Dolly Parton, who broke onto the country music scene with her 1967 debut ‘Hello, I’m Dolly’, won 10 Grammy Awards and earned 55 nominations.
By Kehinde Okeowo
American country music legend, Hollywood actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton has passed away at the age of 80.
Her death was announced on Tuesday night by her nephew Bryan Seaver via a post on her Instagram. He did not, however, provide details regarding the cause of her death.
Confirming the demise of his aunt, he said: “This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality.”
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Seaver added: “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment, but haven’t truly felt it until now.
”It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly.
”Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens.”
Dolly Parton was one of the most groundbreaking and successful musicians in the history of country music, with a hitmaking career that spanned six decades.
She was so exceptionally gifted that she wrote two of the 20th century’s greatest songs – Jolene and I Will Always Love You – in a single day. Her songwriting was characterised by its vivid storytelling, emotional acuity and melodic strength, all sung with strident clarity.
Since breaking onto the country music scene with her 1967 debut Hello, I’m Dolly, Parton never seemed to slow down, releasing nearly 50 studio albums and selling over 100 million records.
She was so prolific in her songwriting that she won 10 Grammys and earned 55 nominations.
