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Legendary Musician & Philanthropist Dolly Parton Dead At 80; Fans React To Passing Of American Icon Dolly Parton. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired August 25, 2026 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:44]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking news.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: If you are just joining us, we are following some sad breaking news today. Dolly Parton, the iconic country music superstar, actress and humanitarian, has died at the age of 80.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Her career spanning nearly seven decades and touching so many lives along the way. Elizabeth Wagmeister has more on her life and legacy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): A beloved country queen known for her vulnerable and poetic lyrics, like in her classic hit "Jolene."

(Jolene by Dolly Parton)

Dolly Parton's music was as popular as her bold style, composing and performing booming anthems like "9 to 5" that resonated with office workers everywhere.

(9 to 5 by Dolly Parton)

She ranks among the most successful country recording artists of all time, with nearly 50 albums and more than 25 number one hits. A superstar who often sang about her humble small town Tennessee roots.

(That Good Ole Nashville Music by Dolly Parton)

The fourth of 12 children, she started singing hymns in church. Dolly moved to Nashville after high school graduation, aiming for work as a songwriter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOLLY PARTON, SINGER-SONGWRITER: I was just trying to make a living, trying to find what I wanted to do, to have my songs recorded.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WAGMEISTER (voiceover): The petite singer modeled her signature style

after a woman known for her promiscuity in her hometown. She was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen. I was very impressed by the big hair she had, the lipstick and the nails and the high heel shoes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WAGMEISTER (voiceover): Dolly got noticed quickly, scoring a recording deal and a regular gig on "The Porter Wagner Show." Their collaboration lasted seven years. She wrote a song about parting ways with Wagner, and it became a smash first in 1974.

And again, when Whitney Houston recorded it nearly two decades later.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON: Her version of that was spectacular. I always think of it as being our song.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WAGMEISTER (voiceover): Dolly said music made her a crossover success.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON: It was a song that got me everywhere I've ever been.

She wrote the theme to "Nine to Five" and landed a lead role in the movie.

(Nine to Five, IPC Films, 20th Century Fox)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WAGMEISTER (voiceover): Some of her other films include "The Best Little Whorehouse" in Texas.

(The Best Little Whorehouse)

WAGMEISTER (voiceover): And "Steel Magnolias."

(Steel Magnolias, Tristar Pictures)

WAGMEISTER (voiceover): Her many job titles included author, theme park owner, and philanthropist, from setting up a literacy program for impoverished children to funding research for a COVID vaccine.

She stayed low key about her charity work, insisting she saw herself as a musician first.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON: My music is everything to me, and I just -- that is what I grew from.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WAGMEISTER (voiceover): Dolly said her career was shaped by her

family, faith, and ambition.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON: God first, me second, and I've been able to maneuver and live my life based on that and use my talent to the best of my ability.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WAGMEISTER (voiceover): Indeed, she did, writing an estimated 3,000 songs and earning countless awards and honors, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and enshrinement in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an event Dolly dominated. Even out rocking the rock stars in 2022.

She released her first rock album at the age of 77 and often collaborated with younger singers. It all helped make Dolly Parton one of America's most beloved artists, with fans and admirers that spanned generations.

(End VT)

SANCHEZ: Our thanks to Elizabeth Wagmeister for that. We'll be chatting with Elizabeth in just a moment.

But the breaking news about the passing of Dolly Parton came from family. They shared this video on social media.

[15:05:02]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN SEAVER, DOLLY PARTON'S NEPHEW: Hey, everyone. My name is Brian Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I'm representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next.

This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality. As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven't truly felt it till now.

It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness, but sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watcher her and longed for her to them in the heavens.

I first went on the road with Dolly as a kid, getting a taste of the road life in the early 1980s. Dolly opened doors, not just for me, but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn't even know was possible. Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians, and dreamers from every walk of life and across every continent.

By her example, we believe that anything was possible. She never saw a door she couldn't open, and the doors she opened made and changed history. My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly, but so have you. She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD, and on your phone playlist, becoming an extended part of your family whether you liked it or not.

Our family and the team she has entrusted with her legacy will work diligently to ensure her spirit will live with us forever. Dolly was a farmer, just like her daddy. He farmed the soil, she farmed songs and happiness. Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.

Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly -- Aunt, Granny, Gigi. May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all. She will always love you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Let's go now to CNN Entertainment Correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister.

Elizabeth, you hear her nephew there at times becoming emotional, talking about the way that she lifted up not only her -- her own family and him and his career, but millions of other people around the world. Someone who rose to stardom as a country music star, but is going to be remembered for so much more.

WAGMEISTER: Absolutely. And I love where her nephew said right there that whether you like it or not, that she was part of your extended family. And that is such a true statement because Dolly almost felt otherworldly, right? Like it almost didn't feel like she was human because we all felt like we knew her. And she was and forever will be an icon of epic proportions.

I mean, talk about a true American hero and a unifying force that everybody loved Dolly. And it wasn't just through her music and it wasn't just through her work on screen. It was through her humanitarian work and through spreading kindness. Everybody just -- you get a smile on your face when you think of Dolly.

But I do want to talk about the music quickly because she wrote over 3,000 songs in her lifetime -- 3,000. I mean, that is just unbelievable. And I actually -- I want to show a piece of an interview that she spoke to Vanity Fair about how her nails actually played an important part into her songwriting process. Let's let Dolly tell us and then let's talk more about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON: Because part of my deal with Jane was that I would do it, but I -- I said, I have to write the theme song and I get to record it. That was part of my deal. Every day on the set, I just watch what was going on. And I -- I have these acrylic nails and I -- and they sounded like a like a typewriter to me. And it was all about secretary. So I kind of look around. I just like that. You know, like in the mornings I get up, I tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen and different things on the set, like a working nine to five wide away to make a living.

And every day I'd pick up different -- different stories, different things I see the women doing. And I'd go back to my hotel room at night, get my guitar and play it and put it down on tape.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WAGMEISTER: Today is such a sad day with -- I can't even believe I'm saying the loss of Dolly Parton. But I can't help but smile because you watch her talk about that. We normal people can't even text with their acrylic nails. But Dolly Parton, just by the clinking and the clacking of her nails, she was able to write one of the most legendary songs of all time. And she had spoken about her nails also in some other interviews throughout her life.

[15:10:03]

And she said that she would actually use them as a guitar pick so that she could play the guitar with her nails. That was just part of, you know, only Dolly can do it, her unique songwriting process.

But also there was a rumor for years that Dolly wrote the songs "Jolene" and " I Will Always Love You" on the same night. And she had later clarified that it wasn't actually the same night, but it was a very truncated period of time. So, just think about that, that two of the most iconic songs of all time that Dolly had written, it could have been within a week of each other, within days of each other. I mean, just the immense talent. It's unbelievable.

As we have been speaking about, it's not just going to be her music that is the legacy. It is going to be her kindness, her humanitarian work. And I want to read a part of a statement from her family that they say, quote, "A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration, not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth and kindness that made us all feel like family."

And I love that they call it a rhinestone life because Dolly's sparkly image was so much part of her character. And I don't mean just what you see, but also her character and who she was. She was such a bright force. And I also love that the first thing maybe that you noticed about Dolly, we see her there, was her big hair and the blonde hair. But boy, did she defy all odds.

If anyone thought that she was a dumb blonde, she was the opposite of that. She always spoke her mind and she spoke for others and she stood by others. And that's what I mean when I say that she was such a unifying force, that she stood up for women and spoke about female empowerment. She stood by the LGBTQ community. I mean, she was a real unifying force and a real advocate for communities who really needed her voice.

And this is the example and probably it's hard to find another example. This is the example of using your power and using your platform as a celebrity. You are a true unifying force in the world, not just this country. And that can be a lot of pressure. But Dolly always rose to the occasion. And she knew that her platform could really touch others. And that is going to be her legacy.

KEILAR: Yes. She really made a practice of building people up without tearing anyone down. And that was the life and the model that she that she lived. You know, she had Elizabeth talked about her health problems recently. I think it is this sort of immortal quality of Dolly Parton that perhaps is why this is really catching a lot of people off guard, even as she had discussed some of the issues that she'd been having just here in recent days.

WAGMEISTER: Absolutely. And again, Dolly has passed at the age of 80. I mean, in some ways it feels young, but I mean, that's an incredible long life. And she had a career that spanned decades. But you're right. It just feels like Dolly was immortal and that she would live here on this earth with us forever.

As you were saying earlier, Brianna, she will be with us forever. But I think that that really speaks to who she was and the impact that she made on so many of us. The fact that we are shocked that somebody at 80 years old who was very public about their health issues, the fact that we're still shocked that she's not here, everyone just felt like Dolly was going to live forever. And as I said, she was public with speaking about her health battles in recent times. And in fact, just about a week ago, she gave an interview.

We know that she had to pull some of her performances and she dropped out of some public events. But she always wanted to make sure that she was speaking to her fans and she wouldn't just do it, by the way, with a written statement. She would get on camera and we would actually see her face. And she was always made up and looking as gorgeous as ever with her bubbly, big personality. And she just said, I don't want you to worry about me, but I am going to be honest. I have been going through some stuff, but I'm going to be okay. And thank you for standing by me.

So, I think because she was so open with her fans and we saw her speaking directly to all of us and again, we saw her face and we saw her own words that made us feel like we know that Dolly is suffering from some health issues, but she is going to be okay. So, this is shocking news, even though we were aware of those health battles that she, again, shared so graciously with all of her fans.

KEILAR: Yes. Elizabeth, thank you so, so much.

And Dolly Parton was always so gracious with her time, as we've just been talking about. She would often drop words of wisdom about life, even her own. And just a few years ago, she sat down with CNN's Jake Tapper. Here's some of their conversation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: What would you tell your younger self? PARTON: Well, that's a tricky question. It was my dream to do it, but

I would just probably -- looking back, I would just say, girl, you better buckle up because this is -- you're in for the ride of your life.

[15:15:07]

You're going to have to take a lot of stuff. You're going to have to give a lot of stuff. And you're going to have to, you know, stand by your guns, believe in yourself, stay true to yourself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: And she certainly stayed true to herself and her roots. With us now, someone who also interviewed Dolly Parton, Katie Neal, is the host of the Katie & Company Country Music Radio Show.

Katie, thanks so much for being with us.

How big of a loss is this for her fans, for country music and for the culture?

KATIE NEAL, HOST, "KATIE & COMPANY" COUNTRY MUSIC RADIO SHOW: I mean, Dolly Parton was -- it feels not big enough to say a pillar of the country music community. I think that the outpouring of love and support and grieving that we're about to see here in the next several days to weeks is about to be unlike anything we've ever seen before. She was just such a force.

KEILAR: Yes. We've been watching her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And when we first went to it, I think there were two bouquets. A few minutes later -- and now a few minutes later, we're seeing it ringed by baby's breath and other flowers. And this is going to grow. We know that that's going to happen, Katie.

She -- she was such an icon and -- and with such crossover appeal, right? I mean, so true to her country music roots, but really just across the whole spectrum, collaborating with so many artists across the spectrum in her heart, just such a prolific songwriter. Talk to us a little bit about the impact that she's had on the music business and the model that she's been for so many performers.

NEAL: It would almost be hard to condense like the amount of influence that Dolly Parton has had. I mean, any country music songwriter that you talk to will -- have been influenced by Dolly at some point in their career. But it's like you guys have been saying all afternoon. I mean, her influence goes so far beyond country music into the world of pop. This is a woman who in her 70s was getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was like, you know what? I need to make a rock star album and who did it.

I mean, Dolly Parton really is proof that if you've got a dream, you can do anything at any age. And it really is just -- this loss is really hard to put into words.

SANCHEZ: She's such an inspiration. What was she like behind the scenes when she wasn't, you know, in front of a camera or on a microphone?

NEAL: So, I got to spend an afternoon with Dolly interviewing her around the time that a rock star album was coming out. And I could not believe just like how warm and kind and welcoming she was when she walked over to us. And her little high heels, she's had the biggest smile on her face. She stood and talked to everyone. And she was just so kind and funny. And I really I could not believe she was everything you wanted her to be and more.

KEILAR: So, it sounds like it wasn't too different than the way she was in front of a microphone or on air. Was -- was there any difference?

NEAL: Absolutely. No, I don't think there was any difference at all. She was just someone who was so happy to be alive and excited about what she got to do. I mean, Dolly Parton truly lived an enchanting life from being one of 12 siblings growing up very poor in East Tennessee. And think about the life that she lived and all the things that she accomplished. I mean, it's hard to think of an accolade that Dolly Parton hasn't received in her lifetime.

And at the end of the day, I mean, she would always talk about of all the things she'd accomplished being a songwriter was the thing she was most proud of. She actually -- I was re-listening to our interview together and thinking about how she had told me that she would write songs every single day. And she would keep a little Ziploc bag in her purse so that she could write the ideas down and stick them in there so they would be protected. And I just thought that was the most precious thing.

SANCHEZ: Katie, I just want to let you and our viewers know we are seeing tributes pour in from folks who were inspired by Dolly Parton, including a fellow icon of country music, Reba McEntire, saying, quote, "Thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth. Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge, huge heart. There will never be another like you. And we will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang."

Katie, as you're talking about her songwriting being perhaps what she was most proud of, I wonder if you could speak to the way that she influenced generations of artists that came after her and even with her songwriting catapulted so many to new heights based on covers of her work.

NEAL: Absolutely. Well, when you think about -- I mean, just -- she has almost seven decades spanning charting songs and all the songs that she's written. I know you guys were just talking about how she wrote "I Will Always Love You" and "Jolene" in a very short period of time. You think about what those two songs alone did, like what Whitney Houston was able to do with that song and the record breaking chart success that it had.

[15:20:03]

I mean, I can tell you still to this day that I see young female country artists writing spin offs of Jolene as the perspective of the other woman. You also think about like what Beyonce did with her version of "Jolene" when she covered that for her country album. I mean, there are really -- Dolly's influence knows no bounds.

KEILAR: And I know she co-hosted "Superstar Power Hour" with you. I -- I imagine when you went into that experience with her, you have this sense that you -- you almost know everything there is to know about Dolly Parton, right? But I wonder, as you just had that amazing opportunity to sit down with her personally, you know, and have those moments off air with her as well, was there something that you learned that you weren't -- didn't know that you weren't expecting to that you kind of took away from that experience?

NEAL: I'm trying to think. I think one of the things that I really enjoyed talking to Dolly about was her marriage to her husband of almost 60 years, Carl Dean. People may not realize this, but Dolly moved to Nashville right after she graduated high school and she actually met her husband outside of the laundromat the day she moved to Nashville. And they were together every day since then. And I really appreciated being able to speak to her about what she felt like made her marriage last that long. And she talked a lot about trust and friendship and taking care of one another. And it was just so beautiful to see her talk about that part of her life that, you know, was notoriously very private. There are very few photos out there of Carl Dean, who she lost last March. And so it was just such a beautiful thing to see, you know, how proud she was of their relationship.

SANCHEZ: And as her nephew put it, they are now reunited.

Katie Neal, thank you so much for sharing a slice of Dolly Parton's life with us.

Still plenty more news to come about this breaking news and our coverage of the death of legendary musician and philanthropist, Dolly Parton. We leave you with her incredible voice.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:26:29]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's an absolute legend. She brings strength to so many women around the world. Her career has been prolific. She means a lot to me and so many of my friends as an idol. She brings strength, you know, and she just had such a big heart. She was a true human being.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was a champion for women.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely. Yes, to her dying breath, I'm sure. And then some. I think we all felt it. I just walked out of the Hall of Fame and the flag was dropped to half mass for her. I had just walked through her exhibit and was crying the whole time and didn't even know why. And I -- then, I found out like a half an hour later and it's just like, there's no way that just happened. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you feeling right now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just like all of the things, you know, it's just like a -- a true loss to this world. And those of us who, you know, are younger and like, I just hope that we can all like look to her example and do better for this world. We're just not doing enough.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you so much.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: A fan there in Nashville moved to tears by the passing of Dolly Parton, that clip coming to us from WSMV.

The iconic and beloved country music legend Dolly Parton passing away at the age of 80. Joining us now with more on Parton's life and legacy is Tony Potts, former co-host of Access Hollywood and the host of the "Insatiably Curious" podcast.

Tony, what is your reaction to hearing this news?

TONY POTTS, HOST "INSATIABLY CURIOUS" PODCAST: Well, I'm smiling a little bit because she brings so much joy. I think Dolly would want us to not mourn her, but celebrate. She'd be like, come on now. Let's just celebrate my life. She was one of the kindest, smartest, most talented human beings I ever had the pleasure to interview, spent time with her, you know, off camera on the side of the stage, behind the stage. And she -- let's not forget she is one whip smart businesswoman. She was incredible.

And for me, I -- I always love the fact that no matter -- if the camera is on or off, she was Dolly and she was kind. I saw acts of kindness. I saw her incredible creativity as well. I mean, you guys mentioned earlier 3,000 songs, she -- she wrote probably 5,000 because we don't know about the other two thousand that she probably half wrote. But just an incredible human being.

And, you know, in my life and in my career, I've had the opportunity to interview a lot of people, successful, talented. And she just stands out right up there at the top. And, you know, my mom mentioned something one time about her. And this is something I think that people haven't talked about too much. My mom came from the family of 15 kids, Dolly 12. And my mom loved Dolly. And she said one time to me, she said, you know, Dolly has more common sense in her pink finger than most people have in their entire body. And she said, this is why when you're one of 12 or one of 15, you have to be creative. You have to fight. You have to have some gumption.

And my mom was like, I just love her for that. And I always love her, which ironically is a song. "I Will Always Love You." But, yes, I think that -- that common sense and the way she was able to infuse that and disperse that through her songs. She even said something a little earlier about -- there was a bite from Dolly about just pounding on the dashboard of your car to a song like who hasn't done that, right?

[15:30:01]

It's just that connection that Dolly has. And I -- I am celebrating her today. I am forever grateful I got to spend time with her.