# Dolly Parton has died at age 80 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death, music\ **Created:** [August 25, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545 "2026-08-25T18:00:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/81 "2026-08-25T18:36:41Z")
Today we lost a true living saint and she will be sorely missed by many. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/82 "2026-08-25T18:37:48Z")
She joins Weird Al and (Mister) Fred Rogers on my list of famous people about whom no one can say a single disparaging word. Rest in Power, Dolly. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/83 "2026-08-25T18:41:18Z")
There’s already a thread on this sad subject: > [@Dolly Parton has died at age 80](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545): > > Sad news. Great American. I’ll flag this for a MPSIMS mod to review to close/merge. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/84 "2026-08-25T18:59:58Z")
Those are the ones on my list too! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/85 "2026-08-25T21:11:23Z")
[Moderating] I merged a thread into the preexisting one. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/86 "2026-08-25T21:18:02Z")
Rest in peace, beautiful soul. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/87 "2026-08-25T21:25:50Z")
There was an old interview with Barbara Walters that went viral a few years ago where Barbara was so condescending but Dolly handled it with such aplomb and class. I still remember how she was kind of a pop cultural joke back in the 70s but she managed to always be herself and eventually that was what she became known for, a genuine down to Earth good person. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cdgsKfFvM8I/maxresdefault.jpg "Barbara Walters' memorable interview with Dolly Parton (1978)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdgsKfFvM8I) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/88 "2026-08-25T21:28:14Z")
“Do you dislike dumb blonde jokes?” Dolly: “No, because I know I’m not dumb…and I know I’m not blonde!” ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/89 "2026-08-25T21:34:11Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > If you haven’t seen this, what are you waiting for? Oh yes. This is one of the Great moments in television. I’m so sad about this news. She was a fabulous person. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/90 "2026-08-25T21:36:41Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > and I know I’m not blonde!” “How long does it take to do your hair?” “I don’t know, I’m never there.” ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/91 "2026-08-25T21:49:08Z")
This. She was so much more than just her music. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/92 "2026-08-25T22:00:48Z")
While I’m a fan of hers, I can’t be too mournful of her death when her life has so much to celebrate. She did well and she did good. She made the world a better place, which is the most any of us can aspire to do. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/93 "2026-08-25T22:17:10Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I never cared for her songs much except when she was singing that gorgeous harmony with Emmy Lou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Much like Hank Williams and Willie Nelson, her public personna was so ovberwhelming that people tend to overlook her talent as both a singer and a songwriter. Dolly’s version of I Will Always Love You is so quiet and gentle you can use it as a lullaby for a fussy baby. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lKsQR72HY0s/maxresdefault.jpg "Dolly Parton - I Will Always Love You (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKsQR72HY0s&list=RDlKsQR72HY0s) ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/94 "2026-08-25T22:21:28Z")
If you need a long form recap on why she was so amazing, there is this podcast from 2019 by Jad Abumrad (Radiolab). > **[Dolly Parton's America : Episodes | WNYC Studios | Podcasts](https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/dolly-partons-america)** > > The story of a legend at the crossroads of America’s culture wars. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/95 "2026-08-25T22:27:12Z")
Tom Hanks seems to be universally liked. I bought a Dolly Parton kitchen towel (stripes and cherries, reasons​🙃) a few weeks ago. I kinda felt foolish. It’s cute tho’ ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/96 "2026-08-25T22:42:28Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Tom Hanks seems to be universally liked. Right, except for by Henry Winkler, but that was quite unusual. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/97 "2026-08-25T22:45:42Z")
This is the second time since 2020 where people are saying, “I never understood grieving a celebrity death, until this one, and I’m not even a fan of theirs.” The other was former Rush drummer Neil Peart in early 2020. That Dolly died was not such a big surprise for me, because her repeated cancellations in recent days suggested that she had more going on than “just” kidney stones, but Neil’s death was even though he’d been battling cancer for several years, and still managed to keep it private. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/98 "2026-08-25T22:48:18Z")
I just came from YouTube, where the fundies are saying she’s probably in the place down below because even though she claimed to be a Christian, she did not quote Scripture or sing gospel music. Folks, it’s OK to have faith and keep it private. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/99 "2026-08-25T23:02:02Z")
I’ve been out all day and didn’t learn this news until about an hour ago. I am saddened at Dolly’s death. I so admired her ability to laugh at herself and not take life too seriously – except when it came to helping others. In that endeavor, she was laser-focused and walked the walk. I will miss her quick wit and self-deprecating approach to the world. In her music, I characterized her more as blue grass than hard core country, but that may just be my preference for the tunes of hers I enjoyed. She fit in most anywhere she chose. Ultra talented. Dolly’s empathy for others is an example for us all. Stay classy, Lady, wherever you may currently be and in whatever form. I know you will. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545/100 "2026-08-25T23:05:22Z")
I once heard a story . . . Elvis Presley wanted to record some of her songs. But Colonel Tom Parker demanded to buy the copyrights, for a pittance. Dolly, knowing they would be valuable in the future, refused to sell. Does anyone know which songs Elvis missed out on? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolly-parton-has-died-at-age-80/1032545.md?page=6)