Dolly Parton, the country music legend, songwriter, actress, theme park founder, and philanthropist, has died. She was 80 years old.
A video was posted on Parton’s official account Tuesday afternoon by her nephew, Bryan Seaver.
Seaver did not say what Parton died of, and Parton herself had not disclosed her illness. In May, she canceled a residency in Las Vegas, saying health challenges left her feeling “swimmy headed.”
“And of course, I can’t be dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars, and such on five-inch heels — and you know that I’m going to be wearing them,” she joked. “Not to mention, all those heavy rhinestone outfits, the big hair, my big … uh, personality. Lord, those — that would make anybody swimmy headed!”
Dolly Parton got her start singing on radio and television programs in Tennessee. At 13, she appeared at the Grand Ole Opry. Over the next decade or so, she found success in the country music world, first singing duets with Porter Wagoner, and solo with hits like “Coat of Many Colors,” and “Jolene,” which was released in 1973.
In 1974, she wrote “I Will Always Love You,” about her professional break from Wagoner, which was a country music chart topper long before Whitney Houston’s iconic rendition in the early 90s.
Parton also found crossover success in the 70s and 80s as her songs were covered by pop artists and her duets found wide audiences, like “Islands in the Stream” with Kenny Rogers.
She also found acclaim for her acting with films like “9 to 5″ and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”
[WATCH: Dolly Parton Imagination Library still going strong in Central Florida. Here where to find it]
Parton was also a successful businesswoman with The Dollywood Company, an attractions company that included Dollywood in Tennessee, Dollywood’s Splash Country water park, and Dolly Parton’s Stampede, a dinner theater venue that at one time included a location in Orlando. That location closed in January 2008 after the land was sold to a developer.
Parton was also loved for her philanthropy, including Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which mailed one book per month to each enrolled child from their birth until they entered Kindergarten. That program has given more than 300 million books to children since it started.
Parton also donated generously to emergency relief efforts, LGBTQ causes, and healthcare programs, including $1 million toward research into a COVID-19 vaccine.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.