Dolly Parton Dies at 80; Disney Airs Tribute Special

Country music icon Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80, following a brief battle with cancer. Her team confirmed she passed away at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones. The news prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the entertainment industry and around the world, honoring a career that spanned nearly seven decades and extended far beyond music into philanthropy, business, and popular culture. Parton grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee before building a multifaceted legacy as a singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.