Dolly Parton‘s obituary has been revealed. Parton passed away on August 25, 2026. She was 80 years old when she died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, after a brief battle with cancer. The obituary was posted by Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home & Woodlawn Memorial Park.
A private memorial will be held for Parton for her family, per her request.
Read the entire obituary below.
“Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author, died peacefully on August 25 in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80.
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).
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, kindness, 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.
Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media tagging @dollyparton. Visit www.DollyParton.com to learn more about her life and legacy.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com.
What Happened to Dolly Parton
Parton had been quietly battling health struggles for several months. She later admitted she put her on health on hold to care for her husband, Carl Dean, who passed away in 2025.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” Parton told People on August 21. “You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health.”
“But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago,” she continued. “I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI! Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’! You know me — as I’ve often said — I’ve dreamed myself into a corner and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame