She kept working until the very end.
On August 25, 2026, Dolly Parton sadly passed away at 80-years-old in Nashville Tennessee. Dolly had been dealing with undisclosed health issues for the last year or so, and she previously shared that she was having issues with severe kidney stones. Dolly’s reps confirmed she sadly died following a “brief battle with cancer,” though the specific kind was not revealed.
We now know that she never really slowed down, though, as several different people have revealed that Dolly was still working, even in her final months. She recorded her last ever song for U2’s forthcoming album Carnaval De Luz, a song called “Torn,” which will be released on November 13th. She also did a song with The First Ladies of Bluegrass for the Stanley Brothers tribute album. a cover of “Bound to Ride,” though that one was recorded over a year ago, but was just released in September.
She has appeared in some posthumous recordings too, which were all recorded not long before her passing, and most recently we got to see the one she did for the Country Music Association Foundation’s 10th annual Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony, which honored 30 of the nation’s top music teachers.
She was introduced by Zac Brown, someone she had worked with before, and even though he said this video was recorded “not long” before her death, you wouldn’t know it… she looked just as beautiful as ever, and was as inspiring as she always was.
Dolly welcomed the teachers to Nashville, and she acknowledged how much the music teachers do to inspire the next generation, thanking them for their “passion, patience and care” that they give to their students every day:
“Well hey there, it’s Dolly. and I am so happy to welcome you to Nashville as the CMA Foundation celebrates ten years of music teachers of excellence. Now I’m excited that you all are staying at my new SongTeller Hotel, and I’m thrilled that you’re getting to see my Life Of Many Colors Museum.
You know, I’ve always believed that music brings people together, but none of that happens without dedicated teachers who encourage, inspire and believe in the next generation. And that’s why we’re celebrating tonight.
And to every music teacher of excellence, I want to thank you for your passion, patience and care that you give your students each day. Congratulations on this incredible milestone, and keep making beautiful music together.”
Dolly was very passionate about education. Her incredible Imagination Library Foundation gives out free books to children all over the country in order to foster a love of reading from a young age. She was inspired to start it because her father could not read or write… though she often said he was the smartest man she ever knew.
She was such a light, and even though she’s no longer on this earth, her sparkle continues to shine as bright as ever:
During a show in Forest Hills, New York not long after her passing, Brown got very emotional singing the song he and Dolly recorded together, “Butterfly”:
