Country music has lost its queen as music icon Dolly Parton died at 80 after a brief battle with cancer.
The sad news was announced on Tuesday, 26 August by Parton’s nephew, Brian Seaver, in a video posted on Parton’s Instagram.
Parton’s family announced that she died while being surrounded by people she loved.
A heartfelt video
In the video, Seaver, who has been the singer’s head of security for more than two decades, said the announcement was something his aunt had asked him to make years earlier.
He also paid tribute to his “Aunt, Granny, Gigi” and said she was now “in the arms of Jesus,” where she was surely reunited with her late husband, Carl Dean, her parents, and others who had died before her.
Parton’s team also remembered her for her life, saying she spent her life bringing “joy, laughter, hope, and integrity” to everything she touched.
“Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet,” Team Dolly said, describing her unconditional love for others as the guiding force behind her lasting impact.
From Tennessee to the Queen of Country
Born on January 19, 1946, Parton was the fourth of 12 children.
Her love for music was instilled in her by her late mother.
Parton began performing at church, and at age 13, she appeared on local radio and television programs.
In 1967, Parton released her first record, ‘Hello, I’m Dolly’, but her breakthrough as a solo performer came in 1974 when ‘Jolene’ topped the country charts.
Parton followed with four more country chart-toppers, including ‘I Will Always Love You’, which later became a massive international hit for Whitney Houston in 1992.
Her musical influence has earned her 11 Grammy Awards and sold more than 100 million records during a career spanning more than six decades, making her one of the bestselling musical performers of all time.
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Dolly the philanthropist
Parton’s legacy has extended beyond music and entertainment, as she also made an impact through her Dollywood Foundation, supporting poverty relief and educational programs in East Tennessee.
Its most enduring initiative, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, was inspired by her father, who was unable to read or write.
In 2020, Dolly made a significant contribution toward coronavirus vaccine research as she donated USD 1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The research contributed to the development of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Tributes pour in: ‘There will never be another Dolly’
Following the announcement of Parton’s death, musicians, actors, politicians, entertainers, and people remembered the singer for her generosity.
President Donald Trump ordered US flags lowered to half-staff nationwide for one week and said, “There has never been anyone like her, and there never will.”
Former President Bill Clinton also remembered Parton as “one of a kind,” praising her songwriting, performances, and her heart.
Country music star Reba McEntire mourned the loss of her friend, writing that there would “never ever be another” Dolly Parton.
Kacey Musgraves wrote, “This really hurts,” while George Strait said Parton had made an enormous impact around the world.
Taylor Swift also paid tribute to one of her role models and friends in Hollywood, describing Parton as “truly the gift that kept on giving.”
In Tennessee, Rep. Tim Burchett described Parton as one of the state’s greatest ambassadors and a representation of “the very best of the American dream.”
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