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The beloved singer-songwriter and actress Dolly Parton has died at 80.

Throughout her more than 70-year career, she released 50 studio albums, won 11 Grammys, earned three Emmys, and is responsible for 25 No. 1 hits. Parton was also a successful actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist.

Her death was announced by her nephew Bryan Seaver in an Instagram post on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he said. “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 until now.”

She will be remembered not only for her incredible accomplishments but also for her impeccable sense of style. Here is a look back at the legendary star’s life and some of her most iconic looks.

TENNESSEE – CIRCA 1955: Country singer Dolly Parton poses for a portrait in circa 1955 in Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Born Dolly Rebecca Parton on Jan. 19, 1946, in Pittman Center, Tennessee, Parton smiles at approximately nine years old.

NASHVILLE – 1965: Country singer Dolly Parton poses for a portrait in 1965 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

As a teenager, Parton knew she liked her hair large and in charge. She rocked the beehive hairstyle just two years before her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967.

CIRCA 1974: Country singer Dolly Parton poses for a portrait in circa 1974. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

The “Jolene” singer embraces bling as she begins to enter mainstream fame in the mid 1970s.

Dolly Parton on ‘Dolly’ in 1987. (Photo by John Seakwood/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

Parton enjoyed her time on screen while starring in the ABC variety show, Dolly.

PIGEON FORGE, TN – OCTOBER 24: American singer and songwriter Dolly Parton poses for a portrait at Dollywood on October 24, 1988 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. (Photo by Ron Davis/Getty Images)

Parton welcomes visitors to Dollywood, her theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. She officially reopened and renamed the park Dollywood in 1986.

NASHVILLE – JANUARY 4: The Grand Ole Opry 70th Anniversary. A CBS television country music special. Originally broadcast January 4, 1996. Pictured is country music performer, Dolly Parton. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)

The “I Will Always Love You” singer appeared at the Grand Ole Opry 70th Anniversary special. She first crossed the legendary stage at 13 years old in 1959.

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – FEBRUARY 05: Actress/musician Dolly Parton attends the 24th Annual Movieguide Awards Gala at Universal Hilton Hotel on February 5, 2016 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)

Parton’s last full-scale concert tour was in 2016. The Pure & Simple Tour was her largest in North America throughout her career.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 05: Dolly Parton attends the 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Microsoft Theater on November 05, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

The Steel Magnolias star rocked a black mini dress at a 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Throughout her career, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MAY 19: Dolly Parton attends the opening of Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s new exhibit ‘Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker’ at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on May 19, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Parton earned her very own exhibit in the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. It chronicles her life and successful career.

The world is currently in shock at the news that Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. Tributes have poured in, and 911: Nashville star Kimberly Williams-Paisley has shared her thoughts via social media.

Taking to Instagram, she shared photos of herself with the country music icon, highlighting when she first met her and the ongoing relationship that they would have. There are some people who touch your heart, and that was certainly the case with Parton for Williams-Paisley.

The Nashville star shared that she first met Parton thanks to her husband, Brad Paisley. The two country music singers were working on “When I Get Where I’m Going” together, and it offered her the chance to meet a legend. There were only good things to say, with Williams-Paisley sharing, “She was immediately approachable, funny, kind, and generous.”

Then came the Heartstrings series, the 2019 Netflix series which showcased some of the icons’ “most beloved songs.” It was an anthology dramedy, and Williams-Paisley appeared in the “Jolene” episode, which focused on the iconic number that people continue to sing today. The two shared a scene in that episode, and Williams-Paisley spent the tribute focusing on the “Dolly effect,” as it turns out that when Parton walked onto the set, the rain and wind seemed to just stop!

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While the “9-to-5” singer may be best known for her voice, she was also a woman filled with a large heart and a compassionate soul. She openly supported the gay community and pushed for same-sex marriage to be legalized, despite usually keeping her political opinions private. Throughout 2023, she voiced her support for the trans community.

At the same time, she made donations toward various medical needs, including to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Pediatric Cancer Program, and she put her own money forward to help with the creation of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Many may not realize that she was also passionate about ensuring children learned not just how to read, but how to love reading.

Fellow fans took to Williams-Paisley’s Instagram post to feel the loss with her. One user shared, “Beautiful tribute to Dolly. She was always one of my favorites.😢”

Another noted, “How blessed you were to have known her.😢❤️”

A third said: “What a perfect tribute to her and her magic. 🌈🦋🙏”

Our hearts are heavy with this loss.

Which Dolly Parton song mirrors your personality? The cosmic art of astrology may reveal your perfect track by the “Queen of Country”.

Following her passing at age 80 on August 25, 2026, Parton leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond her unmistakable voice and legendary catalog of songs. Over the course of her remarkable career, she became a cultural icon whose warmth, humor, authenticity, and generosity resonated across generations. Her impact can also be felt through her extensive philanthropic work, particularly her beloved Imagination Library, which has provided millions of books to children. Parton proved that enormous success and genuine kindness could go hand in hand, and her music, storytelling, charitable spirit, and larger-than-life presence will continue to inspire fans for generations.

Dolly Parton is, without a doubt, one of the most talented and well-known American singer-songwriters of our time. Her enormous talent extends beyond music; she’s also an actress, a multi-instrumentalist, and a philanthropist. When we look at her astrological birth chart, was she destined for success? 

Most of all, which Dolly Parton song matches your personality best, according to your birth month? Experts weigh in.

FOLLOW-UP: Your Dolly Parton Song, Based on Birth Date

Dolly Parton Songs for Each Birth Month

Photo by Michael Ochs Archives on Getty Images

What Does Dolly Parton’s Astrology Birth Chart Say About Her Music?

Born on January 19, 1946, Dolly is a Capricorn Sun, meaning that her determination to master her art played a key role in her success. Her timeless creations carry a deep nostalgia for the past, but also a thirst for the future, very distinctive of her birth month, December. But when looking deeper into her birth chart—yes, Dolly’s destiny was written in the stars. At her exact moment of birth, the Moon was traveling at the very beginning of Virgo, aligned with the fixed star Regulus. This very special star is known for bestowing honors, leadership, and the courage and strength to achieve the highest levels of stardom! 

RELATE?: Your Stevie Nicks Song, Based on Birth Month

Your Dolly Parton Song, Based on Your Birth Month

To celebrate the Queen of Country, we bring you the Dolly Parton song that resonates with the energy of the month you were born. 

January, You’re “Light of a Clear Blue Morning”

“It’s been a long dark night, and I’ve been a waitin’ for the morning/It’s been a long long time/Since I’ve known the taste of freedom/I can see the light of a clear blue morning/I can see the light of a brand new day.”

No wonder you like Dolly Parton, as you share the same birth month as this country music icon. “Light on a Clear Blue Morning” truly exemplifies the resilience of Capricorn with the new dawn-seeking spirit of Aquarius. Being a song of resilience and renewal, it mirrors your nature, never hiding from learning life’s hard lessons and moving through them with grace, patiently waiting for a brand-new day. 

MORE: The 4 Birth Dates With Rare Emotional Intelligence & Maturity

February, You’re “Wildflowers”

“So I uprooted myself from my home ground and left/Took my dreams, and I took to the road/When a flower grows wild, it can always survive/Wildflowers don’t care where they grow…”

If you’re a February baby, your nature resonates with the wild but magical vibe of this song. Blending the freedom-seeking vibe so characteristic of Aquarius, it is your wild side what inspires you to flower into your wildest Piscean dreams. Like Dolly Parton, you’re always seeking the mysteries of life, regardless of where they end up taking you, without a single regret! 

March, You’re “Coat of Many Colors” 

My coat of many colors/That my momma made for me/Although we had no money/I was rich as I could be/In my coat of many colors/My momma made for me.” 

March babies are nostalgic and deeply emotional, but also very proud of themselves and their lives, making the best of what life throws at them. This song mirrors your spirit in the sense that you treasure the meaning of something special beyond its materialistic meaning. After all, this birth month is home to sweet Pisces and the courageous voice of fire sign Aries. 

April, You’re “Love is like a Butterfly” 

“Why’d you come in here lookin’ like that/In your cowboy boots and your painted on jeans/Here comes my baby/Draggin’ my heart behind/He’s drivin’ me crazy…”

Fiery but romance-obsessed, April blends the fiery and bold disposition of Aries with the grounded determination of Taurus. You love adventure but also appreciate the stability and comfort of a committed relationship. You opened your heart to that cowboy once, the one who got away, but you’re smart enough to know when to move away. 

NEXT: Name Numerology — How Your First Name Shapes Your Fate

May: You’re “Islands in the Stream” 

“Islands in the stream/That is what we are/No one in between/How can we be wrong?/Sail away with me

To another world/And we rely on each other, ah ha…” 

The most romantic side of this birth month comes alive in “Island in the Stream,” which describes a romance that is blooming like a flower in the heart of Spring. In it, the legendary Taurean sensuality comes alive, bringing two souls together in perfect harmony, resembling the soul mate, twin energy of Gemini. Your Dolly Parton birth month song resonates with your need for partnership, trust, and love that feels joyful but also enduring. 

June: You’re “Here You Come Again”

“Just when I’ve begun to get myself together/You waltz right in the door, just like you’ve done before/And wrap my heart ’round your little finger/Here you come again…”

This song reminds us of the rekindling of a romance on a hot Summer night. “Here You Come Again” blends the witty attitude of Gemini with the emotional depth of Cancer. Like your birth month, it’s playful and fun, but also heart-centered and very profound—it’s like falling in love all over again during a nostalgia-filled Mercury retrograde.

OTHER: 4 Birth Months Fated to Go From Surviving to Thriving Later in Their Life

July: You’re “I Will Always Love You”

“So goodbye, please don’t cry/We both know I’m not what you, you need/And I will always love you/I will always love you…”

It makes total sense for July babies to bring in the tears and the drama! Your birth month combines the sentiment of Cancer with the passion of Leo—it’s the stuff of legendary poems and timeless romance movies. Who doesn’t get shaken up by your way of expressing bittersweet memories? This song shows how you truly care, even to the last breath. 

August: You’re “Two Doors Down”

“Two doors down, they’re laughin’ and drinkin’ and having a party/Two doors down, they’re not aware that I’m around/But I here I am crying my heart out, feeling sorry/They’re having a party two doors down…”

Crying was never so fun as it is with this iconic singer-songwriter. Your Dolly Parton’s birth month jam is about picking yourself back up when celebration promises to change your mood—and maybe even your life—in a matter of seconds. “Two Doors Down” blends Leo’s bold, outgoing confidence with Virgo’s desire to heal a broken heart. Whenever you’re feeling down, put on this song, wipe your tears off, and head to the party two doors down! 

September: You’re “Eagle When She Flies”

“A kaleidoscope of colours, you can toss her round and round/And she’s a sparrow when she’s broken/But she’s an eagle when she flies…” 

A song that speaks of a beautiful woman who, against all odds, heals herself with precision, grace, and wisdom. This gentle yet powerful energy mirrors your birth month, blending Libra’s devotion to harmony and relationships with Virgo’s precision, wisdom, and self-care. It’s a reminder that your strength lies in the balance between caring for yourself and uplifting others. 

FUN: Your Stevie Nicks Song, Based on Birth Month

October: You’re “Jolene”

“Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene/Please don’t take him even though you can/Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene/ Please don’t take him even though you can…”

A beautiful melody with profound lyrics, it speaks of the complex, captivating ways in which both Libra and Scorpio navigate love. Filled with romance, infatuation, and emotional intensity, “Jolene” reflects the landscape of longing and desire that has shaped—or continues to shape—your heart. It’s a strong reminder of love’s power to move, challenge, and transform you. 

November: You’re “Better Get to Livin’”

“You better get to livin’, givin’/Don’t forget to throw in a little forgivin’/And lovin’ on the way/You better get to knowin’, showin’/A little bit more concerned about where you’re goin’…” 

Feisty and determined, your birth month aligns with Dolly Parton’s most radically honest song! In it, she sings about the need to forgive (oh, hey Scorpio), as well as the Sagittarian’s motto of embracing life’s possibilities in all their splendor. This might be the song where Dolly gets radically honest about her very own life philosophy, something that truly captures the spirit of your birth month. 

LEARN: These are the 4 Most Wise Birth Dates

December: “Tomorrow Is Forever”

“Yesterday is gone, gone, gone, but tomorrow is forever/I care not for yesterday, I love you as you are today/Yesterday just helped to pass the time while waiting…”

The overall concept of timeless love comes alive in a new dimension in “Tomorrow is Forever.” This song honors Capricorn’s nostalgia for what’s been experienced, while inviting the Sagittarian optimism for the future. December, your birth month, truly brings this song’s energy by always pushing your mind and heart to process what’s already happened, while getting it ready for the adventures that lie ahead. 

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There’s no way to measure the impact Dolly Parton had on the world, but touching remembrances from friends who’d spent a lot of time with her over the years will help her legacy live on.

After learning of the news of her death on Tuesday (Aug. 25), the King of Country, George Strait, issued a heartfelt message via his social media channels.

“You’ve had such a huge impact on so many people all over the world, Dolly Parton,” Strait notes. “We will all miss you. May God bless the Parton family.”

Both Strait and Parton were part of “Forever Country” in 2016 — a collaborative song that brought together the genre’s brightest new stars at the time, as well as several legends. They’d been in the same room many of times over the last few decades, as their success ran concurrently in the ’80s and ’90s.

Parton turned 80 years old in January. She had been dealing with issues related to her kidneys in recent weeks, though an official cause of death has not yet been shared. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Dean, who passed in March of 2025.

What Is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library?

Though she and Carl never had biological children, Parton was a grandmotherly figure to many around the world through her charitable endeavors, like the Imagination Library. That program provides books to children free of charge, inspired by the country music icon’s late father, who struggled with illiteracy.

“Before he passed away, my Daddy told me the Imagination Library was probably the most important thing I had ever done. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me because I created the Imagination Library as a tribute to my Daddy,” Parton said in a YouTube video posted in 2023. “He was the smartest man I have ever known, but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams.”

The Imagination Library, per their mission statement, ” is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five.” To date, they’ve given more than 300 million books to kids.

In many ways, it’s impossible to imagine what exactly the television industry would be like without the earliest seasons of Saturday Night Live.

Reinventing the sketch comedy format for an entire generation, SNL also introduced a range of iconic comedians who would go on to take centerstage in the larger entertainment business, including such hallowed names as Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler, among so many others.

Interestingly, for as undeniably successful as SNL has been over the year, original cast member Jane Curtin holds a less-than-favorable view of the show’s earliest critically acclaimed seasons.

In a 2023 interview with People magazine, Curtin, who was one of the celebrated members of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players who appeared on the show back in 1975, said that she doesn’t believe SNL‘s first few seasons held up by today’s standards.

“We were sent the five year compilation video of Saturday Night Live‘s first five years a few years ago, and I gave one to my daughter,” she told People. “We were out visiting her daughter one Christmas, and her husband said, ‘Have you ever watched any of these? And I said, ‘God, I haven’t seen them in a long time.’”

Popping the compilation in, Curtin found herself cringing through the video, finding the entire series of sketches incredibly disappointing.

“It wasn’t funny. Not one thing was funny. There was not one utterance of a laugh or a giggle,” Curtin explained.

Above all else, Curtin said that she felt the series’ basis in 1970s pop culture prevented it from achieving the longevity of other TV series, calling the show “dated” since many of the figures and topics being lampooned on the show were from decades prior.

“I think it was just one of those, you had to be there in the moment things,” she said. “That’s what happens with live TV, and with topical TV. It gets dated after a while. Remember, this was almost 50 years ago. But after we rewatched, I was like, ‘That really wasn’t a very good show. It was terrible!’”

“If I die, I want to die in the middle of a song—hopefully one I wrote!” Dolly Parton once declared, displaying her signature wit.

Following the news of her death on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 80, we don’t know if the country music icon ultimately got her final wish. What is certain, however, is that the fiercely independent spirit she brought to every line she ever wrote, sang or spoke will live on for generations to come.

The “Queen of Country” was raised in a one-room cabin off a dirt road in Locust Ridge, Tenn.—the fourth of 12 kids sleeping three or four to a mattress. She built an iron spine behind a flash of blonde hair and a cheap guitar. By the time she walked off Porter Wagoner’s syndicated television show in 1974 to steer her own ship, she had already summed up her life’s working compass: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”

She didn’t wait around for Nashville executives to give her permission to cross over into pop or star in Hollywood hits like 9 to 5. She just laid down the track herself, famously observing, “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”

Parton didn’t just pave that road; she bought up the whole block. What started as a country music career quickly grew into a massive business operation. In 1986, overruling skeptical advisors, she opened Dollywood in the Smoky Mountains, turning her impoverished hometown region into a tourism powerhouse that draws millions of visitors every year.

Beyond the park, she quietly flexed her muscle as a Hollywood producer—backing projects from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to major feature films through Sandollar Productions—while holding tight to her song publishing rights. Underneath the rhinestones and self-deprecating jokes beat the mind of a razor-sharp mogul who famously noted, “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.”

Here are 15 of Dolly Parton’s greatest quotes on life, love, death and aging.

Related: No Need To Work ‘9 to 5’—Dolly Parton’s Net Worth Was Fit for a Country Queen

Best Dolly Parton Quotes On Life

• Self-Identity: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”
• Perseverance: “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”
• Resilience: “Storms make trees take deeper roots.”
• Creation: “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”
• Adaptability: “We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”
• Priorities: “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
• Positivity: “Smile—it increases your face value.”

Related: Dolly Parton Shares the Heartwarming Stories Behind 10 of Her Favorite Songs

On Love

• Relationships: “Love is something sent from heaven above to worry the hell out of you.”
• Grief & Loss: “You never do replace people that you’ve lost, but you learn to live with that loss.”
• Kindness: “If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.”
• Tenderness: “Love is like a butterfly: as soft and gentle as a feather, many-colored and full of cheer.”
• Value: “You can be rich in spirit and rich in love, even when you’re poor in money.”

Related: 75 Amazing Dolly Parton Facts, From Her Childhood to Global Icon

On Death and Aging

• Aging: “I don’t think about getting old; I just think about living until I die.”
• Purpose: “I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid of not living.”
• Legacy: “If I die, I want to die in the middle of a song—hopefully one I wrote!”

Related: Dolly Parton’s Cause of Death Has Been Revealed

Andie Anderson may be getting another chance to lose a guy in 10 days, but fans aren’t sure they want to watch it happen.

News that How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is getting a sequel has sent the beloved rom-com back into the spotlight, with fans taking to social media to weigh in on the unexpected follow-up.

The 2003 movie, starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, has long been a rom-com favorite, making it an easy nostalgia play. Variety reports that Hudson is developing and producing a sequel, though the project is still in its early stages, with no plot, writer, director or release date announced. McConaughey’s return as Ben has also not been confirmed.

But the early reaction suggests not everyone is ready to revisit the world of magazine columns, yellow dresses and elaborate dating schemes. On Threads, fans questioned the decision to revisit the story, with one asking simply, “Why?” and another wondering, “Is there no originality anymore?”

One fan even pitched a creative twist on the original premise, suggesting an anthology series in which each episode follows a different woman trying to get a guy to dump her in 10 days, with Hudson appearing as a sort of “breakup godmother.” Even that commenter wasn’t convinced the concept was necessary, writing, “But even then do we need it? Idk if I’m hungry for it.”

A few people also anticipated the storyline of “How To Divorce A Guy In Ten Days.”

The skepticism comes as Hollywood continues to lean heavily on familiar franchises and established IP, which offer studios a built-in audience and a potentially safer financial bet than original films. But sequels don’t always outgross their predecessors and often face tougher critical reception, making the decision to revisit a beloved classic something of a gamble. For now, it seems fans aren’t quite sold on taking that trip back to 2003.

Some of your favorite sitcom gags used over the decades most likely stem from Lucille Ball‘s masterpiece. You know the one.

I Love Lucy premiered nearly 75 years ago, and in honor of the whopping milestone, the Television Academy is about to bestow its inaugural Legacy Award on the legendary comedy series.

On Tuesday, August 25, the coveted organization announced that its new honor is presented to a TV program “that’s made a profound and generational impact on audiences and remains relevant to society, culture and the industry today.”

A special Emmys tribute to I Love Lucy is scheduled for the second night of the 78th Emmy Awards, on Sunday, September 6, according to the TV Academy’s recent news release.

“I Love Lucy truly helped define what television could be,” Cris Abrego, chair of the TV Academy, said in a statement on Tuesday. “Beyond its place in television and cultural history as one of the medium’s most beloved shows, its creative ambition, technical innovation and groundbreaking approach to the business of television established a blueprint that continues to influence our industry 75 years later.”

Premiering on CBS in 1951, I Love Lucy became a ratings juggernaut and the first sitcom to top the Nielsen charts, the academy reports. The show’s popularity helped revolutionize TV through its undisputed modernization of the sitcom format, including those groundbreaking technical innovations fans can recall.

The show also transformed Ball and Desi Arnaz into one of Hollywood’s most powerful couples, giving them unprecedented creative and business control over their work through their company, Desilu Productions.

TV’s Biggest Night Is Fast Approaching

And as a refresher for all the small-screen viewers, the 78th Emmy Awards will be held over three nights: Sept. 5, 6 and 14. The Sept. 14 ceremony, hosted by Mariska Hargitay, will be broadcast live on NBC from the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE and will stream live and on demand on Peacock.

Nights one and two will be edited into a single broadcast, airing Saturday, Sept. 12.

When Sidney Sheldon released The Naked Face in 1970, he saw modest success. Little did he know, but three years later, he would end up with a bestseller that would go on to become a movie starring Susan Sarandon.

That novel was the 1973 release of The Other Side of Midnight, a steamy hit that spent 52 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. It immediately reached the No. 1 spot, cementing Sheldon as an author to watch out for, and it led many to go back to read his debut novel.

In fact, in a 2000 interview, Sheldon shared that, “The Other Side of Midnight was certainly a turning point in my life.”

Set between the 1930s and the 1950s, The Other Side of Midnight is a story of obsession, revenge, and love. During World War II, Larry Douglas is an arrogant American war pilot who starts up a fling with a stunning French woman called Noelle. However, he has a wife, Catherine, back home, and he leaves Noelle and returns to his wife.

Heartbroken, Noelle decides that she isn’t going to just step back and allow this man to get away with his actions. After becoming a famous actress, she decides to track him down, setting a trap for his wife. With twists and turns, sexy scenes, and glamorous locations, this Sheldon novel quickly became a must-read release.

Like The Count of Monte Cristo, the main lesson in The Other Side of Midnight is how much vengeance pulls people down. There’s a destructive cost to holding onto anger and the need for revenge. However, this also brought a soapy feeling to the story, adding layers of juicy entertainment within the story.

From July to August of 1973, The Other Side of Midnight spent five weeks in the No. 1 spot of the NYT bestseller list. Eventually, Sheldon would write a sequel to the story, titled Memories of Midnight. While the first novel was adapted into a movie, the sequel would get a TV miniseries adaptation in 1991.

As for the movie, it’s no surprise that by 1977 there was a call for this steamy tale of vengeance. Sarandon starred as Catherine, while Marie-France Pisier and John Beck took on the roles of Noelle and Larry. Expected to be 20th Century Fox’s biggest hit of that summer, it made theaters buy The Other Side of Midnight as well as Star Wars that year. In the end, the sci-fi movie would become the bigger hit, kickstarting a whole franchise, while the Sheldon adaptation would be a financial success, but nothing on the level 20th Century Fox expected it to be.

Related: Bestselling Author Nicholas Sparks’ 1996 Debut Novel, Later Turned Into an Iconic Romance Film, Turns 30 This Year

As the world reacts to the heartbreaking news that country queen Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her friends, colleagues and former co-stars are sharing their thoughts on the music and film legend’s passing. Parton’s 9 to 5 costar Lily Tomlin was one of the first to share her sadness over her friend’s death, quickly writing, “No words,” on a social media post shared to her own Instagram account. She also included a gorgeous black-and-white photo of herself with Parton from the 9 to 5 premiere.

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Fans have quickly rushed to the comments section to share their sadness over the passing of Dolly Parton, whom they call “a real life angel.”

“Sincere condolences. My heart is heavy hearing of the loss of the beautiful Dolly Parton. Her incredible talent, kindness, generosity, and unwavering ability to bring joy to others touched generations around the world. She was truly one of a kind,” one fan shared.

Another added, “A real life angel with a heart as big as Jupiter. R.I.P. Dolly.”

Yet another fan shared simply, “Legend.”

9 to 5 Created an Unforgettable Friendship

9 to 5 was more than a hit 1980 comedy. It brought together one of the best on-screen comedy trios of all time in Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton. Three very different performers, the actresses were as varied as the characters they portrayed onscreen, but their chemistry was undeniable both on and offscreen.

Part of the movie’s enduring appeal was the chemistry between Parton, Tomlin and Fonda. It was Jane Fonda who had the original idea for the project and wanted to cast Parton in the role of Doralee, marking Dolly’s feature-film debut.

Fonda saw the heart and humanity in Parton’s songwriting, qualities that translated effortlessly to acting.

Related: Figure Skating Legend Tai Babilonia Mourns the Death of a Skating Great

Dolly Parton Showed Off Her Comedic Talent @fallontonight

@Dolly Parton’s nails are credited in #9to5 💅 #FallonFlashback #DollyParton

♬ original sound – FallonTonight

9 to 5 represented a tour de force for each of the lead actresses and showed Parton’s serious comedic chops. More enduring than the film, however, was the friendship between the three women outside of making the movie.

Tomlin, Parton and Fonda continued to celebrate one another publicly for decades, and their bond became part of the movie’s lore. They weren’t simply three stars who had shared the screen. They created a trio whose affection and support for one another remained evident in interviews and public appearances for years to come.

That friendship made the movie feel even more special. The laughter between the three women never seemed confined to the script, and their genuine affection for one another became part of what audiences loved about 9 to 5.

Lily Tomlin Mourns Her Friend Dolly Parton

For fans, the news of Dolly Parton’s death is shocking. The world not only lost a country music legend and a film great, but a great humanitarian who brought endless joy to the lives of people she knew personally and the fans she had yet to meet.

But for her friends and former co-stars like Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton’s death represents a loss that goes far beyond Hollywood.

There are no words to fully explain the impact and legacy Parton leaves behind.

A real-life angel, indeed.

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Despite being one of the most famous women in the world, Dolly Parton kept a low profile when it came to a few things in her life.

Along with keeping her marriage to Carl Dean private for decades, Parton also got several hidden tattoos before her death on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80.

Related: Roseanne Barr’s 5 Children Play a Big Role in Her Life and Podcast

Parton’s ink was seemingly first discovered in 1996 when she appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. During the interview, Leno noticed a tattoo peeking out from her sleeve — prompting the country singer to divulge her secret body art.

“Yeah, I have a little tattoo. Don’t start pulling my clothes down,” she jokingly said. She went on to share that she had a little angel tattoo and a little butterfly.

Fast forward a decade, and one of Parton’s famous friends, Roseanne Barr, revealed even more about the “Jolene” singer’s tattoos.

“Do you know who’s totally tattooed? I shouldn’t even tell this. Dolly Parton is totally tattooed,” she said on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. “She showed me. She’s got all these awesome tattoos all over her body. No black or blue lines. All pastel, gorgeous bows all over everything.”

In the years before her death, Parton opened up more frequently about her tattoos, revealing why she got the ink and what they mean to her.

“I do have a few little tattoos, but they were mostly done to cover scars because I’m so fair,” she said on The Today Show in 2014. “So it started with that, and I’m not really one to have tattoos, but I do have a few, and they’re not where you can see them.”

She added, “They’re mostly for my husband.”

More recently, in an interview with People magazine in 2020, Parton reaffirmed that she does not consider herself a “tattoo girl,” but she does love her collection of body art.

“I like to make positives out of negatives. I had a little beehive tattooed over it — a little yellow-and-brown beehive with a tiny little bee on top of the hive. The mouth of it is that little sinkhole.”

We’re sure Parton’s tattoos inspired her goddaughter Miley Cyrus’ extensive collection!

Dolly Parton was an 18-year-old country dreamer doing laundry on her very first day in Nashville when she first met Carl Dean. She knew right then and there that the handsome 21-year-old had stolen her heart at the Wishy Washy Laundromat.

After two years of dating, the pair secretly tied the knot on May 30, 1966, in Ringgold, Georgia. At the time, Dolly was signed to Monument Records under producer Fred Foster, who advised against a public wedding out of concern that marriage might derail her rising music career. Unfazed, the couple quietly wed anyway ahead of Dolly releasing early breakthrough hits like “Dumb Blonde” and “Something Fishy,” and a year before she joined The Porter Wagoner Show, propelling her star power to new heights.

As she navigated life in the spotlight, Dean would become her rock, her best friend, and the center of her world for nearly six decades. While Parton stood in the spotlight, her husband remained out of the public eye, giving their marriage a quiet sanctuary that allowed it to thrive privately for 58 years.

“It’s worked for us because we both do different things and it’s exciting when we are together,” Parton once told E! News. “So the fact that there’s some little space makes it exciting when you go home.”

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She added, “He loves music, but he’s not in the music business at all, so we have different things to talk about, his world and my world, and we work really well together. We have a lot of love and respect for each other.”

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“I always joke and laugh when people ask me what’s the key to my long marriage and lasting love,” the entertainer told People Magazine in 2018. “I always say ‘Stay gone!’ and there’s a lot of truth to that. I travel a lot, but we really enjoy each other when we’re together and the little things we do.”

The couple was married for 58 years until Dean’s death on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82. “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” Parton said in a statement on Instagram. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.”

Two days later, Parton shared a sweet photo of herself and Dean with a comment about their relationship. She wrote, “I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old. We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together. Like all great love stories, they never end. They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story, and I dedicate this song to him. ‘If You Hadn’t Been There.'”

Dolly Parton’s family shared a video statement about her passing on August 25, 2026 at the age of 80. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, revealed the news in an Aug. 25 Facebook video.

“My name is Bryan 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,” he says in the video.

“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 until now.”

Seaver added: “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 watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.”

Related: In 1983, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Hit No. 1 With an Iconic Country Song Written by Disco Legends

Dolly Parton died on Aug. 25, 2026, at 80 years old.

The country music and pop culture icon has been revered as a maternal figure for her generosity and history of kindness, but the “I Will Always Love You” singer and her husband, Carl Dean (who died in March 2025 at age 82) never had children of their own throughout their six decades of marriage.

It was somewhat surprising to many casual fans of Parton, who came from a family of 12 herself.

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Just because she didn’t birth or raise a family of her own doesn’t mean Parton didn’t have children in her life, however: She is godmother to none other than Miley Cyrus, who she mentored throughout her Hannah Montana days and performed with often, including on The Voice, at the 2019 Grammys and in Cyrus’ 2022 New Year’s Eve special, to name a few.

Find out why Parton and Dean were child-free and why she thinks it was a gift.

Related: Dolly Parton Opens Up About the 1976 Song She Wrote to Fight Back Against the Tabloids

Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus in “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party” in 2022

NBC / Getty Images

Why Didn’t Dolly Parton Have Children?

Parton said she and Dean, who met when she was 18 and married two years later in 1966, opted not to have kids in order to prioritize her career.

“Since I had no kids, and my husband was pretty independent, I had freedom,” Parton explained on The Oprah Conversation in November 2020. “So I think a big part of my whole success is the fact that I was free to work.”

She added, “I didn’t have children because I believed that God didn’t mean for me to have kids—so everybody’s kids could be mine, so I could do things like Imagination Library.” (For the uninitiated, Parton’s Imagination Library is her charitable initiative that provides free books for children in need. As of October 2025, her Imagination Library donated 300 million books and counting.)

“If I hadn’t had the freedom to work, I wouldn’t have done all the things I’ve done,” Parton emphasized. “I wouldn’t be in a position to do all of the things I’m doing now … I’ve made sacrifices, but I think, like I said, I believe what I know I’m supposed to do.”

Related: Dolly Parton Was Building Her Biggest Legacy Project Yet Before Her Death

Did Dolly Parton Regret Not Having Kids?

She admitted to Billboard that she and Dean at one point regretted not becoming parents, but that those feelings soon subsided once she got to experience the joy of having nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

“Now that Carl and I are older, we often say, ‘Aren’t you glad we didn’t have kids? Now we don’t have kids to worry about,'” she said.

In a 2017 TODAY interview, Parton joked about the real reason she thinks kids were drawn to her, even though she didn’t have any of her own.

“I have that high-pitched voice, I look like Mother Goose or one of those over-exaggerated characters, and kids just relate to that … God has a plan for everything,” she said. “I think it probably was his plan for me not to have kids so everybody’s kids could be mine. And they are now.”

And honestly? We are all the better for it. Rest well, Mother.

Related: Dolly Parton’s Cause of Death Has Been Revealed

Dolly Parton spent her final Instagram post celebrating a piece of country music history she shared with an old friend.

Before news broke of the country legend’s death at age 80 on Tuesday, August 25, Parton’s final post looked back on the 43rd anniversary of “Islands in the Stream,” her beloved duet with the late Kenny Rogers.

The post, which was shared 10 days before her death, featured footage of Parton and Rogers performing the hit together, which originally aired on January 19, 1988. “43 years of ‘Islands In the Stream!’ 💖 @_kennyrogers,” Parton simply captioned the clip.

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Released in 1983, “Islands in the Stream” became one of the defining songs of both singers’ careers. Written by the Bee Gees, the duet topped the Billboard Hot 100 and went down in history as one of country music’s most memorable pairings.

READ MORE: Eminem Shares Emotional Dolly Parton Tribute — and Reveals Her Unexpected Message That Had a Lasting Impact on Him

Rogers later recalled that Parton wasn’t initially part of the recording. After several days working on the song with Barry Gibb, Rogers felt something was missing. “And we had been singing this song in my studio in L.A. for four days. And I finally said, ‘Barry, I don’t even like this song anymore,” Rogers recalled to People back in 2017.

Gibb suggested adding Parton, who happened to be nearby, and her arrival transformed the track. “And Dolly, in her inimitable fashion, marched into the room and the song was never the same,” he revealed.

Rogers died of natural causes on March 20, 2020, at age 81 while under hospice care at his Georgia home.

Parton’s final post came amid concerns about her own health. Just four days before her death, she acknowledged that she had been dealing with health issues she previously put aside while caring for her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025. Still, she emphasized that she remained focused on recovering and working, despite cancelling a few appearances.

News of Parton’s death was announced by her nephew Bryan Seaver on Tuesday in an emotional Instagram video, revealing that the country icon had actually prepared him for the responsibility years earlier. “This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he said. He explained that he had served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, following in the footsteps of his father, Larry.

Earlier this year, Parton revealed that she was undergoing treatments for unspecified issues affecting her immune and digestive systems. While she said in May that she was “improving every day,” her recovery forced her to step away from some public appearances and performances.

Related: Dolly Parton’s Health: Country Icon Gives New Update After Recent Cancellation

In 1992, Whitney Houston covered a country legend’s song, “I Will Always Love You,” for The Bodyguard soundtrack, and it went on to break records as it topped Billboard charts for several weeks. Now, decades later, it is regarded as the No. 1 greatest Dolly Parton cover of all time.

“One way Parton has been honored is through covers. Artists from across genres have taken on Parton’s hits in homage and to reflect just how much influence the singer has had on their lives and careers,” Ranker shared of its lineup published in April 2025.

At the top of the list is Houston’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You.” Per the outlet, citing a New York Times feature, “Houston transforms a plaintive country ballad into a towering pop-gospel assertion of lasting devotion to a departing lover. Her voice breaking and tensing, she treats the song as a series of emotional bursts in a steady climb toward a final full-out declamation. Along the way, her virtuosic gospel embellishments enhance the emotion and never seem merely ornamental.”

The smash hit climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for 14 weeks. It is also certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America and earned Houston two Grammy awards in 1994 in the coveted Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female categories.

Meanwhile, The Bodyguard, starring Houston and Kevin Costner, didn’t just become one of the most beloved films ever made; the soundtrack also earned a new record, and it’s one that it still holds, 34 years later: No. 1 best-selling soundtrack of all time.

The project also included standout hits like “I Have Nothing,” “I’m Every Woman,” “Run to You,” and worship song, “Jesus Loves Me.” In total, the soundtrack sold over 45 million copies worldwide, spent 20 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and became the first album in the SoundScan era to sell over 1 million copies in a single week.

As for the country icon, she was floored when she heard Houston’s vocals on the track. “I couldn’t believe my little country sad song could even be done like that,” Parton admitted in 2023. “That was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had in my entire life.”

And the respect was always mutual between the two powerhouse artists. “I think Dolly Parton is a hell of a writer and a hell of a singer,” Houston said in a 1993 interview with Rolling Stone. “I was so concerned when I sang her song how she’d feel about it, in terms of the arrangement, my licks, my flavor. When she said she was floored, that meant so much to me.”

Whitney Houston died on Feb. 11, 2012, at the age of 48. News of Dolly Parton’s death at 80 was announced by her family on Aug. 25, 2026.

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Dolly Parton died at the age of 80, her family announced on Tuesday, August 25.

The beloved country music icon has left Hollywood and fans alike in mourning. However, the “I Will Always Love You” artist previously revealed that she had a vault of pre-recorded music that would be available to be released following her death.

“I’ve got hundreds, hundreds, even thousands of songs — a big part of them have never even been recorded,” Parton said during an appearance on the Dolly Parton’s America podcast in 2020. “There’s enough stuff to go on forever with my music, to do compilation albums, to do new and original stuff. I am purposely trying to put songs down for that very purpose, to have a click track and my vocals where any arrangement could be done. So I think ahead.”

She added, “Anybody could produce that. Anyone, any producer in the world — a hot shot producer, when I’m gone, they could take my songs, just the click track of my vocal, and build a complete arrangement around that. So that will go on forever.”

Parton died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, with her nephew announcing the devastating news via social media.

“My name is Brin 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,” he began. “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 until 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 watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.”

For most of her extraordinary career, Dolly Parton seemed unstoppable. But there was a time when the country music legend seriously considered walking away from the business.

The surprising part? She wasn’t tired of songwriting. She was struggling with the pressures and personal complications that came with her rapidly growing career.

Dolly Parton Almost Walked Away

One of the biggest turning points came during Parton’s years working with Porter Wagoner.

Parton joined The Porter Wagoner Show in 1967, and Wagoner became an important mentor as she established herself as a performer and songwriter. But after several years, Parton wanted to pursue a solo career, while Wagoner wanted her to remain on his show.

Their professional split became painful enough that Parton considered giving up.

Instead, she turned the experience into music.

In 1973, Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” as a farewell to Wagoner. Rather than ending their relationship with anger, she wanted to express gratitude for what he had done for her while making it clear that she needed to move forward.

The song became a No. 1 country hit for Parton.

Nearly two decades later, Whitney Houston’s version for The Bodyguard became a global phenomenon, spending 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Dolly Parton Chose to Keep Going

The moment could have marked the end of Parton’s music career. Instead, it became part of the foundation for everything that followed.

Parton went on to become a country superstar, Hollywood actress, bestselling author, entrepreneur and philanthropist while continuing to write and record music.

She also built Dollywood and launched the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, turning her career into something much larger than a recording career.

Looking back, there’s something fitting about the fact that one of Parton’s most famous songs came from a moment when she was ready to move on.

She didn’t quit.

She wrote a song about saying goodbye, and then built an entirely new chapter of her life.

RELATED: Dolly Parton Once Revealed the Journey Classic She Wished She Had Written

The following 4 zodiac signs are most likely to change careers later in life: Aries, Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. But why?

Each star sign has its own unique soul mission to consider. While they might resist such a dramatic life shift at first, ultimately they know that they’re chasing purpose and alignment, even if it takes a few decades to find their truest calling.

For some people, the first career they pick is the one they stay in for good. For others, that first choice is just a placeholder, a reasonable answer to give in their early 20s or 30s that stops making sense as they mature into a wiser, more grounded version of themselves.

Which Zodiac Signs Are Most Likely to Shift Careers Later in Life?

Check your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs.

Aries — Chasing the Next Thrill

Ruled by fast-moving Mars, Aries often jumps into a career early, often before fully knowing what they actually want long-term. That first job usually gets chosen for its excitement or its paycheck, not its staying power. After all, what fire sign doesn’t love the thrill of a passionate chase?

However, once the initial thrill fades and routine sets in, this restless star sign typically starts eyeing something new. A full career pivot later in life isn’t uncommon. While indecision is rarely their problem, stagnation most definitely makes their skin crawl. A career pivot is often just what Aries needs to stay engaged in their professional development.

Gemini — Craving Intellectual Freedom

Mercury-ruled Gemini gets bored faster than almost any other sign, which makes a single, static career path genuinely hard to sustain for decades. This intellectual Air sign’s mind craves variety and new information, and eventually, one industry simply stops supplying enough of it.

A later-in-life career change isn’t a crisis for Gemini. Typically, it’s the moment they finally feel intellectually alive again after years of coasting on autopilot. By allowing themselves permission to explore and experiment in their professional life, they unlock greater success. Their fulfillment doesn’t come from staying in monotonous, predictable fields. As an innovator, they’re made for living on the leading edge.

Libra — Choosing Themselves, Finally

Libra spends their early life often trying to keep everyone happy, often landing in a career path that looks balanced and agreeable on paper rather than one that is ever truly their best choice. It takes years of quiet dissatisfaction before Libra finally prioritizes their own fulfillment over everyone else’s expectations.

When the shift finally happens, it’s usually because this peacekeeper got tired of being diplomatic about their own unhappiness. Ruled by Venus, they love to nurture others. However, the universe pushes them to learn to satisfy themselves later in their professional development. A career that reflects their favorite hobbies and pastimes can often be more healing than one that looks good to others but feels stifling inside.

Aquarius — Redefining What Success Means

Ruled by unconventional Uranus, Aquarius often starts out in a career that seems practical or expected, only to realize later that “practical” and “fulfilling” were never actually the same thing for them. After all, this Air sign knows how to be objective. Sometimes they forget that their feelings need to be part of the equation to keep things sustainable.

Aquarius’s real calling tends to be something a little more unusual, a little harder to explain at a dinner party. Embracing their own definition of success means rejecting the roles they’ve been conditioned to assume. A late-career pivot for Aquarius allows them to trust their own instincts over everyone else’s expectations.

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Dancing with the Stars pro Jenna Johnson is sharing an update following her in-laws, and former DWTS pros, Maks Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd‘s cross-country move.

“I think that they are absolutely thriving, and they love it there,” Johnson, wife of Maks’ brother Val told Us Weekly in an interview shared on Tuesday. “And I’m so happy to see them happy.”

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The update comes weeks after the couple announced they were moving from Los Angeles — where Johnson and Val live — to Florida.

“Are we heartbroken? Yes, because we literally lived in the same neighborhood for two years,” Johnson said. “You you forget how much you take advantage of that until they’re gone, and then you’re like, “What the heck are we doing?'”

Since the move, the parents of three have been documented their new life in the Sunshine State in the form of fun Instagrams.

“It just makes sense for their family, and it just fits them,” Johnson also said. “And Peta grew up in Australia. She loves that climate, that weather.”

Related: Former ‘DWTS’ Pros Maksim Chmerkovskiy And Peta Murgatroyd Share Major Family News: ‘Everything We Hoped For’

While the DWTS pro said “never say never” as to whether her and her husband will make a big move also, she shared that the families will make it a point to reunite for special occasions.

“I think for right now, we’re gonna be just like bicoastal family members and visit for holidays,” she said. “Those moments will be so much more present and important when we do get to share them, because we do miss them so much. But [we’re] so happy for them.

Maks and Murgatroyd announced their big move in a joint social media post in June.

“Leaving behind the place we’d called home for so many years wasn’t easy, but sometimes the biggest leaps lead you exactly where you’re meant to be,” they wrote. “The happiness, the slower pace, the sunshine, watching our boys love every second of it… it’s everything we hoped for and more.” 

While Johnson and Val are staying in Los Angeles, they also shared this summer that they bought a new house.

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Dolly Parton wrote thousands of songs during her extraordinary career, including “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You.” But even one of country music’s greatest songwriters has occasionally heard a song and thought, I wish I’d written that.

One of those songs was a classic from Journey.

While discussing her 2023 rock album, Rockstar, Parton revealed that she wished she had written “Open Arms,” the soaring power ballad originally recorded by Journey in 1982.

“I wish I had written it,” Parton said in an interview with The Music.

The song held an especially personal connection for Parton because of her late husband, Carl Dean.

Dolly Parton Wanted to Record ‘Open Arms’ With Kenny Rogers

“Open Arms” was written by Journey’s Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain and became one of the band’s signature ballads after appearing on the 1981 album Escape.

Parton had long admired the song. Dean did, too.

“My husband always loved it and always thought I should have recorded it with Kenny Rogers,” Parton explained.

Parton and Rogers had a celebrated musical friendship, recording together on songs including their 1983 hit “Islands in the Stream.” Dean apparently thought “Open Arms” could have been another memorable collaboration for the pair.

The opportunity never came.

Years later, Parton finally found a way to record the song herself.

Dolly Parton Finally Got Her Chance

When Parton began putting together Rockstar, her ambitious 2023 album of rock covers and original songs, “Open Arms” immediately came to mind.

There was one person she particularly wanted involved: Perry, who had originally sung the Journey version.

“So, when I started doing the rock album, I thought, well, I’m going to record ‘Open Arms,’ and then I’m going to ask Steve Perry to sing it with me,” Parton said.

Perry agreed, joining Parton for a new version of the song.

The collaboration gave Parton something she had never quite managed during Dean’s lifetime: the chance to record one of his favorite songs with the singer who made it famous.

It was also a fitting choice for an artist who had spent her own career proving that a great song could cross musical boundaries.

Parton had already written songs that became massive hits for other artists, most famously Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You.” But “Open Arms” represented the other side of songwriting, the rare song she heard and wished she could have claimed as her own.

Parton died at the age of 80. Her family shared the news on Aug. 25, 2026.

RELATED: Dolly Parton Was Building Her Biggest Legacy Project Yet Before Her Death