Photo: Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby, U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Dolly Rebecca Parton (January 19, 1946 – August 25, 2026) was an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist and businesswoman, universally known as the Queen of Country.
Born in a one-room cabin in Pittman Center, Tennessee, she wrote more than 3,000 songs — including "Jolene," "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You" — sold over 100 million records, won 11 Grammy Awards and built the Dollywood theme park and a literacy charity that has gifted hundreds of millions of books to children. She was godmother to Miley Cyrus.