Dolly Parton, the beloved country music superstar known as much for her philanthropy and theme park business as she was for her chart-topping hit songs, has died at 80. Parton's death was announced by her publicist. No cause of death was provided.
In a music career that began when she was still a child, born into poverty in the tiny mountain community of Pittman Center, Tennessee, Parton went on to become one of the world's most successful and admired entertainers, regarded as a country music living legend. Her trademark style – big blonde hair, flamboyant clothes and makeup – was cultivated early in her career, while she was still in her teens.
Parton's style helped her get noticed but her musical gifts made her unforgettable. She wrote and recorded many of country and pop's most enduring songs, including the hits "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors" -- added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2011 -- "Here You Come Again," "Love Is Like a Butterfly," "9 to 5" and more.
Parton's biggest hit, however, was inarguably "I Will Always Love You," which topped the charts three times, most notably when Whitney Houston's 1992 cover became a global smash. Houston's performance remains the best-selling song by a female artist of all time.
In 2014, the Record Industry Association of America recognized Parton for sales of over 100 million units worldwide, including 19 RIAA-certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums out of the more than 100 studio, live and compilation albums she released during her six-decade-plus recording career.
