Dolly Parton, country music legend, dies at age 80

Dolly Parton, a towering figure in country music whose career spanned six decades and extended into television and film, has died. Her family announced her passing on Tuesday; she was 80 years old. Parton's nephew, Bryan Seaver, who served as her head of security, shared the news in a prerecorded video.

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It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness, but sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.

"It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness, but sadness lies with us, not with Dolly," Seaver said. "Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus."

Parton's journey in music began with her 1967 debut album, "Hello, I'm Dolly." She went on to release nearly 50 studio albums and sell more than 100 million records worldwide. A prolific songwriter, she garnered 10 Grammy Awards and received 55 nominations throughout her career. Despite her immense success, Parton often expressed modesty, even attempting to withdraw from her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination in 2022, stating she didn't feel she had "earned that right."

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don't feel that she had "earned that right."

Born in rural Tennessee in 1946, Parton grew up in poverty as one of 12 children. She embraced her "hillbilly" roots, telling CBS News in 2016, "to be called a hillbilly, I always take pride in that." She began songwriting at a young age and gained national attention after moving to Nashville in 1966 and joining Porter Wagoner's variety show for seven years. Her distinctive style and persona were influenced by a woman she described as a "town tramp," whose look she admired and emulated, defying conventional expectations.

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to be called a hillbilly, I always take pride in that

Parton achieved her first No. 1 country hit with "Joshua" in 1970, followed by the iconic 1973 song "Jolene," which cemented her status as a household name. She recounted that "Jolene" was inspired by a meeting with a young fan after a performance.

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And she wore the makeup, red nails, red high heels, tight clothes. I just thought she was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen. And people say, 'Oh, she ain't nothing but trash.' But in my mind, I thought, 'That's what I'm going to be when I grow up.'