Country singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton died on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, in Nashville, her family announced. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, delivered the news via a video on her social media accounts. The exact cause of death has not been disclosed.

Parton's career spanned approximately seven decades and included hits such as "Jolene", "9 to 5", "Coat of Many Colors" and "I Will Always Love You". Beyond music, she established Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a literacy programme that has distributed more than 300 million free books to children globally.

Tributes from public figures

Following the announcement, various public figures shared tributes:

• Donald Trump announced that American flags would be lowered to half-staff for one week starting at 6 pm on Tuesday.
• Hillary Clinton noted Parton's work with the Imagination Library, which sends 1 million books a month to children across the country.
• Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who saw Parton receive the Bezos Courage & Civility Award in 2022, described her as a legend who "gave our Courage and Civility award its meaning".
• Reba McEntire, a longtime friend, wrote:

  "Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth. Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge huge heart."

Other entertainers including Kacey Musgraves, Trace Adkins, and author J.K. Rowling also issued statements. Rowling described the Imagination Library as "the best contribution to child literacy ever made by a celebrity".

In lieu of flowers, Parton's family has requested that mourners donate to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. A private service for immediate family is expected at a later date.