Queen of Country Music Dolly Parton dies at 80

Beloved American singer Dolly Parton has passed away at age 80. America has lost a national treasure.

Dolly Parton, the legendary singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and one of the most universally beloved figures in American life, was born into poverty in the mountains of Tennessee. Despite this, she rose to unimaginable heights without ever forgetting where she came from — or the people who needed a helping hand.

Through her extraordinary Imagination Library, she gave hundreds of millions of free books to children, opening the doors of literacy and opportunity to generations of families.

She donated millions to disaster relief, education, hospitals, pediatric cancer research, and medical science — including a crucial donation that helped fund early research connected to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

For Dolly, generosity wasn't a publicity stunt. It was simply part of who she was.

Perhaps just as remarkable was Dolly's ability to belong to all of America.

In an era when seemingly everything became political, she remained that increasingly rare person whom Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives, country fans and people who had never listened to country music could all love.

She treated people with warmth instead of judgment, carried herself with humor and humility, and used her enormous fame to bring people together rather than tear them apart.

Dolly Parton embodied something beautiful about America: that you can come from almost nothing, become larger than life, and then spend that life giving back. Her songs will live forever, but the millions of children who learned to love reading because of her may be an even greater legacy.

Rest in peace, Dolly. America loved you — and America will miss you.