NASHVILLE, TN. (THECOUNT) — Dolly Parton, the legendary country music singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist whose career spanned more than six decades, died Tuesday at 80 following a brief battle with cancer, according to her representatives. Parton died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville surrounded by loved ones.
Parton’s representatives said she had been facing cancer before her death, but the specific type of cancer has not been publicly disclosed. Her death was announced by her nephew and longtime head of security, Bryan Seaver, in a video posted to Parton’s social media accounts.
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Dolly Parton's nephew Bryan Seaver, who was his aunt's head of security, announced her death in a prerecorded video posted to social media on Tuesday.
"It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness, but sadness lies with us, not with Dolly," he… pic.twitter.com/xp0W3UJI9P
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 25, 2026
The announcement came after Parton had publicly acknowledged health problems in recent months. On Aug. 21, just four days before her death, Parton told PEOPLE that she was dealing with health issues and said she had been through difficult periods with her health while continuing to work.
Parton’s health struggles had affected her professional schedule. She canceled a planned Las Vegas residency after previously postponing the performances. Earlier this month, she also canceled an appearance at Dollywood after her doctor advised her not to travel while she was experiencing dehydration and occasional dizziness.
TMZ previously reported that Parton was admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center early Friday with kidney and autoimmune issues. She died several days later at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Her representatives subsequently confirmed that cancer was involved in her death.
Parton also faced the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025. The couple had been married for nearly 60 years. They did not have children.
Parton’s death ends a career that made her one of the most influential figures in country music. Her catalog includes “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You,” the song she wrote and recorded before Whitney Houston’s later version became a worldwide hit.
Parton also established a major career in film and television, appearing in movies including “9 to 5,” “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and “Steel Magnolias.” She received an Academy Award nomination for the title song from “9 to 5” and earned numerous Grammy Awards and other major honors.
Her influence extended well beyond entertainment. Parton founded the Imagination Library, a literacy program that provides free books to children. The program has distributed hundreds of millions of books since its creation. Her philanthropic work also included major contributions to medical research, including a $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for COVID-19 research in 2020.
Parton’s connection to Vanderbilt was longstanding. In addition to her medical research support, she had donated to pediatric infectious disease research at the medical center and maintained a relationship with the institution through her philanthropic efforts.
Parton was born in 1946 in Sevier County, Tennessee, and rose from a large, impoverished family in the state’s Great Smoky Mountains region to become one of the world’s most recognizable entertainers. Her career eventually encompassed music, acting, songwriting, publishing, business and philanthropy.
Nashville is located in Davidson County in Middle Tennessee and is internationally recognized as the center of the state’s country music industry. Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, where Parton died, is part of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
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