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The life and times of Dolly Parton - 7th September 2026

The American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton has passed away, aged 80. Her talents had earned her the title 'the Queen of Country Music'.

Born into poverty, the music legend was raised in rural Tennessee as the fourth of 12 children. She wrote her first song aged 6, and aged 10 she secured a regular role singing on a TV show.

By 16, she was earning money and credits as a professional songwriter for other artists. However, the release of her debut album, called 'Hello, I'm Dolly', kicked off her own 60-year singing career. Parton later became an actor and producer, first starring in the successful comedy film '9 to 5'.

Parton's business mindset meant she retained the publishing rights to the vast majority of her songs from the beginning. She went on to found her own recording label, enabling her to produce the master recordings herself.

This approach gave Parton and others further opportunities. She established a film and TV production company, her world-renowned theme park, Dollywood, and more recently, she launched her own cosmetics brand.

Parton supported many good causes from wildfire relief to vaccine research. And above all, she championed literacy.

Since her father had never learnt to read, which Dolly felt stopped him from fulfilling his dreams, she set up her own literacy programme. The Imagination Library sends children around the world free books every month, which Aynsley Broom appreciates.

Aynsley Broom: "She really, you know, championed a lot of people to read and was incredible in like, allow - making sure that every child had a book to read. And that's something that I think is very important. As someone who really loves our local libraries, she was supportive of that and her Imagination Library is something that is truly incredible."