Legendary American country music singer, songwriter and actress Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80.

Parton’s family announced her death on Tuesday, saying the country music icon died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee.

In a statement released by her public relations team, Parton was described as a “global icon and humanitarian” whose seven-decade career inspired generations through her music, songwriting and philanthropic work.

“Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience,” the statement said, adding that her songs would continue to resonate with people of all ages while her philanthropic work would have a lasting impact.

Parton’s nephew, Brian Seaver, also announced her death in a video message shared on social media.

“Sadness lies with us, not with Dolly,” Seaver said, adding that she “lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely.”

Born in 1946, Parton grew up as the fourth of 12 children in a poor farming family in Tennessee. Her family lived in a one-bedroom cabin along the Little Pigeon River, while her father, Robert Lee Parton, worked as a tobacco farmer.

She began singing in church at the age of six and was performing on local television before reaching her teenage years. At 13, she appeared at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, where she was introduced by Johnny Cash.

Her breakthrough came after she teamed up with country star Porter Wagoner in the late 1960s. Their 1968 duet, The Last Thing on My Mind, helped launch a successful run of country music hits.

Parton went on to become one of the most influential figures in country music, writing and performing enduring songs including Jolene, Coat of Many Colors and I Will Always Love You.

She reportedly wrote more than 3,000 songs and sold over 100 million records worldwide during a career spanning more than six decades.

Parton said she considered herself primarily a songwriter, describing songwriting as her way of expressing herself and her “therapy.”

She also enjoyed a successful career as an actress, playwright and author, while building a reputation as a philanthropist and businesswoman.

Parton’s death has prompted tributes from celebrities around the world. Actress Keke Palmer described herself as “devastated,” while British singer Paloma Faith praised Parton as “one of the greatest ever to do it.”

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis also paid tribute, describing Parton as a hero and “a great example for us all.”

US President Donald Trump announced that American flags would be lowered for one week in honour of the late singer.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Parton’s death was “a true loss for millions of people,” adding: “There has never been anyone like her, and never will.”

Parton was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Carl Thomas Dean, who died in 2025.

Her death brings to an end the life and career of one of country music’s most recognisable and enduring stars, whose distinctive voice, songwriting and philanthropy made her a global cultural icon.