generosity and unmistakable spirit reached far beyond the Smoky Mountains.

Parton’s death sparked an outpouring of tributes across Tennessee and beyond, with fans sharing memories of the icon’s music, philanthropy and lifelong devotion to her home state.

Parton’s family confirmed to Fox News Digital that the beloved singer died Tuesday after a brief battle with cancer.

Dolly Parton will reportedly be laid to rest beside the love of her life.

According to TMZ, the country music legend will be buried next to her late husband, Carl Dean, at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, Tennessee.

Parton and Dean were married for nearly six decades before his death in March 2025.

TMZ reported that Parton will be buried in her signature high heels and a comfortable cotton dress.

The outlet also reported that the family is planning a small, private ceremony in Nashville in the coming days, while plans for a public memorial have not yet been finalized.

Dolly Parton may be gone, but some of the projects closest to her heart are poised to live on.

The country music legend had been preparing for a busy fall, with a Nashville hotel and museum set to welcome fans alongside her life story heading to Broadway.

The SongTeller Hotel, a 245-room property in downtown Nashville, will feature two live-music venues: Parton’s Live and Jolene’s. The property is also set to house the 20,000-square-foot Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum, billed as the largest exhibit celebrating Parton’s life anywhere in the world.

Parton previously described the hotel project as a longtime dream.

“I’ve always dreamed of being able to create something here in Music City and I know we’ve found the perfect addition to the city I call home,” Parton said in a statement on her website.

The museum was designed to give fans a first-hand look at her historic journey.

“This museum is a place where folks can see my journey through my own eyes—every color, every story, and every dream that brought me here,” she previously shared.

Meanwhile, “Dolly: A True Original Musical” is expected to begin Broadway previews in December. The production will feature iconic classics including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” alongside original music written by Parton.

Dolly Parton fans are hoping Nashville’s biggest gateway will soon bear the country icon’s name.

A Change.org petition calling for Nashville International Airport to be renamed Dolly Parton International Airport has surged past 75,000 verified signatures in the wake of Parton’s death. The petition, started back in January 2025, argues that Parton’s decades-long impact on music, philanthropy and Tennessee make her a fitting namesake for the airport.

“Dolly has made substantial impacts on thousands of lives,” the petition reads, citing her Imagination Library and its mission to provide books to children. It ends with a fitting plea: “We could all be Departin’ from Parton!!”

The petition is not an official move to rename the airport, but supporters are directing their call to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and state lawmakers.

Petition organizer Lydia Popovich told Fox News Digital, “It’s difficult to imagine a world without our Dreamer-in-Chief, Dolly Parton. How are we going to be okay without her magic to keep us safe? How can we shine without her light?

“The truth is Dolly has dispersed the magic. It’s in the butterflies, the wildflowers, and on the breath of the children reading the words aloud of their first book. She has left us everything we need. She’s taught us all the ways to be a good person. It’s on us to live up to her legacy. Be more. Dream more.”

Dolly Parton’s tattoos held a deeply personal meaning.

The country music icon, who died Aug. 25 at age 80, once shared that her discreet body art was less about making a bold statement and more about turning painful experiences into something beautiful.

“I do have some tattoos, that’s true,” she told People Magazine in 2020. “But they’re tasteful. I’m not a tattoo girl.”

Parton said many of her pastel-colored tattoos — including butterflies, ribbons and bows — were designed to camouflage scars. After a feeding tube left an indentation on her side during a health struggle, she covered it with a small beehive and bee tattoo.

“My tattoos are pretty, they’re artful and they usually started out to cover some scar, not to make a big statement,” Parton previously told People.

“Most of my tattoos came because I’m very fair and I have a tendency to scar when I get any kind of cut,” she told W magazine in 2021. “I’ve had surgeries for different things, and if the scars didn’t heal properly, I just gotta put tattoos to take the sting out. I don’t have the real heavy, dark tattoos. Mine are all pastel. And I have more than one!”

Taylor Swift is remembering Dolly Parton as a musical icon, philanthropist and role model whose influence stretched far beyond country music.

“A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right,” Swift said in an emotional statement shared with Fox News Digital. “But because of the eternally generous way she spent her time on this earth and the countless lives she changed for the better, her legacy will be an everlasting one.”

Swift praised Parton as “true grace and true grit,” thanking her for inspiring generations through her music, generosity and determination. “For the melodies and lyrics she wrote that thawed even the coldest hearts,” Swift continued in part. “For the millions of books she provided children all over the world so that they might fall in love with stories the way she did.”

She closed with a simple farewell: “Dolly, I’ll think of you each step of the way.”

The tribute brings new emotional weight to a $2 million donation Swift and Travis Kelce made to Parton’s Imagination Library ahead of their July wedding.

Parton personally thanked the couple in one of her final public messages, stating she was “blown away and overjoyed with that gratitude.”

“Thank you @taylorswift and @killatrav for the generous gift to @imaginationlibrary!” Parton wrote at the time in a social media video. “I wish you both the best, and know that I will always love you.”

Dolly Parton’s niece, Rebecca Seaver, is remembering the late country icon with an emotional tribute.

In an Instagram post shared Tuesday, Seaver called the grief felt by Parton’s loved ones “insurmountable” while celebrating the singer’s “beautiful life.”

“She has always been the light, not just for those directly in her orbit but for the entire world,” Seaver wrote alongside a collection of family photos. Seaver, the daughter of Parton’s sister Cassie, described the “Jolene” singer as her “most trusted confidant,” best friend and godmother.

She said she takes comfort in knowing Parton has been reunited with her late husband, Carl Dean, and her mother, Avie Lee.

“She never left a rhinestone or a dream unturned,” Seaver wrote. “I am so proud to carry those shining dreams forward.”

Parton died Tuesday at age 80.

Music duo For KING & COUNTRY joined “Fox & Friends First” on Wednesday morning to honor the late Dolly Parton.

Brothers Luke and Joel Smallbone shared personal stories about recording their award-winning collaboration, “God Only Knows,” and discussed how Parton’s deep faith consistently shined through her music.

“She was such a woman of purpose and point,” Joel said, calling their work together “incredibly meaningful.”

Luke remembered playing the County Music Awards with Parton in 2019, telling a story of how she was having trouble hitting the right notes before their live performance.

“She goes, ‘Well, you come back to my dressing room and we’ll keep going over it.’ I kid you not, we go back to her dressing room, we probably go over it 10 to 15 more times,” Luke said. “She never once gets it right.”

“But she was co-hosting as well so she’s running out of time and she was like, ‘Well, I’ll keep practicing but here’s the deal. If I screw it up I’ll say whoopsie daisy and they’ll love me for it.’”

“Needless to say, I kid you not, live in front of probably the most amount of people we’ll ever perform for, with television and the audience, she nails it! And the only time she nailed it was live on television!”

“FOX & Friends” looked back at some of Dolly Parton’s most memorable appearances and reflects on the country music icon’s humor, kindness and enduring legacy following her death Tuesday.

Co-host Steve Doocy joined the show Wednesday remembering Parton as a “GOAT, the greatest of all time,” after “FOX & Friends” aired clips of Parton’s past interviews and appearances on the show.

“She was so kind in person and so gentle and such a professional. But at the same time she had a wicked sense of humor,” Doocy said.

Doocy recalled how Parton entered a Dolly Parton lookalike contest and ended up losing.

“She wound up with a fantastic story, but she was just such a professional and such an entertainer,” he said.

Co-hosts Brian Kilmeade, Ainsley Earhardt and Lawrence Jones also remembered Parton’s previous appearances on the show, recalling how the singer seemed to always have “felt very at home here [on ‘FOX & Friends’].”

“When she came in she just fit right in,” Kilmeade said.

Audience members gasped as news of Dolly Parton’s death was announced from the stage before a performance of “9 to 5: The Musical” in England.

Karla Tracey, who plays Parton’s character Doralee, was seen on video posted to social media breaking the news on opening night at the Pavilion Theatre in Worthing, West Sussex before dedicating the performance to the country music icon.

“Tonight, we will perform the piece as she intended with great respect and affection for the woman whose vision brought it to life,” Tracey told the audience.

“As we begin, we dedicate tonight’s performance to Dolly Parton, with our deepest thanks for the music, laughter and joy she gave us,” she continued.

Paul Jepson, chief executive of Landmark Theatres and the musical’s director, also paid tribute to Parton, telling the Telegraph that her “extraordinary talent, creativity and spirit are woven into every part” of the show.

“Our thoughts are with Dolly’s family, friends and all those around the world who loved and admired her,” Jepson told the outlet.

The New York Post paid tribute to Dolly Parton with a front page honoring the country music legend following her death at 80.

“We will always love you,” Wednesday’s print cover reads alongside a photo of Parton performing with her acoustic guitar — a nod to her signature song, “I Will Always Love You.”

The cover adds: “American icon dead at 80.”

Parton’s representatives told Fox News Digital in a statement on Tuesday that the singer died “after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer.”

The United Kingdom’s Band of the Coldstream Guards played Dolly Parton’s iconic “9 to 5” outside Buckingham Palace in a royal tribute to the county music star following her death Tuesday.

The British Royal Family on Wednesday shared a video on social media of the band playing the famous tune.

The band, one of the military musical units of the British Army’s Household Division, is responsible for state ceremonies and public duties like the Changing of the Guard and the King’s Birthday Parade. Members are also known for wearing bright red tunics and tall bearskin caps.

Parton recorded the song for the 1980 comedy film “9 to 5,” in which she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The song was also released on Parton’s record, “9 to 5 and Odd Jobs,” also released in 1980. The song later appeared in a television series of the same name during the 1980s.

Dolly Parton died Tuesday following a “brief battle with cancer,” according to her representatives. She was 80. 

“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,” her team said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital on Tuesday. 

“Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand. Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. 

“After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded. 

Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday, according to a press release obtained by Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton each issued posts honoring Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday following a brief battle with cancer. 

They first saw the legendary country music star in 1974, the former president noted. That was before the couple wed in 1975. 

“Dolly Parton was one of a kind—a great songwriter and performer who told the stories of everyday Americans with honesty, humility, and heart. She rose high from her East Tennessee roots and never forgot where she came from. And she always believed in giving back, especially in her efforts to promote literacy. Hillary and I were big fans and first saw her in 1974, and will always be grateful for the music and the memories. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, her legion of fans, and everyone who loved her,” he said in post on X. 

Hillary Clinton posted a message on social media that read, “Dolly Parton did all the good she could, for all the people she could, for as long as ever she could. From her legendary songwriting to the Imagination Library—which sent 1 million books a month to children across the country—she was the best of America. Dolly, we’ll miss your great heart.”