Dolly Parton dies at 80 after brief cancer battle

Dolly Parton, the 11-time Grammy winner who shaped country music for six decades, has died at 80. Her family announced her death on August 25, 2026, in a video statement posted to her official X account by her nephew, Brian Seaver. Her team said she had faced a brief battle with cancer. NBC, ABC and CBS each scheduled tribute specials within a day.