Dolly Parton dies at 80
The musician, businesswoman, actor, and philanthropist who inspired countless artists leaves behind an unparalleled and incomparable legacy.
Dolly Parton with David Dye | File photo
Country music icon Dolly Parton died peacefully at 80 years old, according to her family, who made the announcement on social media Tuesday afternoon.
The news comes about a year after the singer, actor, businesswoman, and philanthropist shared a health update with her fans. In that update, she announced the postponement of several Las Vegas shows, citing health challenges and procedures ordered by her doctors.
In classic Dolly fashion, she made light of the situation, saying it was time for her “100,000-mile check-up” and that she wanted to be at her best for fans.
“And don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet,” she said. “But, I believe He is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you.”
Parton’s 70-year career was instrumental in popularizing country music as a whole, as she became known the world over and an ambassador for the genre.
“I just really felt like, ‘Well, why not,'” she said of going mainstream in a 2001 interview with former World Cafe host David Dye. “The worst that can happen is I can always go home. That’s the way I felt when I moved to Nashville, too. I couldn’t have been any poorer than I grew up. I thought it’ll happen or it won’t. I can always go home and be a beautician or something.”
Dubbed “The Queen of Country,” Parton was born in Pittman Center, Tennessee on Jan. 19, 1946 and had 11 siblings. Despite her success, she always felt connected to her roots.
“I just close my eyes and go back there, when I’m writing,” she said of her hometown. “No matter if I’m in New York or on the plane or whatever. It’s always easy for me to go home.”
Her smash hit song “Jolene” is a warning to a woman coming onto her late husband, Carl Dean, and based on a real event. The song’s origin does contain a sweeter kernel of truth that came from an autograph party, however.
“There was this beautiful little, red-headed girl that walked up to the stage,” she told Dye. “I said, ‘You are so pretty. What’s your name?’ She said, ‘Jolene.’ I said, ‘One of these days, I’m gonna write a song about you.'”
“Jolene” has been covered many times by a slew of artists, all of whom held Parton near and dear to them.
“It’s a nice feeling that people look at me and some of the older ones as the ones that inspired them,” she said in 2001. “But, I will always be as old as yesterday and as young as tomorrow.”
From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, WXPN will play a full hour of Parton’s music. On Wednesday, Kristen Kurtis, Robert Drake, and World Cafe will continue to celebrate her music.