Dolly Parton dies at the age of 80: A look at her life through photos

Born in January 1949, Dolly Parton made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry in 1959 at age 13 before moving to Nashville in 1960 to make it as a professional country singer. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean got married in 1966. (Dolly Parton Instagram)

Parton released her first solo album, "Hello, I'm Dolly," in 1967, after which Porter Wagoner invited her onto "The Porter Wagoner Show." (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Parton continued her partnership with Wagner throughout the early 70s, and became an official member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1969. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Parton released her fifth studio album, "The Fairest of Them All," in February 1970. (Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)

Parton released one of her most popular songs, "I Will Always Love You," in 1974, which she wrote about the end of her partnership from Porter Wagoner. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Parton launched her own variety television show, "Dolly!" in 1976, which often featured many other famous singers. (Getty Images)

Parton released the album, "Here You Come Again" in 1976, which spent five weeks at number one on Billboard's country charts. (Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

In 1978, Dolly Parton won her first Grammy Award for "Here You Come Again" and later won entertainer of the year at the CMA Awards. (Tom Hill/WireImage)

Parton was nominated for another Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for best original song for "Travelin' Thru" for the film "Transamerica." (Scott Gries/Getty Images)

Parton made her feature film debut in 1980 in the hit comedy, "9-5," alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. She also wrote the films title track, an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, two Golden Globe nominations and two Grammy Award wins. (Apic/Getty Images)

Parton also wrote the film's title track, an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, two Golden Globe nominations and two Grammy Award wins. (Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

She received her another Golden Globe nomination in 1982 for her work in the movie "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." (Pete Still/Redferns)

Parton partnered with Kenny Rogers in 1983, releasing their number 1 hit, "Islands In the Stream." (Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

Parton opened her own theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in 1976. (Getty Images)

Parton launched a variety television show, "Dolly" in 1987, which was a major ABC prime-time series with a large production budget. (John Seakwood/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

Her new show featured a Christmas episode with puppets. (Bob D'Amico/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

She also invited the Chippendales to appear on her show with her. (Craig Sjodin/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

Parton made light of a 1987 tabloid story that she fell in love with a 300 lb wrestler, writing the song, "He's Got a Headlock on my Heart.." (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

One of the many celebrity guests on her show included Bob Hope. (Bob D'Amico/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

Parton won another Grammy Award in 1988 for best country performance by a duo or group for her work with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. (Beth Gwinn/Getty Images)

In 1989, Parton starred in the successful film,"Steel Magnolias," alongside Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Sally Fields and Daryl Hannah. ( Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Parton released "Eagle When She Flies" in 1991, which went on to achieve platinum status. (Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

Whitney Houston's cover of "I Will Always Love You" spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 list, which benefitted her as a songwriter and introduced her songwriting skills to a different audience. (Ron Davis/Getty Images)

She also starred in "Straight Talk" in 1992, and wrote and performed much of the music for the film, including "Straight Talk," "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" and "Blue Grace." (Buena Vista/Getty Images)

While maintaining the responsibilities of running a theme park, she teamed up with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette to release "Honky Tonk Angels." (Ron Davis/Getty Images)

Parton started the Imagination Library in 1995, which provided young children with free books mailed directly to their homes, regardless of family income. She started the program in honor of her father, who couldn't read. (Ron Davis/Getty Images)

By 2024, approximately 1 in every 7 U.S. children under age five was receiving a monthly Imagination Library book, with of 300 million books gifted by 2025. (Margaret Norton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

1999 was a big year for Parton, as she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and released the critically acclaimed album, "The Grass Is Blue." (CBS via Getty Images)

Parton won her sixth Grammy Award in 2001 for "The Grass Is Blue" in the best bluegrass album, category. (Paul Harris/Getty Images))

Parton received both the National Medal of Arts and the Living Legend Award from the Library of Congress in 2004. (Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)

Parton received another Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nomination for best original song for her song, "Travelin' Thru" for the film "Transamerica." (Scott Gries/Getty Images)

Parton received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2006. ( Scott Suchman/WireImage)

Parton appeared alongside her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, in a 2007 episode of "Hannah Montana," playing Aunt Dolly. (Joel Warren/Disney Channel via Getty Images)

Parton was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. (Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank)

Parton and Rogers reunited in 2013, for "You Can't Make Old Friends," 30 years after "Islands In the Stream." (Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

Parton wowed the crowd when performing at Glastonbury in 2014. (Jim Dyson/Getty Images)

Parton created the My People Fund in 2016 following wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains, which ultimately provided about $9 million to affected families. (JB Lacroix/WireImage)

The singer received another Grammy and Golden Globe nomination for best original song in 2018 for "Girl in the Movies." (Chelsea Lauren/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images)

Parton celebrated 50 years at the Grand Ole Opry in 2019. (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

Parton won a Grammy for "There Was Jesus" and her first Emmy for "Christmas on the Square" in 2021 at the age of 75. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Parton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

Parton performed at the halftime show at the Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day game in 2023, dressed as a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

After being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Parton released the album "Rockstar" in 2023 which featured, Chris Stapleton, Paul McCartney, Steven Tyler and others. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for American Greetings)

Parton was named the No. 1 country artist of all time by Billboard in 2024. (Terry Wyatt/WireImage)

Parton sparked health concerns in 2025 when she postponed her Las Vegas residency citing health as the reason.  (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Parton died on August 25 at the age of 80. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)