Dolly Parton, a legend and icon of country music, has died at the age of 80. Her family announced the news through a video on social media featuring the artist’s nephew, Bryan Seaver: “This announcement is something Dolly asked me to share years ago. It is an honor, a blend of absolute pride and great sadness, but the sadness is with us, not with Dolly,” he states.
Parton leaves behind one of the most significant and influential figures in the history of American music, leaving a career full of timeless hits: “She has always been on her television, on her records, on her CDs, and on her playlist, becoming an extended part of her family whether they like it or not,” Seaver explains.
Songs such as “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You,” popularized by Whitney Houston’s rendition, are a cornerstone of contemporary music history. This story began in Tennessee on January 19, 1946, within a humble family where Parton immediately stood out for her musical talent. Six decades later, a period during which she also found success as an actress in films like “Steel Magnolias,” her work continues to be recognized worldwide.
Parton never ceased to stay connected with her pop legacy, collaborating recently with Sabrina Carpenter on an alternate version of “Please Please Please” or with Miley Cyrus and P!nk on her own album.
