Dolly Parton: Her Life and Career in Photos
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- Dolly Parton died Tuesday in Nashville at age 80, with her family calling her "a rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see" and praising her "timeless music and prolific songwriting."
- Parton's film career included iconic roles in "9 to 5" (1979) alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982) with Burt Reynolds, "Rhinestone" (1984) with Sylvester Stallone, and "Steel Magnolias" (1989).
- "Jolene" was released as a hit album in 1974, and Parton accepted the CMA Entertainer of the Year award in 1978 flanked by Johnny Cash and Ronnie Milsap.
- "Dolly" ran on ABC in 1977 and 1978, and the anthology series "Dolly Parton's Heartstrings" later streamed on Netflix in 2019.
- Parton performed at the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving halftime show in 2023 and joined Miley Cyrus onstage at the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019.
- Parton also appeared in the 2012 musical film "Joyful Noise" with Queen Latifah and Keke Palmer, and was interviewed by Barbara Walters in 1977.
Why it matters: Parton's death at 80 removes one of the few artists who sustained simultaneous relevance across country music, Hollywood film, and network television for five consecutive decades — from her 1974 "Jolene" breakthrough through her 2023 Dallas Cowboys halftime performance. For the entertainment industry, her passing closes the career of a crossover figure whose songwriting catalog, acting resume, and television presence were unmatched by any contemporary country artist.
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