Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Dolly Parton, the legendary country music star whose work influenced generations of artists, has died at age 80, her nephew Bryan Seaver announced Tuesday on social media.

Parton was one of the most influential entertainers in American culture, with a career that spanned music, film, television, business and philanthropy. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s through appearances on “The Porter Wagoner Show.”

She launched a successful solo career in the 1970s with hits including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “I Will Always Love You” and “Here You Come Again.”

Parton won multiple Grammy Awards over several decades and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999.

Scripps News spoke with Pete Fischer, former general manager of the Grand Ole Opry, about Parton's career and her influence on American music and culture.

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