Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Parton wasn't just a hugely skilled singer-songwriter - she also acted, with some considerable success.

Some of her best-known films include 1980's 9 to 5 - co-starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, about three working women who combine to get their revenge on their sexist boss. Parton wrote Nine to Five, to accompany the film, and it was nominated for an Oscar.

She was also nominated for three Golden Globes for her role in the film, and her song, plus four Grammys.

Her other films included 1982's The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, co-starring Burt Reynolds, about a town sheriff and regular patron of a brothel fights to keep it running when it's targeted by a conservative TV crusader. Parton played the brothel's proprietress, Miss Mona Stangley, who was described as strong, independent and passionate.

In 1989, Parton co-starred in Steel Magnolias with Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Daryl Hannah and Julia Roberts, who was nominated for an Oscar. The film was about a beautician, played by Hannah, who works at a salon in Louisiana, where a group of women share a close bond of friendship, and also loss.

Parton once jokingly said, external: "I’m never going to be a Meryl Streep. But then, she’ll never be a Dolly Parton either. Be true to you!"

Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images for The Recording Academy

The world of country music is mourning one of its icons.

"The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden," singer Kacey Musgraves, who performed in a 2019 Grammys celebration of Dolly Parton says. Musgraves frequently performs covers of Dolly Parton's songs.

Keith Urban, who collaborated with Dolly Parton, says he is "heartbroken" by the news. "Honestly... I have no words right now."

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

We reported earlier that US President Donald Trump said all American flags will be lowered for one week.

By ordering US flags to be flown half-staff for seven days, Donald Trump is providing Dolly Parton with a rare honour.

Per US flag code, only a handful of individuals are specifically designated to receive such a lengthy period of national mourning.

Flags fly half-staff for current and former presidents for 30 days. Sitting vice presidents, current and former Supreme Court chief justices and the speaker of the House of Representatives each receive a 10-day observation.

Members of Congress, by contrast, only receive two days of recognition. The length for others, such as governors, cabinet secretaries and associate Supreme Court justices, varies depending on how long it takes for them to be interred.

As with Parton, presidents can also order half-staff flags for prominent private citizens.

Trump designated four days of mourning after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in 2025. Pope John Paul II, Neil Armstrong , Rosa Parks, Billy Graham and Nelson Mandela also received a day or more of recognitions.

A full week of observance is exceedingly unusual, however. The last time that happened was in 1965, when President Lyndon Baines Johnson ordered the flags lowered following the death of Winston Churchill.

A "small, private service will be held for [Dolly Parton's] immediate family", at her request, a post on the country music star's Instagram account says.

"Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton, external or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com," the post adds.

We'll bring you more of the latest updates shortly.

Image source, Reuters

Parton's fans are converging at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee, to sign a guest book as part of the museum's exhibition, Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker.

The exhibition, which runs through 4 October, focuses on turning points in the singer's life and career, when she "overcame obstacles and ignored naysayers to become one of the most beloved and widely recognised celebrities across the world", the organisation says.

Following news of her death, a frame was placed by the guest book with a message encouraging visitors to share memories and condolences in the book, which will be delivered to the Parton family.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

Image source, 2014

In 2014, Glastonbury showcased its Friday and Saturday headliners, Arcade Fire and Metallica.

But who had the biggest crowd that weekend? A certain Dolly Parton in the Sunday legends slot on the famous Pyramid stage.

The country star had thousands of fans chanting her name as she sang some of her immense back catalogue, including 9 to 5, Jolene and Coat of Many Colors.

Parton told the audience: "I've been waitin' a long time for this."

She wore a white, diamante trouser suit and said: "I'm just glad you came to see me."

Rachel Flynn
Live reporter

Image source, Redferns

Tributes are flooding in mourning the death of Dolly Parton, who has died aged 80.

Pedro Pascal says Parton was "one of one" while fellow actor Seth MacFarlane says when working with her when she guest-starred on TV show The Orville, "her kindness, generosity, and authenticity were evident from moment one".

"The world is a dimmer place today without her," he adds in an Instagram post.

Fashion designer Donatella Versace says: "The world has lost one of the kindest and most generous of souls, the greatest of story tellers and a true legend of music," and Senator Bernie Sanders writes that Parton "was not only a talented musician & songwriter, but a lifelong philanthropist and advocate for literacy, education, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare and disaster relief."

Raised in poverty in a one-room cabin in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Dolly Parton was the fourth youngest of 12 children.

Throughout her childhood, she performed on local radio and television, and recorded her first single at 13. After graduating high school, she moved to Nashville and released her first hit single Dumb Blonde.

These early pictures show her rise to become one of the most beloved entertainers in the world - you can see more in this full lookback through Parton's career in pictures.

Image source, Nancy Barr/MediaPunch via Alamy

Image source, Nancy Barr/MediaPunch via Alamy

Image source, Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Image source, Nancy Barr Brandon/MediaPunch/Shutterstock

Over on BBC Radio 2, Jo Whiley has paid tribute to legendary country music singer Dolly Parton.

Whiley is asking callers to get in touch with their memories of Dolly Parton and what she meant to them.

So far we've heard tracks including Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That and Love Is Like A Butterfly - Whiley is on air until 21:00 BST.

You can listen on BBC Sounds.

Louise Martin
News Editor, Learning & Identity

Image source, Pool/Getty Images

Dolly Parton’s passion for literacy is one of her strongest legacies.

Inspired by her father’s illiteracy, she created the Imagination Library which offered a free book a month to children all around the globe.

The scheme was started in her home state of Tennessee in 1995, and the initiative launched in the UK in 2007.

Local partners, including councils and community hubs can sign up, and children will receive a book chosen by a central committee.

At the end of 2025, the Dollywood Foundation said more than six million books had been gifted in the UK over 18 years.

Shaimaa Khalil
Reporting from Hollywood

Image source, Danny Martindale/WireImage

Dolly Parton managed something very few American celebrities achieve: people across generations, regions and political divides felt affection for her.

People sometimes saw the hair and the humour first - but Dolly Parton was nobody’s novelty act.

She was a formidable songwriter, a very clever businesswoman and an artist with extraordinary staying power.

Her legacy is obviously in songs that people will continue singing. But it is also in millions of children who received their first books because of her.

Dolly Parton turned the poverty she came from into generosity - and turned a deliberately larger-than-life image into something that felt remarkably human.

Noor Nanji
Culture correspondent

Image source, NBC via Getty Images

Yes, there were the songs, the movies, a TV production company - but let’s not forget there’s also Dollywood - Dolly Parton’s very own theme park.

Dollywood is based in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - and Parton previously said she wanted to build a place where the culture of her beloved Smoky Mountains could be celebrated.

It’s a sign of her global superstardom, with many fans of the country legend – of all different ages - flocking there over the years to soak up the atmosphere and take in the shows.

Image source, Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Image source, Corbis via Getty Images

It was the theme song that Dolly Parton wrote for the 1980 movie 9 to 5 that really propelled her to stardom.

The actress Jane Fonda, who produced and starred in the movie, had a vision of Parton typing at a desk in her film about discrimination against women in the workplace.

Parton had agreed to star in the film, but only if she could write the theme song.

The singer later said in an interview that she reasoned that Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin were huge stars so it was worth the risk.

"If it’s a big hit, then I'll get, you know, the glory of it, like Jane and Lily, and if it's a flop, I can blame it on them,” she said.

Parton wrote 9 to 5 on set while she was waiting around during filming. She played her acrylic nails as she thought they sounded like a typewriter.

When Fonda heard the song, she said she realised straight away that it wasn’t just a movie song, it was an anthem.

The film was a big success at the box office and the song won several awards including a Golden Globe for best original song.

Helen Bushby
Culture reporter

The singer was famously private about her personal life, but last year she announced that her husband Carl Dean, who was rarely seen with her in public, had died aged 82.

Describing her long marriage, she said they spent "many wonderful years" they spent together, adding: "Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years."

The 9-5 singer met Dean outside a laundromat on the first day she arrived in Nashville as an 18-year-old aspiring singer, and two years later they were married, in 1966.

They did not have children, but shared a large and close-knit extended family.

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

Dolly Parton's last post on X was published on 15 August - a video of her famous duet with Kenny Rogers, Islands in the Stream. , external

In May, the country star pulled out of a highly anticipated Las Vegas residency, which was due to commence next month.

She had already postponed her six-date run at The Colosseum Theatre at Caesars Palace from December 2025 to deal with "health challenges".

"I've still got some healing to do, but I am on my way!" the musician said in a video message.

In her typical warm and upbeat tone, Parton told fans that she "can't be dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars and such on 5-inch heels - and you know that I'm going to be wearing them".

US President Donald Trump says in honour of Dolly Parton "American flags throughout the US will be lowered for one week beginning on Tuesday evening".

In a post on Truth Social, he adds: "This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will."

"Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you," he writes.

We're seeing tributes pour in for Dolly Parton, who has died at the age of 80.

"I'm devastated. Truly" actor Keke Palmer says alongside a photo of her and Parton. The pair starred in the 2012 musical Joyful Noise.

British singer Paloma Faith has also paid tribute. "Rest in peace wonderful Dolly Parton. You were one of the greatest ever to do it!... Thank you for the inspiration and may you be singing in heaven with all the greats."

Actor Jamie Lee Curtis says Parton was a hero who "is a great example for us all".

Mark Savage
Music correspondent

One week in 1972, Dolly Parton was suddenly struck with inspiration - and quickly dashed off two songs that would define her as an artist.

The first was Jolene - a playful, but steely warning to a beautiful woman and love rival. According to Parton, the track was inspired by a red-headed bank clerk who’d flirted with her husband - but she acknowledged the appeal was more universal.

"Most of us have actually had a Jolene in our lives at one time or another,” she said.

"But more importantly, we've all felt insecure about something. We've all felt like we might lose someone we love to someone else because we're not good enough, and that's what this song's really about.”

Not long after, she started writing I Will Always Love You. It also a personal story - but not a romantic one.

The ballad was actually a bittersweet goodbye to Porter Wagoner - the country star who’d supported Parton in the early days of her career, making her a regular fixture on his TV show.

The song was an apology as she prepared to strike out on her own.

Later on, she recalled how the songs had been recorded onto the "same cassette tape", just "a day or two apart". How’s that for a productive couple of days?