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The news broke that Dolly Parton had sadly passed away at the age of 80.
She passed away on August 25th after being diagnosed with cancer.
Her family shared an announcement on social media that read: “Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old.
“Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942 – 2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923 – 2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921 – 2000).”
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They continued: “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.
“At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com
“In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com.”
Tributes have poured in from stars around the globe, including several Irish stars.
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Dolly superfan, Louise McSharry wrote: “Since the news about Dolly broke, I’ve received more messages than I think I might if an actual relative of mine died. It feels a little strange given I never actually met her, and she isn’t someone I actually know, but then I looked around my house and my body (sorry this is not a great photo of your incredible work @bycamilaconti) and realised just how obvious my love for her is. I know her presence has always been there in my digital life too (and in my book as you’ll see in the last photo), I can’t tell you how often I shared an image of her and got a slate of replies from people panicking that she was gone. My response was always the same – when she’s gone I won’t be able to post photos. But here we are and I’m posting photos!
“Having a celebrity icon or hero might seem silly if you don’t have one of your own, and that’s ok. To me though, Dolly has been a shining light for as long as I can remember. Certainly since I was the age I am in the first photo here. When things were dark, Dolly was bright, and her story of building a life for herself out of poverty always inspired. Dolly showed me that life will be what you make it, and that it’s up to you to make it good. She showed me that you should look how you want and be who you are, no matter what anyone said about it.
“As an adult, I’ve never ceased to be proud that the person I chose as my personal icon never let me down. She was always on the right side of things, from her philanthropy to her staunch stance on LGBTQIA+ rights. Dolly was one of a kind and we were all lucky to have her.
“My love of Dolly was also instrumental in cementing important friendships in my life – there’s nothing like sharing an icon to make you feel connected. Seeing Dolly live with @nanasthoughts and then calling in sick to work (sorry whoever my employer was then) so I could hop on a plane to Nottingham with @seany1982 two days later to see her again comes to mind.
“Dolly was a constant source of joy and inspiration in my life. I can’t believe she’s gone, but her energy and positivity will live on forever through everyone she inspired and all the incredible ways she impacted the world. May she RIP.”
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Graham Norton shared a picture of the pair together when he visited Dollywood, simply writing: “Such heartbreaking news. I only met and worked with Dolly a few times so it’s hard to explain the bond I felt. She was the best of us and lived her life in a way we should all aspire to. Her talent and humanity were beyond compare. I will always miss you.”
Ryan Tubridy also shared a picture of the two of them together, saying: “I had the pleasure to interview Dolly Parton twice, and we always ended up talking about her love of reading and the importance of literacy, especially for children.
“She was a remarkable, talented, hard-working, self-deprecating, thoughtful superstar. May she rest in peace.”
Lorraine Keane wrote: “I have been very lucky to meet and interview some incredible stars over the course of my career but one of the most memorable was Dolly. She was such a beautiful person – so humble and gracious and so much fun. The word “Legend” is overused in the entertainment world but Dolly really was exceptional in every way.”
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Una Healy also reminisced on what Dolly meant to her: “I will always love you the very first song I learned to play on guitar at 12 years old. Thank you Dolly for being a true inspiration for so many of us all over the world. You will never be forgotten. Rest in peace Dolly.”
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CMAT shared a video of her dancing around to a video of Dolly, saying: “We owe her everything. I will always love you @dollyparton.”
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Rest in peace, Dolly
