Born to a poor family in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Dolly Parton rose from child music prodigy to one of the most famous singers and songwriters in music history. Throughout her life, she was inducted into the Country Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and her songs ‘Jolene’ and ‘I Will Always Love You’ were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, earning Parton the title ‘Queen of Country’.

Parton was born the fourth of 12 children to Robert and Avie Lee Parton in 1946. She grew up in Sevier County, Tenn. surrounded by Appalachian folklore and ballads and the music of the Grand Ole Opry radio broadcast. Parton was quickly identified by her family as a talented musician, composing her first songs at the age of five. Unable to read or write, Parton’s mother wrote the lyrics as Parton sang them.

Parton’s Uncle Bill Owens, an accredited songwriter himself, began chaperoning Parton to Nashville, where at the age of 10 she began performing on local radio and TV shows. At just 13, she made her debut on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, the most prestigious stage in country music.

A couple years later, Parton made the move to Nashville where, on her first day there, she met the man who would eventually become her husband of 60 years. Parton later described the day she met Carl Dean as the day her life began. The couple married in 1966 at a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia.

In 1969, Parton became a member of the Grand Ole Opry after a multi-year partnership with fellow country singer Porter Wagoner led to a number of top 10 hit singles.

Parton’s first #1 title came in 1971 with the release of her album ‘Joshua’, followed by other hit pieces as ‘Coat of Many Colors’, ‘My Tennessee Mountain Home’, ‘Jolene’, and ‘I Will Always Love You’. Her music continued to be heavily influenced by Appalachian culture and her childhood in the Smokies.

Parton didn’t limit herself to just singing and songwriting. Throughout her lifetime, she appeared in nine films including ‘9 to 5’ and ‘Steel Magnolias’, as well as making cameos as herself in other films and shows. Her song ‘9 to 5’ was written for the film with the same name and quickly became one of her most well-known songs.

Parton never left her home behind, opening her own amusement park “Dollywood” in Pigeon Ford, Tenn. in the Smokies.

Parton spent her film and music fortune donating to and founding nonprofit and fundraising organizations for a number of different causes. Her most well known organization was the Imagination Library, founded in 1995. The Imagination Library Fund provides a monthly free book for children from birth to age five to encourage a love of reading starting at a young age. As of 2026, the Imagination Library operates in five countries and has provided over 308 million free books to kids around the world.

Parton also created a fund for families affected by the Great Smoky Mountains Wildfires in 2016 and donated $1 million to help fund research for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Parton was awarded the Living Legend award by the Library of Congress in 2004. She later also received the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian award and a Lifetime Achievement Grammy.

Parton made for a recognizable figure, known for her bedazzled style, enormous blonde wigs, acrylic nails and bold makeup. Between her style and her quick humor in interviews and performances, she became beloved by not just country music fans but by nearly anyone who saw her. Her style and personality also became the inspiration for drag queens like Trixie Mattel. Parton’s hairstylist once talked her into joining a Dolly Parton Lookalike contest which she lost to a drag queen.

Parton passed away Aug. 25, 2026 at her home in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer. Her last formal appearance was in June 2026 after she had stepped back from the spotlight following the death of her husband in March of the previous year. Although Parton had previously disclosed that she was dealing with some health issues, her death came as a shocking announcement to fans around the world.

Following her passing, President Donald Trump ordered American flags to be lowered to half mast from Aug. 25 through Sept. 2 to honor her. Other celebrities including Reba McEntire, Jane Fonda, Mick Jagger, Cyndi Lauper and more took to social media with heartfelt messages to Parton’s family and to reminisce on their memories of the Queen of Country.

In lieu of sending flowers, Parton’s family has asked mourners and well-wishers to make donations to the Imagination Library Fund.