Dolly Parton had been privately battling cancer before her death at the age of 80 on Tuesday.

Parton’s representatives confirmed the country superstar’s death in a statement to People, sharing that the Jolene singer died following a ‘brief battle with cancer.’

They did not disclose what type of cancer it was.

‘After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,’ the statement read. 

An industry insider also told The Daily Mail that Parton had been quietly battling cancer in the months leading up to her death. 

‘I was told how a long time ago how sick she was but people really didn’t know. We knew she was going to die but we didn’t know it was going to be today,’ the source said.

‘She had cancer – that I know, but I don’t know what kind. We were all afraid to ask [for more details] because we didn’t want to know the answer.’

According to a source, who said people are ‘heartbroken’ by her death, those close to Parton have known about her cancer diagnosis for many months.

‘No one close to her [is surprised that death was close]. That was quite a while ago, like about 11 months ago, that she wasn’t doing too well,’ the insider said.

‘And then she got better for a while, but then she kept canceling stuff, so we knew.’

Meanwhile, Parton’s representatives further told People in their statement: ‘Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched.’

‘Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,’ the statement went on.

‘Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact.’

The legendary country singer’s death was confirmed Tuesday in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also acted as her head of security.

She died Tuesday morning after being admitted Friday to Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.

Parton’s representatives confirmed the country superstar’s death in a statement to People, sharing that the Jolene singer died following a ‘brief battle with cancer’; Pictured in 2025

An industry insider also told The Daily Mail that Parton had been quietly battling cancer in the months leading up to her death; Parton is seen in Nashville in March 2025 

‘She had cancer – that I know, but I don’t know what kind. We were all afraid to ask [for more details] because we didn’t want to know the answer,’ the source said; Parton pictured 2023

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Parton’s loved ones began racing to Nashville upon hearing news of her hospitalization, but not all were able to reach her while she was alive.

‘This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,’ Seaver said.

He hailed his aunt for having ‘lived in the light’ and said she was now ‘in the arms of Jesus’ and the company of her late husband Carl Dean, as well as her parents and ‘countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.’

Parton, who is often referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned an incredible six decades and was arguably best known for her hits Jolene and 9 to 5.

Her passing came after months of health woes that saw her pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling fan fears for her wellbeing.

Seaver fondly recalled joining Parton on tour when he was a child in the 1980s, sharing that she ‘opened doors not just for me but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn’t even know was possible.’

He characterized her as ‘a farmer, just like her daddy. He farmed the soil. She farmed songs and happiness. Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.’

Parton looked energized and happy in her last public appearance before her passing, as she discussed her ongoing ‘health issues’ with fans 11 days ago

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Aside from video appearances, Parton was last seen out and about on June 24 when she attended the grand opening of her truck stop, Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop

Family insiders indicated that a private service for close friends and relations will be held in Nashville within the next few days.

In an interview published just four days before her death, Parton had declared she still had ‘so many things I want to achieve’ and vowed to continue ‘working as long as I can to see everything come to life,’ via People.

She also admitted she had recently been having ‘hard times with my health.’

‘I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,’ she said, referring to her late husband, who passed away in March 2025.

Concerns about Parton’s health had loomed for months, with the pop culture icon frequently dispelling her fans’ fears.

She pulled out of multiple public appearances, including a residency in Las Vegas and the opening of a new ride, NightFlight Expedition, at her Dollywood theme park.

The star was supposed to attend the ride’s grand opening on August 14. Instead, a video recording of the star addressing her fans was shared on a screen at the park, which is now regarded as her last public appearance.

‘So my Nashville doctor has kind of clipped my wings, saying, “You ain’t traveling this week.” So I guess if your doctor tells you, “You ain’t traveling this week,” you ain’t traveling this week,’ Parton said in the video message.

The songstress, donning a bright pink top adorned in gems and enormous butterfly wings, looked energized and happy as she discussed her ongoing ‘health issues’ with fans.

‘I’m still in Nashville, and I’m sorry about that,’ she said in the clip. ‘I’m supposed to be there in person like we planned.’

She explained that she ‘sometimes gets a little dizzy’ and ‘dehydrated,’ which is why she couldn’t be there in person.

‘I’ve told you before, all my fans, that I’ve had a few little health issues and sometimes I get a little dizzy and I get dehydrated. And I’m dehydrated,’ she said.

She reassured her fans that she was still hard at work on projects like her new museum, Life of Many Colors, in Nashville, her new hotel and Broadway show, Dolly: A True American Musical.

She also insisted that ‘all was going well on the medical end of things.’

The Rudds Arms in Marton, welcomed customers back on Saturday (August 22), following a six-figure revamp by pub operator Greene King.

The renovation has transformed both the inside and outside of the Middlesbrough pub, with upgraded facilities, refreshed décor and more space for welcoming customers.

The outdoor space has had a refresh just in time for the summer Bank Holiday weekend – with a newly decorated pergola, complemented by new festoon lighting, planters and garden furniture.

Inside, sports fans will have full access to a dedicated darts zone featuring two dartboards, as well as upgraded screens and sound systems that have been installed to maximise live sport coverage on Sky Sports and TNT Sports.

The expansion has also arrived in perfect time for the return of Premier League football.

(Image: Greene King)

The inside of the pub has had a general refresh throughout – with new lighting, updated furniture and décor. 

A newly created function room means the pub will be hosting celebrations for larger gatherings such as birthday parties, cooperate events and family celebrations.

Rob Watson, general manager of The Rudds Arms, said: “The Rudds Arms is back and better than ever, and we’re delighted to be welcoming our lovely locals and new customers through the doors to see our brand-new look.

“The pub has received a full refurbishment to give everyone added comfort, top quality sports and entertainment and fantastic spaces for groups of all sizes to come together and unwind, both in and outdoors.

“The team and I pride ourselves on delivering a brilliant pub experience, and we can’t wait to showcase all we have to offer.”

The investment is the latest refurbishment project carried out by Greene King as it continues to upgrade venues across the country.

East Midlands Railway (EMR) has warned of major disruption on Sunday (August 30) and bank holiday Monday (August 31) due to strike action by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union.

This is in addition to engineering work on the East Coast Main Line as part of the £1.4bn East Coast Digital Programme – as reported by The Press earlier this month.

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This upgrade – which will see digital in-cab signalling introduced between Welwyn and Hitchin – will affect journeys south of Peterborough towards London, with rail replacement buses set to operate for some journeys.

EMR will operate a significantly reduced timetable to and from London on both days due to the walkout, which is part of an ongoing dispute over safety concerns.

This could lead to extremely busy trains to and from London St Pancras, with reduced capacity coinciding with increased demand – which could affect people travelling from Sheffield or Nottingham.

Philippa Cresswell, customer experience director at EMR, said: “We recognise how frustrating this disruption will be for customers, particularly following the three Saturdays affected by RMT strike action earlier this month, and we are very sorry for the impact this will have on August bank holiday plans.

“We strongly advise customers to only travel to or from London if their journey is essential on Sunday 30 and Monday August 31, and to check their full journey, including first and last trains, before setting out.”

RMT members have raised concerns about safety issues on Class 810 trains, including faulty air conditioning, broken doors, and non-functioning toilets.

Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the RMT, said: “RMT is demanding that whilst these faults exist and until these trains are shown to be operating properly, they should be taken out of service.

“It is now time for EMR management to act on the safety concerns of our members.”

EMR said it is in ongoing discussions with the RMT and has met with the union six times in an effort to resolve the dispute.

For those who care about the man, the legend that is Ridley Scott (director of two of the greatest films of all time, Blade Runner and Alien, not forgetting the not-half-bad Gladiator), there was an unspoken collective “phewwww…” at last week’s world premiere for The Dog Stars. Because after the woeful (in varying degrees) House of Gucci, Napoleon and Gladiator II, here’s something, well, not half bad.

Lego Skylines, Path Of Exile 2 1.0, and Ontos were amongst the highlights for this year’s Opening Night Live event, as Gamescom 2026 begins.

With E3 now lost to history, Gamescom has, entirely by default, become the biggest gaming event in the year, dwarfing Tokyo Game Show and other similar showcases. Unlike E3 it’s always been open to the public but in recent years it’s been preceded by the Opening Night Live (ONL) livestream from The Game Awards host and organiser Geoff Kigheley.

It generally has less big name announcements than The Game Awards, and Keighley’s Summer Game Fest, but this year we did get the surprise reveal of The Witcher 3 Remastered. There were also lots of new trailers for existing games and a few smaller reveals during the two hour event.

Arguably the biggest thing, other than The Witcher 3, was a new trailer for Final Fantasy 7 Revelation and an appearance from director Naoki Hamaguchi. He didn’t actually say much that was new though, with the release date only narrowed down as far as spring 2027.

As the final part of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, Revelation will be multiformat from the off, and released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

The first two games have been surprisingly good, threading the needle between nostalgia pandering and trying to do something new and interesting with surprising grace. The whole experience is so substantially different from the original, in terms of story, gameplay, and visuals that it’s not really a remake at all, so we’re very much looking forward to seeing how it all ends.

In terms of the rest of Opening Night Live, there seemed like there were less on-stage appearances than previous years, with long sequences of trailer after trailer, usually for games that have already been announced and which, in many cases, are out this year.

Even so, the very FromSoftware influenced new game Nodus Fall, from HoYoverse, looked interesting, if completely unoriginal. We were also very pleased to see a new big budget turn-based tactics game, in the form of Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Tactics, which will be released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC sometime next year.

We’ve no idea what’s going on in indie game Lofsöng, but it certainly looked good and reminded us slightly of the excellent Cocoon. Meanwhile, War For Westeros continues Warner Bros. efforts to never make a console-based Game Of Thrones game, since it’s a PC-only real-time strategy.

Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons looked enjoyably shlocky nonsense and along with Exodus is part of Wizards Of The Coast’s efforts to focus more on video game development. Although recent talk from the company, which is owned by toy maker Hasbro, suggests those ambitions have already been curtailed.

Afterworld from Paradox Interactive seems to be a grand strategy game, by the makers of Crusader Kings and Hearts Of Iron, but set in a Mad Max style version of America, while Stage Tour will give anyone that remembers the golden era of Guitar Hero déjà vu.

Strangely, Lego Skylines was only shown for a few seconds, but as peculiar as it seems to make a game based on such an adult-orientated title a Lego city builder does make sense and Cities: Skylines is definitely the modern day successor to SimCity.

Path Of Exile 2 1.0 was also only featured for a moment, but it was revealed it’ll be coming out of beta and getting a full release on December 11. Meanwhile, turn-based strategy game Heroes Of Might And Magic 3 is being treated to a full-blown remake.

No Law looked very violent and very much like it was trying to be Cyberpunk 2077, but the visuals are impressive and it’s out next year.

The most disturbing trailer of the night though was the one for Ontos, which is the spiritual sequel to Soma, from Frictional Games. It looked great, with more puzzle-based gameplay as well just survival horror thrills.

Overall, it was a decent line-up, but if there are any other big name game announcements to be made this year it’s relatively unlikely to be at the Tokyo Game Show next month. So that only leaves The Game Awards in December or a random livestream from the publisher.

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City of York Council has approved works at 3 and 5, Coney Street which are being converted to house a new shop and café respectively.

The building also form part of wider plans for the regeneration of Coney Street which includes the creation of a new public space overlooking the River Ouse.

Plans from Lanpro Services Ltd stated the works aimed to make the units ready for their new tenants and improve their appearance.

Council planning officers stated historic features in both spaces would be carefully redecorated, with investigations planned to uncover any hidden elements.

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It comes after separate plans to refurbish 3 Coney Street to house beauty store Space NK were approved in July.

The high street chain is set to open its York branch in the unit this autumn.

An application from Manchester-based café Federal to take over 5 Coney Street is currently awaiting a decision.

Its plans stated the company was very keen to bring its Australian-inspired offering to York.

Helmsley Group, the developers behind the Coney Street redevelopment plans, began work on the project in June.

Scaffolding was put up outside buildings at the St Helen’s Square end of the street, which includes Nos 3 and 5.

Space NK, in Coney Street, York (Image: LDRS)

Plans for the repairs to the Grade II-listed buildings include cleaning and repointing brickwork and repainting the outside of buildings, including their render.

Repairs to damaged slate on the buildings’ roofs are along planned, along with window refurbishments.

Works inside the building are also set to include repairing damage from earlier asbestos surveys.

The terrace at the back of 5, Coney Street is set to be levelled while masonry is set to be repaired and metalwork repainted.

Planning officers stated the works would allow the buildings to continue to be used.

Officers stated: “The proposed works are considered to have justification in securing the long-term sustainable viability to the city.

“They involve moderate disturbance to the fabric of the listed buildings, but there would be no harm to their special historic or architectural interest.”

The Sun in Virgo creates a complex angle to Pluto. Emotions could be heightened in unexpected ways.

Pisces, Aquarius and Capricorn, what matters most to you will make itself apparent. Don’t be afraid to change your mind and reinvent.

Big feelings often mean a lack of rationality; this can feel scary, but imbrace it. Weigh up risk and reward, and while seeking advice from those around you.

Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Wednesday August 26, 2026.

Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.

To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

You may want to celebrate your free time by diving into a much-loved hobby, enjoying cultural activities or exploring a developing romance. Friends may have other ideas though, and this is where you could get caught up in power plays and need to set firmer boundaries. You know what is best for you, and right now enjoying life on your own terms is key.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Hidden fears and doubts threaten to derail a great opportunity to display your natural creativity, talents and skills. You may be very conscious of what others have to offer and feel lacking in comparison. Don’t let such thoughts hold you back or keep you playing small. See these ideas for what they are – phantoms in the mind. Let them go and simply do your best.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

While you may want to strengthen family ties and focus on domestic issues, an equally strong urge could find you craving adventure. These conflicting feelings might result in a great idea that involves including your close ones in any new explorations. By doing so you’ll enjoy the best of both worlds. In addition, this level of flexibility can strengthen and uphold key bonds.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

A casual chat could uncover something surprisingly meaningful but it’s also wise to avoid reading too much into every sentence. The Sun’s awkward angle to Pluto suggests that open conversation can pave the way for true healing and resolution to any issues that might show up today. There’s a possibility for personal growth and transformation if you’re ready for it.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

It’s time to recognise your brilliance and true value as the Sun’s edgy angle to Pluto suggests certain relationships might challenge your priorities, finances or even your sense of self-worth. Even so, someone’s strong opinion doesn’t have to affect your decisions or outlook especially where money is concerned. Be open to ideas, but stick to your principles too, Leo.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

The Sun in your sign hints you’re naturally keen to improve yourself in all ways, but with Pluto in the mix there’s no need to exhaust yourself in the process. Work or health routines may need a few tweaks and adjustments so that you don’t burn yourself out. There’s no need to control every detail, and it’s okay to let things slide a little. You don’t have to be perfect.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

The Sun in a private zone is a call to tie up loose ends and to spend more time reflecting on life and whatever may be holding you back from succeeding at your plans. Today though you’ll notice how passionate you feel about your creative and romantic life. Use your ability to step back before diving into a relationship or project that can take more than it gives, Libra.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

You may feel even more intense than usual as a potent aspect suggests that family issues take up a lot of time and energy, especially if a key issue needs to be resolved. You may have to reschedule social events if things become too hectic or pressing. At the same time, a friend may have wise advice they can share that puts your situation in a more helpful perspective.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

Your ambitions for the future may be strong, but any communications associated with your job, professional life or with career decisions could be fairly complex. There may be so much more involved than you think, with layers and levels that need careful consideration. You can go far if you make the right choice, but don’t jump into anything without researching it first.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

The benefits of travel and study could seem appealing and something you’d like to look into further. Even so, the presence of Pluto in your money zone can make you very aware of how you spend your money. And you’ll want a good return on your investment. You can’t always put a price on adventure or experience though. Sometimes you just have to take the risk.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

You’re in the middle of a major personal reinvention which is going to last for some time. The Sun in an intense zone can bring your attention to deeper matters that need some teasing out, so you can begin to resolve them. This is not a quick process, but today you’ll get a sense of what is possible and how much freer you can be when you let go of any buried feelings.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

Hidden worries or ingrained emotional reactions could be affecting your outlook and decisions more than you realise. As Pluto continues its journey through a private zone you could have stronger reactions to others than is usual, because these patterns are being brought out into the open. If you’re tempted to say something a bit sharp, step back and reconsider.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

Check out the tarot horoscope reading for the month of August here.

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Owners travelled from as far afield as Scotland and Somerset to reunite the pups as they marked their first birthday, choosing Fourways Campsite in Foggathorpe, East Yorkshire, as a convenient halfway point for the dog-loving families.

Carol Countess Castle Stewart, who was involved in the gathering, said 11 owners and six Dalmatians made the trip for the special weekend.

“Mum Dash, who made the whole thing possible, and their Aunt Dotty joined babies Toulouse, Rosa, Freddy and Samson,” she said.

The only notable absentee was brother Loki, who missed the fun though the group is hoping he can make the next reunion.

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The canine guests and their humans received a warm welcome at Fourways Campsite, with some of the owners also finding time for a visit to The Black Swan pub.

A walk along the old railway track into nearby Bubwith was followed by a picnic lunch supplied by the Jug and Bottle Delicatessen.

Then came the main event: a birthday party back at the campsite, complete with a cake, champagne, party bags and, naturally, doggie bags for the four-legged guests.

Carol added: “There was a super welcome from Sue at the site who looked after everyone very well. Thank you again to Sue and Martin Kirkham for hosting us. We look forward to next time!”

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Israeli authorities have sparked another confrontation with the United Nations after seizing a UN facility in East Jerusalem and promising to close it down permanently.

Police entered a training centre run by UNRWA, the agency that supports Palestinian refugees, ordering the staff to leave and take control of the facility, known as the Qalandiya training centre.

They were accompanied by far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who echoed long-standing criticism of the agency. The Israeli government claims that UNRWA had become “riddled” with Hamas members, some of whom took part in the October 7 attacks.

Ben-Gvir was filmed sitting behind a desk he said was used previously by the training centre director. “UNRWA is out,” he said. “The terrorists must be expelled from every place in the State of Israel.”

UNRWA terminated the contracts of nine members of staff accused of involvement in the October 7 attacks, but said Israel has not supplied evidence to substantiate its allegations of widespread infiltration by Hamas.

In a statement, UNRWA said that “it unequivocally condemns” Israel’s seizure of the facility and said that “the entry of armed security forces into a United Nations facility, without the authorisation or consent of the United Nations, is unacceptable”.

A spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that Israel’s actions were “wholly unacceptable and inconsistent with Israel’s obligations under international law”.

The centre was established more than 70 years ago and has taught professional skills to thousands of Palestinians.

Separately, the UN’s Special Co-ordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Dr Ramiz Alakbarov, said that the centre should be “inviolable and immune from any form of interference”. He called on the Israeli government to “withdraw from the facility” and to observe “its obligations under international law”.

Under a 1946 UN convention, UN premises are considered “inviolable” while UN property and assets are immune from “search, requisition, confiscation, expropriation and any other form of interference”.

There is no obvious precedent in UN history for a UN member state to take over a functioning UN facility, against the wishes of the UN, to convert the site for its own purposes.

In January, Israeli authorities demolished UNRWA’s headquarters compound in Sheikh Jarrah, in occupied East Jerusalem.

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The UN insists the site is still a UN premises, but Israel has already put forward plans to turn it into a military complex, including an army museum, a recruitment centre and an office for the defence mInister.

The Jerusalem municipal authorities claim that the site was never legally owned by UNRWA. They say it will now be redeveloped as an educational and community complex for local residents, including a school, a mosque, health centres and sports facilities.

Oren Marmorstein, spokesperson for the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs, said: “UNRWA has no property rights in this facility and has tried to obstruct the opening of this school. At the end of the day, UNRWA and the UN are choosing to oppose this project. They are choosing politics over children.”

Dolly Parton never let anyone forget that she was born poor. So ‘dirt poor’ that her illiterate sharecropper daddy could only pay the doctor who delivered her in their one-room cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains with a sack of cornmeal.

Ferocious hard work, an irrepressible talent, an endearing persona and a sharp business brain transformed those deeply humble roots into a vast business empire that, it was said, would have made the iconic singer-songwriter and entrepreneur into a billionaire if she didn’t give so much away to good causes.

The incomparable and wildly popular Queen of Country, fans liked to think, summed up all that was best about America – a hard-working, God-fearing star who didn’t forget her roots or the less fortunate, and didn’t let celebrity go to her bouffant-haired head.

And yet even Dolly’s gold-plated brand of irrepressibility has its limits and, aged 80, she died today in Nashville, Tennessee.

The death was announced on social media by her nephew, Bryan Seaver. No cause was provided but there had been concerns about her health for almost a year after she postponed and later cancelled a performing residency in Las Vegas on the grounds of what she called ‘health challenges’.

Last October, she’d tried to quieten fevered online speculation – fuelled by younger sister Freida’s call for people to pray for the staff – by announcing in a social media video: ‘I ain’t dead yet.’ Sitting in a studio where she was recording a commercial, she went on: ‘Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here.’

Acknowledged as the ‘Queen of Country’, Dolly (pictured 1982) sold more than 100million records over a 60-year career

Parton was married for 59 years to Carl Dean (pictured), though many fans suspected it was a sham marriage and a mask for her true sexuality

She did not elaborate on the nature of her health challenges, which she said were ‘treatable’ but necessitated her to stay close to her home in Tennessee and to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, where she was receiving treatment.

In May this year, Parton said she had responded well to treatment after her immune and digestive systems ‘got all out of whack’ in recent years.

However, friends of the star told the Daily Mail she was ‘not eating right, not doing the things she usually would do for her continued health’, adding that they believed the death of her longtime husband, the never-present Carl Dean, two months earlier was responsible.

Anyone tempted to dismiss Dolly as a dumb blonde with big hair and an even bigger frontage would likely find themselves disarmed by her ready wit, which she often aimed at herself. ‘It costs a lot of money to look this cheap,’ she famously quipped. And also: ‘I’m not offended by all dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb… and I also know that I’m not blonde.’

Parton – who called herself ‘a country girl’s idea of glam’ in her song Backwoods Barbie – didn’t mind admitting that she once entered a Dolly lookalike drag queen contest and lost because she ‘over-exaggerated’ her look. ‘They just thought I was some little short gay guy,’ she laughed.

Over a more than 60 year career, Dolly sold at least 100 million records, writing such global hits as Jolene and I Will Always Love You that other stars clamoured to cover.

Yet the songs – more than 3,000 – she wrote were only a part of the huge Dolly brand. She churned out books (including four autobiographies), produced and acted in films  (9 to 5, Steel Magnolias and The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas) and TV shows, and monetised her image to an extent that other business-minded stars could only dream of.

One of Parton’s last public sighting was in June 2026, when she made a surprise appearance at the opening of her new Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop

Parton was in her own words born ‘dirt poor’ to an illiterate sharecropper father. She started performing at the age of 13. Above, aged 14

Parton pictured on her wedding day in 1966 with her husband, who died only last year

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Investing heavily in the eastern Tennessee where she was raised, she even had her own popular theme park Dollywood Parks and Resorts, the waterpark Dollywood’s SplashCountry, a chain of ‘equestrian dinner theatres’ called the Dolly Parton Stampede (a four-course meal followed by a show featuring music, comedy and horse riding) and a Dolly hotel in Nashville. 

Parton, who earned the nickname ‘The Iron Butterfly’ for her combination of dainty femininity and hard-edged business brains, would joke that she looked like a woman but thought like a man. She amassed a fortune estimated at anywhere between $300 million and $500 million.

The one aspect of Parton that she gave little away about, despite her apparent breezy candour, was her private life. 

Despite her repeated denials that she was either lesbian or bisexual, it was long rumoured that her 59-year marriage to rarely-seen husband Carl Dean was a sham and that the real love of her life was her childhood friend and longtime assistant Judy Ogle, with whom she admitted spending years sharing a bed when she was touring.

However, it was neither Mr Dean nor Ms Ogle to whom Parton dedicated the song that made her far richer and more famous than any other.

I Will Always Love You, which she recorded in 1973 and which nearly two decades later became a huge international hit for Whitney Houston, was written as a farewell to her mentor and business partner, country music singer Porter Wagoner. 

As she freely acknowledged, professionally she was nothing before she met Wagoner. The fourth of 12 children, Parton credited her father with her business acumen and her mother – who had Welsh roots – for her singing ability. 

She started performing as a child, appearing on local radio by the age of 10 and recording her first single, Puppy Love, when she was 13. At school, fellow pupils were so jealous when she appeared on local TV that they locked her in a cupboard, leaving her with a life-long fear of the dark.

At 18, she left her hillbilly home for the country music capital of Nashville (her father gave her a gun to protect herself) on a single-minded 10-year journey to stardom.

In 1967, when she was 21, she’d already had a string of songs in the country charts – she was initially successful as a songwriter rather than a performer – when she was invited to appear as Wagoner’s duet partner on his weekly TV show and also on his roadshow. 

Parton, pictured here in 2022, has an astonishing catalogue of hits, with 9 to 5 and Jolene among her most successful

Parton, performing here 1978, had been open about a series of health challenges she faced after the death of her husband in March last year

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Parton posing with Kenny Rogers in 1987, with whom she recorded an iconic version of Islands in the Stream

Wagoner convinced his record label to sign her but while they were successful as a duo, both grew frustrated that neither could achieve much success on their own.

In her case, it hardly helped that she fulfilled an eye candy role on his TV series. Just 5ft tall, Parton was the first to admit that she was famous for her other vital statistics, assets which she put to good advantage as she pouted and winked on the Porter Wagoner Show. (She finally came clean about her measurements in 1994, telling Vogue: ‘I’m 40-20-36. I used to never tell anybody my measurements, but the older I get the more proud I am.’)

She and Wagoner competed for who could wear the most outrageous outfit or hairdo – Wagoner preferred rhinestone suits and pompadour hairstyle while Parton freely admitted she’d modelled her look on the ‘town tramp’. 

Unlike his partner, however, Wagoner didn’t have to break off in the middle of each show and advertise sanitary towels.

However, it was clear that Parton wasn’t going to let her fierce ambition be constrained for too long by having to appear in a show bearing somebody else’s name.

She decided in late 1973 she needed to go it alone. ‘We fought a lot,’ Parton said later. ‘We were very much alike. We were both stubborn. We both believed that we knew what was best for us. Well, he believed he knew what was best for me, too.’

Convinced he would never accept her reasons for leaving – she harboured dreams, soon fulfilled, of crossing over musically into pop and of breaking into Hollywood as an actress – she decided to hand in her notice with a song. 

Parton performing in August 2023 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas

Parton earned the nickname ‘The Iron Butterfly’ for her combination of dainty feminity and hard-edged business brains

Parton freely admitted to modelling her distinctive look on ‘the town tramp’

Parton has said she wrote that song, I Will Always Love You, the same day and night that she penned her other big hit, Jolene. (The latter was inspired by a local redheaded bank teller who, Parton said, had a huge crush on her husband).

‘I took it in the next morning. I said, ‘Sit down, Porter. I’ve written this song, and I want you to hear it,’ said Parton. ‘So I did sing it. And he was crying. He said, ‘That’s the prettiest song I ever heard. And you can go, providing I get to produce that record.’ And he did, and the rest is history.’

However, Wagoner, who had given Parton expensive jewelry and a royal blue Cadillac, sued her for $3 million for breach of contract in 1979, by which time they hadn’t spoken for three years. 

Parton never entirely deserted him, though, bailing him out of tax problems and buying the publishing rights to his songs for hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

She later gave them back to him for nothing. When he died in 2007 from lung cancer, Parton went to see him on his deathbed, singing I Will Always Love To You to him two hours before he passed away.

Wagoner was, along with Burt Reynolds, Sylvester Stallone (her co-stars in the films and Best Little Whorehouse and Rhinestone respectively) and fellow country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, father of Miley, one of a clutch of celebrities with whom Parton was romantically linked.

However – unlike the lesbian rumours which she firmly denied – she mischievously encouraged the speculation by never confirming nor denying it. ‘I’ve been accused of being involved with every man I’m ever seen with or worked with,’ she said in 2012. ‘Maybe I have, maybe I ain’t. I never tell if I have.’

Parton, pictured her posing for a photo in her office in Nashville in 2005, was known to be a razor-sharp businesswoman

Parton appearing at at media day for her fans in March 2024, a year before the death of her husband

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She married Carl Dean in Nashville in 1966, two years after meeting outside the Wishy Washy launderette on the day she arrived in town. 

Parton recounted how she emerged from the launderette just as Carl, three years older, drove by in his pick-up truck. He told her she was going to get sunburnt in her skimpy outfit and followed her back into the launderette to chat her up as she folded her clothes.

Dean, who owned a local asphalt business and died this year aged 82, is rarely mentioned in her memoir – Star of the Show: My Life on Stage – which was published last year. 

In fact, he featured so little in her public life that many wondered whether he actually existed. Parton explained that Dean hated being in the spotlight, adding that, as a hard rock fan, he didn’t even much like her music. 

Fuelling whispers that their union was hardly fizzing with passion, Dolly liked to call him her ‘tall drink of water’.

The couple had no children – Parton said she had a partial hysterectomy and realised she would never have the children she longed for.

Parton remained vague about their union, admitting they had an open marriage but insisting she’d never cheated on him. She made conflicting comments, once saying: People always ask me if I’ve had extramarital affairs, and you can draw your own conclusions.’

In her 1994 autobiography she said Dean would wait loyally at home for her to return from her glamorous travels: ‘He seems to know that I’ll be back, and that love affairs and relationships are just part of my dealings with people.’

Parton said she wasn’t offended by dumb blonde jokes because she new she wasn’t dumb – or naturally blonde

Parton performing with a guitar in in 1976 when she was 31

There were reports of wobbles in their marriage and that, weighed down by depression which she said runs through her family, Parton once vowed to leave him, only for her husband to rule out a divorce. 

It was also claimed that Dolly, who bought homes in Los Angeles and Hawaii in the eighties, became upset when Dean refused to visit either of them and took it as a sign he no longer loved her.

In public, however, Parton remained adamant they were a pair of ‘old mountain goats’ who ‘will be together till one of us dies’.

Announcing her husband’s death last year, she wrote: ‘Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.’

Her close relationship with Judy Ogle began at the age of seven as best friends at school and continued when Ogle, a hairdresser, became her ever-present personal assistant. ‘Judy came to work with me as my assistant, my valet, hairdresser, makeup artist, everything she needed to be,’ said Parton in a 1994 memoir in which she revealed that Ogle, a former soldier who never married, even worked with her on late-night song writing sessions.

‘I don’t know what I would have done in my life without Judy,’ she wrote. ‘That’s as pure a love as I have ever known, and that’s a stronger bond than I have ever known.’

Describing their habit of sharing a bed when Parton was on tour, the star said: ‘Why scream across the room when you don’t have to.’

Compounding the speculation, although Parton studiously stayed out of politics, reasoning that she had as many Democrats fans as Republican ones, she made an exception for gay and lesbian rights, publicly supporting gay marriage in 2009 and insisting it was ‘un-Christian’ to oppose it.

Parton, who insisted that ‘if I was gay, I would have come out of the closet just a-flying’, was also forced to deny rumours that she had a six-year affair with a male assistant, Mark Kiracofe, who she reportedly first met in 1989 when he was one of her stage equipment handlers. In 1996, it was claimed he had ‘walked out of her life’ after she refused to choose between him and husband Carl.

As with so many enduring stars, for Dolly, career came first – ‘I’m just a working girl, I always just say that I’m a workhorse that looks like a show horse,’ she said in November 2025.

Her abiding popularity was rambunctiously displayed in 2014 when she performed to a 180,000-strong crowd at the Glastonbury Festival who were young enough to be her grandchildren.

Asked to explain her abiding popularity, she said: ‘I think that one of the things is because I love people, and I think they feel that, they sense that.’

‘I think that people know that I’ve worked hard to get where I’m at and that I’ve stayed sane… for the most part.’