Dolly Parton dies at 80; Trump lowers US flags

Dolly Parton, the American country singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist, died Tuesday at age 80, and President Donald Trump ordered US flags lowered for a week in her honor.

Trump called Parton's death a “true loss for millions of people” and said on Truth Social that she had “just passed away.”

Parton's six-decade career made her one of country music's best-known figures. She wrote thousands of songs, including “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.” Whitney Houston later recorded “I Will Always Love You” for the 1992 film “The Bodyguard,” turning it into one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Parton released 49 studio albums and more than 100 compilation and collaboration albums. She sold more than 100 million records and had 26 number one country hits.

She also crossed into film and pop culture, starring in “9 to 5” and “Steel Magnolias.” The title song from “9 to 5” became one of her signature hits.

Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on January 19, 1946, in Sevierville, Tennessee, the fourth of 12 children. She performed at the Grand Ole Opry at age 13 and moved to Nashville after high school. By 1967, she had joined Porter Wagoner's syndicated country music television show.

Parton opened the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in 1986. She also launched publishing and music production companies, worked on books and films, and built a large entertainment brand.

Her philanthropy included a $1 million gift to Vanderbilt University in 2020 that helped develop Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine. Her literacy program has donated about 100 million books to children worldwide.

Parton won 10 Grammys and 13 Academy of Country Music awards. She received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2006 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November 2022.