The iconic American country music singer and songwriter behind hits such as ‘Jolene’ and ‘I Will Always Love You’, Dolly Parton, has died at the age of 80.
Parton’s family confirmed her death in a social media video shared on Tuesday. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced the news on her Instagram page on behalf of the Parton and Owen families.
“I am representing the Parton and Owen family today to announce the passing of my aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton,” Seaver said.
The family did not disclose the cause of death. However, Parton had cancelled a number of concerts in Las Vegas in May because of ongoing health concerns.
In her final video shared on Instagram, the singer said she was responding well to treatment for an unspecified illness.
Widely regarded as the “queen of country music”, Parton enjoyed a career spanning six decades and sold more than 100 million records globally. She wrote at least 3,000 songs, including some of country music’s biggest hits.
Her song ‘I Will Always Love You’ gained even greater international recognition after Whitney Houston recorded her own version in 1992.
Parton was the fourth of 12 children born into a poor farming family that lived together in a one-bedroom cabin in rural Tennessee.
Her passion for music developed early, influenced by her mother’s folk songs and her aunt, who played the guitar and wrote songs.
She began singing at the age of six at a local church where her grandfather served as pastor.