Country Music Legend Dolly Parton Dies at 80

Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her family announced on Tuesday.

Born in Tennessee, Parton became one of the most recognizable figures in country music, known for her heartfelt lyrics, distinctive voice and flamboyant style. Over a career spanning nearly six decades, she sold more than 100 million records and won 11 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Parton wrote her first song at around the age of six. Her best-known songs include “Jolene”, “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You”, which later became a global hit for Whitney Houston.

Beyond music, Parton appeared in several films and created Dollywood, a popular theme park in her home state of Tennessee.

Parton was also known for her philanthropy. She donated $1m to vaccine research at Vanderbilt University in 2020, becoming an early sponsor of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine development. She also ran a literacy program for preschool children and provided scholarships to high school students in the Tennessee county where she was born.

Despite her enormous success, Parton remained true to her working-class roots and regarded herself first and foremost as a songwriter. She wrote an estimated 3,000 songs during her lifetime.

(Reuters, max)