Country music icon Dolly Parton died Tuesday at her home in Nashville, and Gov. Andy Beshear ordered Kentucky flags to half-staff in her honor, paying tribute to Parton's work through her Imagination Library and its positive impact on his state.

Parton, who died peacefully at age 80, was one of the country's most philanthropic, unifying and beloved stars. Her vibrato vocals, poignant songwriting and sparkling costumes defined her rise from a log cabin to stardom, with hits like "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You".

According to an announcement from the Office of the Governor, flags at Kentucky state buildings will be lowered to half-staff from 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25, until sunset on Sept. 1. "There aren't enough words to sum up the impact and legacy Dolly leaves behind, but it is clear that it will continue for generations to come," Beshear said. "Britainy and I are praying for Dolly's family and all those hurting from this enormous loss."

With 55 Grammy nominations and 10 wins, Parton is the third-most nominated woman in Grammy history, only behind Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. From the 1960s into the 2020s, she released around 50 solo studio albums, shifted fluidly between traditional country, slick pop, bluegrass and gospel, and kept exploring collaborations.

Parton had been open about various health issues in the last two years, particularly after her husband Carl Dean died in March 2025. In May 2026 she announced she was canceling a Las Vegas show and said she'd been undergoing treatment for kidney stones for several years.

Her impact went far beyond entertainment, with her Imagination Library giving millions of books to children around the world. Born Dolly Rebecca Parton on Jan. 19, 1946, she grew up in a one‑room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee, in the Great Smoky Mountains.