Dolly Parton, the celebrated country music sensation who transformed her humble beginnings in Tennessee into a sparkling legacy of hits, including Jolene and 9 to 5, has passed away at the age of 80, announced her family on Wednesday.
Born Dolly Rebecca Parton on January 19, 1946, in Sevierville, Tennessee, she was the fourth of 12 siblings. Her childhood was marked by poverty, growing up in a modest family home nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Beyond her role as a singer, Parton left an indelible mark by composing 3,000 songs, gracing Hollywood’s silver screen, and contributing generously to various charitable causes both locally and globally.
Her entrepreneurial spirit was evident in ventures such as the beloved Dollywood theme park, alongside her interests in cosmetics, pet fashion, baking products, and even a successful truck stop.
During a remarkable career that spanned six decades, Parton produced timeless classics like Jolene, Coat of Many Colors, and the legendary ballad I Will Always Love You, which Whitney Houston propelled to international fame.
Never one to downplay her striking looks, Parton essentially wrote the book on how a woman can rule the airwaves in a male-dominated industry, with songs covered by everyone from Shania Twain to Sinead O’Connor.
The US singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist didn’t seem to mind being mistaken for a ditzy blonde all too eager to play up her looks, after growing up poor in rural Tennessee.
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At the height of her fame, she reached number one on the pop charts, with songs like Islands in the Stream, and starred in Hollywood blockbusters 9 to 5, for which she sang the insuppressible title track, and Steel Magnolias.
She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November 2022.
Parton initially turned down the honour, saying she felt she hadn’t earned it. She released a rock album, Rockstar, in 2023, which she called an attempt to justify the induction.
Affording her the sort of honour given to major state figures, US President Donald Trump ordered flags across the country to be lowered for a week to mark what he called a “true loss for millions of people”.
— With Agence France-Presse.