Dolly Parton, country music icon and philanthropist, dies at 80

The news of Dolly Parton's death, the country‑music icon, actress and philanthropist, at 80 years old generated huge reaction and made the artist one of the most searched names. The death was announced by her nephew Brian Seaver on Instagram, who expressed a mix of pride and deep sadness.

The legacy in country and pop music

Dolly Parton was one of the greatest singers and songwriters in country music, with a career that reshaped the genre’s clichés. She wrote two of the century’s biggest songs, “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You”, in a single day. Her work was marked by vivid storytelling, emotional sharpness and melodic strength, delivered with clarity. With a catalogue of hundreds of songs, she achieved a record 25 country No. 1 singles and 47 albums in the U.S. country Top 10.

Success on multiple fronts

Dolly Parton also crossed over to the pop charts with “9 to 5”, a U.S. No. 1 in 1980. She balanced her music career with acclaimed acting, earning two Golden Globe nominations for her roles. The song “I Will Always Love You”, written as a farewell to Porter Wagoner after their creative partnership, was a country No. 1 in 1974 and again in 1982, becoming a massive pop hit when revived by Whitney Houston for the “The Bodyguard” soundtrack in 1992. It is the best‑selling single of all time by a woman, with about 20 million copies sold. Parton also had other hits, such as “Islands in the Stream”, a duet with Kenny Rogers that topped the U.S. pop charts in 1983. She received 10 Grammy Awards and an Oscar nomination for the original song from “9 to 5”.

Philanthropy and social initiatives

Beyond her art, Dolly Parton was a shrewd businesswoman and philanthropist. Her literacy project, the Imagination Library, donated more than 150 million books to children, sending an age‑appropriate book to every child in her home county each month until age five. The initiative expanded nationwide in the U.S. in 2000 and internationally in 2006, distributing almost 25 million books annually. She explained that the motivation came from her father, who could not read or write, and she saw how “paralyzing that could be.” In 2022, Jeff Bezos donated $100 million to the foundation.

Contributions to health and the environment

Parton also made significant donations to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, including $1 million in 2020 for COVID‑19 research that helped lay the groundwork for Moderna’s vaccine. She created a reserve in 2003 to help preserve the bald eagle and contributed $500 thousand to open a hospital in Sevier County in 2006. Additionally, she coordinated relief efforts for those affected by the 2016 Smoky Mountains wildfires and supported Black Lives Matter and transgender rights.

The businesswoman behind the sparkle

In 1986, Dolly Parton acquired a stake in the Silver Dollar City theme park in Tennessee and renamed it Dollywood, doubling its size over the next two decades. The complex includes a spa, cabins, a theater‑restaurant concept and a water park under the Dollywood brand. She also founded the film and TV production company Sandollar, responsible for hits such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and the “Father of the Bride” film series. Her business acumen and generosity marked her journey, complementing her public image of glamour with sequins and high hair.

With information from The Guardian.