🙏 Born Dolly Rebecca Parton on January 19, 1946, in Sevier County, Tennessee, she was the fourth of 12 children and grew up in a poor family in the Appalachian Mountains. Parton began performing as a child and moved to Nashville after graduating high school in 1964. Her early success came as a songwriter and later as a performer alongside Porter Wagoner. Over the following decades, she became one of the most successful country artists in history. Her best-known songs include “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” Her music crossed from country into mainstream popular culture, and she also built a successful acting career with films including 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Steel Magnolias. Outside entertainment, Parton became a successful businesswoman. Dollywood, the Tennessee theme park bearing her name, became a major tourist attraction and employer in the region where she grew up. In 1995, she founded Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in honor of her father, who could not read or write. The program grew from a local effort in Tennessee into an international organization that has distributed hundreds of millions of free books to young children. Parton received numerous honors during her career, including induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, multiple Grammy Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts. She married Carl Dean in 1966. They remained married until his death in March 2025. Dolly Parton’s life stretched from a childhood without many material advantages in rural Tennessee to international fame, considerable business success and decades of charitable work. Whatever anyone thought of her music or celebrity, her impact on American entertainment is undeniable. Dolly Parton January 19, 1946 – August 25, 2026 80 years old.