US country music legend Dolly Parton dies at 80
US country music legend Dolly Parton dies at 80
Dolly Parton, the country music legend behind hits such as “Jolene” and “9 to 5”, has died aged 80 after “a brief battle with cancer”, her representatives said.
Born into a family of 12 children in rural Tennessee, Parton moved to the country music capital of Nashville after high school. By 21, she was already one of the most recognisable figures in American country music.
Over six decades, the “queen of country music” wrote some 3,000 songs, including “I Will Always Love You”, which later became an international hit for Whitney Houston.
Known for her blonde wigs, glittering outfits and larger-than-life style, Parton carved out her place in a male-dominated industry. Her career brought her 10 Grammys and 13 Academy of Country Music awards.
Her reach went far beyond music. Parton starred in Hollywood films, built a business empire around ventures including her Dollywood theme park and donated millions of dollars to charitable causes.
