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Dolly Parton, country star, actor and philanthropist, dies aged 80 after fighting cancer

The Guardian · back to the audit

Dolly Parton, one of the greatest singer-songwriters in country music, who was also much cherished for her philanthropy, has died aged 80. Parton's team confirmed the singer died Tuesday "after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer." So gifted that she wrote two of the 20th century's greatest songs - Jolene and I Will Always Love You - in a single day, Parton's songwriting was characterised by its vivid storytelling, emotional acuity and melodic strength, all sung with strident clarity. She supported Black Lives Matter and transgender rights, opposing a North Carolina "bathroom bill" that restricted transgender people's access to toilets (Parton was also nominated for an Oscar for her song in trans drama Transamerica, entitled Travelin' Thru).