‘Immortal’ country icon Dolly Parton dead at age 80

Music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton passed away on Tuesday, according to a post from her family.

A message from the family of Dolly Parton. pic.twitter.com/9DNRgRx0uH

— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) August 25, 2026

“It’s a shock. It’s a shock because she just seemed immortal and in a sense, she is,” says broadcaster and pop culture expert, Rob Salem.

She was a legend who wore many hats; musician, actor, philanthropist and business woman.

“Something people generally don’t realize is that she produced a lot of stuff. You listen to the music, the acting, her philanthropy and she had a production company, Sandollar Productions,” says Salem.

“She started with Porter Wagoner in the ‘60s for about five years. She was such a multidisciplinary performer. She really, in a lot of ways, bridged the gap between country music and pop music. Not only as a singer but as a songwriter.”

Parton famously wrote and performed ‘I Will Always Love You’ in 1973 and then almost 20 years later, Whitney Houston turned it into an anthem.

Dolly Parton was named the Top Country Artist of All Time by Billboard in 2024.

“The thing to me that really resonates with Dolly Parton was her philanthropy … She was instrumental in funding the Covid vaccine. Where the government fell short, Dolly filled in the gap,” says Salem.

Dolly Parton donated $1 million USD to vaccine research during the Covid-19 pandemic, making her an early sponsor of Moderna’s vaccine development.

She also founded the Imagination Library, which continues to encourage children in Canada, the U.S., UK, Australia and Ireland to read.

Her death comes after she was forced to cancel her Las Vegas residency back in May due to health concerns.

Dolly Parton was 80 years old.

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