Dolly Parton, country star, actor and philanthropist, dies aged 80

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Key context: <p>Songwriter of I Will Always Love You, Jolene and 9 to 5 also invested millions in child literacy, Covid-19 vaccine development and other causes</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/aug/25/dolly-parton-country-music-career">Alexis Petridis on Dolly Parton’s peerless career which turned country music cliches inside out</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2026/aug/25/dolly-parton-life-in-pictures">Dolly Parton – a life in pictures</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/aug/25/dolly-parton-dead-age-80-live">Country music legend Dolly Parton dies aged 80 – latest updates</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/aug/25/share-your-tributes-and-memories-of-dolly-parton">Share your tributes and memories of Dolly Parton</a></p></li></ul><p>Dolly Parton, one of the greatest singer-songwriters in country music who was also much cherished for her philanthropy, has died aged 80.</p><p>Her death was <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dollyparton/reel/DceNXgPJyZ9/?hl=en">announced</a> by nephew Brian Seaver on Instagram. “I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now,” he said. “It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness.”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/aug/25/dolly-parton-country-singer-dead">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.