Dolly Parton, born on Jan. 19, 1946, in Pittman Center, Tenn., has spent decades making a name for herself in country music and philanthropy. On Aug. 25, 2026, the fabulously iconic country music star, theme park owner, philanthropist and sex symbol lost her brief battle with cancer. She was 80. Take a look back at some of Dolly’s milestone moments throughout her rhinestone-studded life and prolific career.
Country singer Dolly Parton poses for a portrait in 1955 in Tennessee.
Country singer Dolly Parton poses for a portrait in 1965 in Nashville, Tenn.
Country singers Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner perform onstage in 1967 in Nashville.
Porter Wagoner, center, flanked by Dolly Parton and two other men presents a man with an “Honorary Wagonmaster” plaque in 1968.
Dolly Parton singing in 1970.
Dolly Parton poses for a portrait in 1970.
Dolly Parton photographed in 1970.
Dolly Parton poses for a portrait in 1972.
Dolly Parton is pictured during an interview with host Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show” on Jan. 19, 1977.
Dolly Parton has been nominated for a whopping 54 Grammy nominations and has won 10 of them. She is pictured here at the 19th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 19, 1977, presenting and awards to Les Paul and Chet Atkins along with Freddie Fender.
Country singing sensation Dolly Parton had a young start in the music business, beginning her career as a child. She gained widespread fame in 1967 and then became even more well-known as she transitioned to mainstream pop in 1977 with her crossover single, “Here You Come Again.” Parton is pictured here with an American Music Award in California on Jan. 31, 1977.
Dolly Parton photographed in 1978.
Singer, songwriter and actress Dolly Parton poses for a portrait during the cover session for her album “Heartbreaker” on Feb. 15, 1978, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Dolly Parton on the set of “9 to 5” on March 18, 1980.
Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman attend the premiere party for “Nine to Five” on Dec. 14, 1980, at Luchow’s in New York.
Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton act in a scene from the movie, “9 to 5.”
A woman of many talents, in addition to her music career, Dolly Parton had a very successful acting career. In 1980, she starred in the comedy “9 to 5” alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
Dolly Parton acts in a scene from the movie “9 to 5,” which was released on Dec. 19, 1980.
Combining her music and acting skills, Parton starred in the 1982 musical comedy, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” which was an adaptation of the 1978 Broadway musical by the same name. Parton starred opposite Burt Reynolds in the film, and even snagged a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical).
Dolly Parton performs on stage at the Dominion Theatre on March 29, 1983, in London.
Dolly Parton starred opposite Sylvester Stallone in the musical comedy “Rhinestone” in 1984. Unfortunately, the film was not a hit and was nominated for many Golden Raspberry Awards, or “Razzies,” which are given out to the worst films and performances of the year.
Dolly Parton in publicity portrait for the film “Rhinestone” in 1984.
Sylvester Stallone points to Dolly Parton in a scene from the film “Rhinestone” in 1984.
Willie Nelson, left, and Dolly Parton pose during the TV special, “Grand Ole Opry 60th Anniversary,” which aired on Jan. 14, 1986.
Dolly Parton pictured in Dollywood circa 1987.
Oprah Winfrey, left, and Dolly Parton on “Dolly” in 1987.
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton photographed in 1987
Dolly Parton starred in the 1989 comedy-drama “Steel Magnolias” as Truvy Jones, a hair stylist and the town gossip. The ensemble cast also included Shirley MacLaine, left, Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Julia Roberts and Daryl Hannah.
Dolly Parton collaborated with fellow country star Kenny Rodgers for decades, and even released a full album together in 2006. The duo is best known for their 1983 debut duet, “Islands in the Stream.” One of their duets, “Tell Me That You Love Me,” which was thought to be lost, was released on Rogers’ posthumous album in 2023.
Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette perform together in 1993.
In 1986, Dolly Parton bought an existing amusement park and named it Dollywood, after herself of course! She is pictured here riding the Ferris wheel at the Opening Weekend Celebration of Dollywood on April 24, 1993, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Dolly Parton stands with the award she won during the Country Music Awards on Oct. 2, 1996, at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Parton won for Vocal Event of the Year with “I Will Always Love You” with special guest Vince Gill.
Dolly Parton performs at the 14th annual Merlefest at Wilkes Comunity College on April 28, 2001, in Wilkesboro, N.C. The festival attracts more than a hundred musicians from as far away as Japan, as well as thousands of fans.
In 2001, Dolly Parton was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame during a ceremony held at the Sheraton New York Hotel on June 15, 2001.
Dolly Parton received the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Lifetime Achievement Award given by Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen during the 2003 Governor’s Awards for the Arts at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., on March 11, 2003.
Dolly Parton guest starred on fellow country singer Reba McEntire’s show, “Reba,” on Feb. 15, 2005. Parton played Dolly Majors, a cutthroat real estate agent.
Dolly Parton has been married to her husband Carl Dean since May 30, 1966. The couple is rarely even seen together because Dean dislikes publicity and does not often accompany his wife to events. In a rare public outing, the husband and wife duo attended that 78th Academy Awards together on March 5, 2006.
Dolly Parton performed her Oscar-nominated best original song “Travelin’ Thru” from the film “Transamerica” at the 78th Academy Awards on March 5, 2006.
Kennedy Center Honors recipients, from left, Zubin Mehta, Steven Spielberg, Dolly Parton, Smokey Robinson, and Andrew Lloyd Webber, pose for photos after receiving the award at the State Department during a dinner hosted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington on Dec. 2, 2006.
In 2009, Dolly Parton took her talents to the Broadway stage when she wrote the score for “9 to 5: The Musical,” the stage adaptation of her 1980 film. Parton is pictured here at the 63rd annual Tony Awards in New York City on June 7, 2009, where she was nominated for Best Original Score.
Country singer Dolly Parton photographed in 1977.
Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tenn., in 1978.
Country music legend Dolly Parton relaxes at her office in Nashville, Tenn., on Aug. 11, 2005.
Dolly Parton, center, with unidentified nieces and nephews at Dollywood, on May 2, 1986, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Dolly Parton is shown at a party following the premiere of her movie, “Nine to Five,” in Los Angeles, on Dec. 12, 1980.
Dolly Parton, wearing a wedding dress, is shown with wrestler Hulk Hogan during taping of a television special in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 14, 1987.
Country music vocalists Linda Ronstadt, left, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton, right, take a break to met with reporters at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel in Universal City on April 17, 1987, to talk about their collaboration on the recently released album “Trio.” The album ended a decade of frustrating attempts to unite the three voices.
Dolly Parton and actress Candy Bergen in May 1977.
Dolly Parton, who is slated to appear in the film version, gets a mass hairdo as she visits the Broadway show “Steel Magnolias” in New York, on April 8, 1988. Giving Dolly the business are, from left: Elizabeth Moore, Mary Fogarty, Rosemary Prinz, Susan Masur, Connie Shulman and Betsey Aidem.
