Dorothy

Parton, who earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1984, made several more movies and performed around the world, but she always returned to the music that first made her famous — and to the hollers of East Tennessee where she was born and where she and her husband made their home.

In a music career that began when she was still a child, born into poverty in the tiny mountain community of Pittman Center, Tennessee, Parton went on to become one of the world's most successful and admired entertainers, regarded as a country music living legend. Her trademark style – big blonde hair, flamboyant clothes and makeup – was cultivated early in her career, while she was still in her teens.

In addition to music, Parton appeared in more than 20 films. She made her onscreen debut in 1980 with "9 to 5," starring alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, and later held leading roles in "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" with Burt Reynolds and "Steel Magnolias" with Sally Field and Shirley MacLaine.

The day after she graduated from Sevier County High School in 1964, Parton headed to Nashville where she first made her mark writing songs for other performers, some of them with her uncle Bill Owens.

By her 2014 Morning Edition interview, Parton was very practiced at explaining how she thought about it: "It's true I look totally artificial. But I like to think I'm totally real where it really counts. But my look came from a very sincere place. It's just a country girl's idea of glamour."

The diagnosis had not been publicly known. Parton's death was announced Aug. 25 by her nephew Bryan Seaver on social media, who spoke on behalf of the Parton and Owens families. Seaver, the son of Parton's sister Cassie, was his aunt's head of security for more than two decades.

Parton's death was announced by her nephew via video on Tuesday. No cause of death was provided.

The beloved singer’s death was announced on Monday in a video from Bryan Seaver, Parton’s nephew and her longtime head of security.

“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,” Seaver said in a video.

In 2014, the Record Industry Association of America recognized Parton for sales of over 100 million units worldwide, including 19 RIAA-certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums out of the more than 100 studio, live and compilation albums she released during her six-decade-plus recording career.

Then, in 1974, Parton broke out on her own when she topped the country charts for the first time with a song she wrote and performed called “Jolene.” She later revealed it was inspired by a bank teller who flirted with her husband when they were newlyweds.