Dolly Parton, queen of country music and humanitarian hero, dead at 80

Dolly Parton, who rose from humble beginnings to the greatest heights of American music and became one of the country's most philanthropic, unifying and beloved stars, died Tuesday in Nashville, according to a family statement. She was 80. The statement said Parton died "peacefully." A small, private service will be held for her close family, the statement added. Parton died "after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer," her publicist Marcel Pariseau later said. In a career that spanned over half a century, Parton captured the American experience, penning more than 3,000 songs. Parton went on to release 49 albums and win 11 Grammys, and became one of the most successful country crossover artists of all time, scoring regular hits on the pop charts, including "Islands in the Stream," a duet with Kenny Rogers. Parton stayed mum on her politics more broadly. Fans never knew her opinion of specific presidents or politicians, and she bristled at being labeled. A previous version of this story misstated where Parton died. She died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, according to her publicist.