It’s hard to believe she’s really gone.
This afternoon, the family of Dolly Parton announced that she had passed away this morning 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. aside from that, she understandably didn’t share more, though clearly there were more serious issues going on.
TMZ reports that Dolly was admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on Friday morning “with kidney and autoimmune issues:”
“Admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on early Friday morning with kidney and autoimmune issues.”
The source also revealed that she passed away in the hospital this morning.
That’s as much detail as has been revealed in terms of specifics, and it’s completely understandable if her family never wants to share more. The world is in mourning, Dolly was so beloved, and it’s just so sad to think that she’s gone.
Of course, Dolly was a massively beloved global figure, and tributes have been pouring in for her from country artists and fans alike, and flags will fly at half staff in her honor for the next week.
Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942 – 2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923 – 2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921 – 2000). Dolly had been dealing with some major health issues since last year, which she recently updated the public on during a Dollywood announcement last week.
Her team shared the following statement about her death:
“A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family.
Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”
Dolly lost her longtime husband, Carl Dean, in May of last year, and they had been together for nearly 60 years. They shared a very long and happy marriage, though Dean purposefully remained out of the spotlight, a dynamic that certainly worked for them.
Her head of security, who is also her nephew, shared the following video on behalf of the family:
I think Dolly really was the last universally beloved figure on this earth, and the reaction of the world to her passing goes to show just how much of an impact she had on so many different people.
She’s of course known for timeless hits like “Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Here You Come Again,” and “I Will Always Love You,” and throughout her illustrious career, Dolly put out 50 studio albums and charted 25 #1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. In addition, she released 13 Collaborative albums with Porter Wagoner, as well as nine live albums and six soundtrack albums. She was of course a Country Music Hall of Fame member, as well as a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
But her reach went far beyond music, as she was also an actress, staring in classics like “9 to 5” and my personal favorite, “Steel Magnolias,” a philanthropist with her incredible charity Imagination Library, and she run multiple business ventures including her incredibly successful theme park, Dollywood.
Today is certainly a sad day, but I know Dolly is in a much better place now, reunited with her parents, some of her siblings, and her beloved husband, Carl Dean.
