by Many people may know Dolly Parton as the soul of country music, from hit songs “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” “9 to 5” and many more, but an entire generation knows her as not only the queen of country music but “Aunt Dolly” from the hit Disney TV series “Hannah Montana.” Unfortunately, the country star has died at the age of 80, due to a battle with cancer. Dolly’s one request while battling cancer was to rest in a luscious bed of cotton.
Parton loved music since she could remember walking, and that love only grew as she got older and stole all of America’s heart with her witty humor. As America’s heart grew, founder of Parton it was time to spread her joyous spirit to the next generation.
As the godmother of Miley Cyrus, she was portrayed as the fun aunt, but she was so much more than that. From the iconic episode “Good Golly, Miss Dolly,” Season 1, Episode 16, Dolly portrayed a spy that did backflips and still managed to have perfect hair while using her long, fabulous nails as keys to get into locked doors, she always kept it sleek as a “spy”. Showing generations that working 9 to 5 could be a bit more upbeat with a cup of ambition or pleading to Jolene, the lush redhead, that she shouldn’t take her man Carl Dean who was just as adored by the public, you can say she did it all.
The 11-time Grammy Award winner became a style icon very early in her career, with some fan favorite moments shared between her and Cher, another style icon. Draped across lounge chairs in black and white or the all black sparkly dress that glimmered when clicking her nails together with Patti Labelle all while continuing to sport the iconic blonde updo you can recognize anywhere.
Even though the entire country-pop fandom Dolly has created will miss the tantalizing blonde, she will forever live on with her many business-savvy ventures, running from Duncan Hines cake mixes, the Dollywood theme park, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and more.
With a career spanning over 60-years, the successful artist made being a musician,entrepreneur and actress the standard. With her final appearance occurring on June 24, 2026, at Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee, she still managed to glimmer in rhinestones until the very end.
