UPDATE (8/25): Dolly Parton’s representatives issued a statement confirming she succumbed to cancer after a “brief battle” at Nashville’s Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
Singer-songwriter, actress and author Dolly Parton has passed away at the age of 80. Her untimely death was preceded by the passing of her husband Carl Thomas Dean early last year. No cause of death has been publicly revealed as of publication time but it was noted in a press release that the multi-hyphenate had “died peacefully” in Nashville, Tennessee.
Loved ones memorialized Parton with a heartfelt eulogy reading, “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.”
The country music icon had recently touched upon her health in an interview with People Magazine stating that she was dealing with issues she wasn’t previously able to pay attention to while she was caring for her late husband. She was working on the Life Of Many Colors museum along with her SongTeller Hotel in Nashville. Parton was also in the preliminary stages of development of a digital avatar of herself when she passed.
Back in May, Parton cancelled her Las Vegas residency and explained that “it’s gonna take me a little while before I’m up to stage performance level.” Earlier this year, she teamed up with Miley Cyrus, Lainey Wilson, Queen Latifah and Reba McEntire on a collaborative new version of her 1977 track “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.”
In place of flowers, Parton’s family has asked that donations be made to her Imagination Library project instead.
