Dolly Parton Dies at 80
Dolly Parton, the iconic singer-songwriter and actress, died on Aug. 25 at age 80, her team confirmed. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security, announced the news in a video message shared on her social media accounts. According to her team, Parton died following a brief battle with cancer in Nashville.
Parton's career spanned more than six decades. She released her first single, "Puppy Love," in 1959 at age 13. Over the years, she released 49 studio albums and notched 25 No. 1 hits on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart. In 1973, she released two of her most enduring songs, "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You," the latter later becoming a massive hit for Whitney Houston in 1992.
Beyond music, Parton was a noted philanthropist. She contributed millions to college scholarships through the Dollywood Foundation and founded the Imagination Library, which provides free books to children. She also invested royalties from "I Will Always Love You" into an office complex in Nashville, a decision she explained in 2021 as a way to honor Whitney Houston's legacy and the predominantly Black community around the property.
Jack White's Tribute
Hours after news of Parton's death broke, Jack White, best known as the frontman of the White Stripes, paid live tribute during his show at London's Eventim Apollo. White covered "Jolene," a song he had not performed in 19 years, since a 2007 concert at Madison Square Garden. He later posted a snippet of the performance on Instagram, captioned with the lyric "Your beauty is beyond compare." White also shared a 1965 photo of Parton with the caption "Instant Sainthood."
The White Stripes previously released a studio version of "Jolene" as a B-side to "Hello Operator" in 2000 and a live single in 2004. Their cover topped the UK Indie chart and peaked at No. 16 on the UK Singles chart that year. Parton's original peaked at No. 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot Country Songs chart in 1974. Over the years, the song has been covered widely, including Beyoncé's interpolation on her album Cowboy Carter, which reached No. 7 on the Hot 100 in 2024, and a Pentatonix collaboration with Parton that hit No. 18 on Hot Country Songs in 2016.
Sports Tributes
Parton's influence extended into the sports world. A Tennessee native, she was a devoted fan of her home-state teams and was named the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame's Tennessean of the Year in 2020. In 2023, she appeared at Neyland Stadium, escorted by Peyton Manning, to perform "Rocky Top," and she also performed at a Thanksgiving halftime show for a Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys game, wearing a Cowboys cheerleader uniform and performing "Jolene" and "9 to 5," concluding with a mashup of Queen's "We Are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You." Following her death, tributes poured in from sports figures and teams, including Peyton Manning and the Dallas Cowboys.