The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum » Dolly Parton Dies At 80

RadioActive · August 25, 2026 2:17 pm

She was not only beautiful but beautifully talented. After a period of declining health, Dolly Parton has passed away. She had most recently issued a health update only last week.

In addition to huge hits like "Jolene" and "9 To 5" (later a movie and a TV series), she also wrote the massive hit "I Will Always Love You," a huge smash for Whitney Houston. She was also a well known philanthropist, who managed the difficult feat of becoming a hitmaker in both country and pop. And she's one of the few music stars that owned her own amusement park, Dollywood.

There's no immediate word on the cause of death, although it was clear for some time she was not well.

Dolly Parton was 80.

Dolly Parton, country music icon, dies at 80

Chrisphen · August 25, 2026 2:39 pm

Well that sucks arse.

paterson1 · August 25, 2026 4:48 pm

Dolly was one of those people that almost everyone liked. Sort of like Lloyd Robertson a few weeks ago, nobody will have anything bad to say about her. She lived a successful life and will be remembered for her kindness and good deeds as much as her career.

markow202 · August 25, 2026 5:56 pm

Checked CHUM FM playlist and im impressed - at 2:04PM they played Dolly Parton - 9 to 5 followed by Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love you

Shows there still is some customization that can be done on the radio, today.

R.I.P Dolly.

Radiowiz · August 25, 2026 6:24 pm

She also did some really good cover versions of Alt Rock songs:

Last edited by Radiowiz (August 25, 2026 6:28 pm)

Capricasix · August 25, 2026 6:40 pm

markow202 wrote:
Checked CHUM FM playlist and im impressed - at 2:04PM they played Dolly Parton - 9 to 5 followed by Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love you

Shows there still is some customization that can be done on the radio, today.

R.I.P Dolly.

I was listening to the Edge at about 3.10 pm, shortly after the news broke, and the announcer (don’t know his name) said “even though we’re alternative, I don’t think anyone will object if I play this” and played 9 to 5.

RadioActive · August 25, 2026 6:43 pm

I was amazed when ABC World News Tonight not only led with the story, but it went on for almost 10 minutes. That's almost unheard of for a network newscast. They're even doing a special 20/20 tribute at 10 PM on the network.

(By the way, the Canadian tariff yarn was four stories in and aired at 6:45 PM.)

The Weed · August 25, 2026 6:50 pm

CNN did an hour.

RadioActive · August 25, 2026 7:14 pm

NBC Nightly News devoted the whole first pack on "a special edition" of their 6:30 PM package. It lasted 13 minutes, something you almost never see.

I had no idea she was held in that high regard to merit this kind of tribute, which is usually reserved for when a President dies. Even their own messy political stuff doesn't get that much airtime.

Pretty impressive send-off for Ms. Parton, including a follow-up farewell yarn at the end of the show.

RadioAaron · August 25, 2026 8:02 pm

markow202 wrote:
Checked CHUM FM playlist and im impressed - at 2:04PM they played Dolly Parton - 9 to 5 followed by Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love you

Shows there still is some customization that can be done on the radio, today.

R.I.P Dolly.

Other stations that played her include: CHFI, Q107, Indie88, Boom, Country 93.5 (I’d say obviously, but….)

mic'em · August 26, 2026 6:08 am

CBC Sudbury played Jolene on the afternoon drive Up North show that covers the entire north from Quebec to Manitoba.

RadioActive · August 26, 2026 6:16 am

I have to admit I was totally surprised by the overwhelming reaction to this death. Other musicians have passed away and they don't get 10-13 minute obits on network newscasts. I had no idea she was such an overwhelming force in the music world to garner that kind of attention. Amazing.

RadioActive · August 26, 2026 6:28 am

Who knew?

The hit TV show Dolly Parton was secretly involved in

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 · August 26, 2026 9:28 am

She will be missed in all generations.
I'm 26 years old, and I still love her.
But, I love both older and new music exept for heard rap, drill, trap, and screaming mettal and some of these agressive rappers.
My 2 favourite songs by her are My coat of many coulors and I will always love you.
I thoght she was young, she seemed very active.

paterson1 · August 26, 2026 9:48 am

I always liked that Dolly would make fun of herself. Once on the Tonight Show (can't remember who the host was) she was asked about her unique look. She commented that "it takes an awful lot of time, work and money to look this trashy..."

Capricasix · August 26, 2026 11:10 am

RadioActive wrote:
I have to admit I was totally surprised by the overwhelming reaction to this death. Other musicians have passed away and they don't get 10-13 minute obits on network newscasts. I had no idea she was such an overwhelming force in the music world to garner that kind of attention. Amazing.

It’s not just because of her music career; it’s because she was a genuinely kind and loving person who chose to do good instead of evil with her money.

I saw a post on Bluesky that read “in a world of Elon Musks, be a Dolly Parton”.

RadioActive · August 26, 2026 12:15 pm

I heard someone on the radio the day she passed noting she never, ever expressed a political opinion or told anyone which party she supported in elections. That meant both sides in a polarized nation could relate to her without the usual judgement that happens these days. Smart lady and the reaction to her death proves how well it worked.

RadioActive · August 26, 2026 6:18 pm

Participating radio and TV stations across Tennessee will simultaneously be playing Parton's "I Will Always Love You" at 9 AM EST Thursday, as a tribute to the late singer.

RadioActive · August 27, 2026 5:48 am

The story of how Dolly Parton almost hosted a talk show on WLS in Chicago is pretty amazing. Too bad it never happened.

The Day Dolly Parton Came This-Close to Hosting a WLS/Chicago Talk Show

mic'em · August 27, 2026 6:15 am

I was surprised to hear she wrote both Jolene and I will always love you in the same day. She donated all the proceeds from Whitney Houston's recording of I will always love you to a children's cancer center. She wrote that song to honour Porter Wagner who gave her a spot on his tv show and tour. An exceptional person the world will be fortunate to ever see again.

RadioActive · August 27, 2026 12:15 pm

We just keep learning more amazing stuff about this late and much loved star. Although only a few minutes of this one survives.

Dolly Parton Starred In An Unaired Sitcom With A Supernatural Twist

darcyh · August 28, 2026 10:18 am

WMIC AM 660 devoted its entire classic country morning show from 9 to noon to Dolly.

Paul Jeffries · August 28, 2026 10:46 am

All sorts of tributes keep pouring in. Didn't have this one on my bingo card.

PJ

betaylored · August 28, 2026 4:51 pm

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/dolly-parton-tribute-artist-mistake-cnn-apology-1236683719/

CNN apologies for using a tribute Dolly Parton as part of their coverage.

If you're looking for an unsung gem of a good ol' B popcorn movie, hunt down "Rhinestone" starring Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone. It came out in the 80's and with better protection values could have been much more successful.

Last edited by betaylored (August 28, 2026 5:00 pm)

RadioActive · August 31, 2026 2:12 pm

I guess this was inevitable.

Two Dolly Parton songs have hit the Billboard Top 30. "Jolene" hit #16 and her version of "I Will Always Love You," which she also wrote, sits at #27. The former song had only made it to #60 back in 1974, while the latter never made the charts at all until a remake in 1984 and Whitney Houston's version became a worldwide smash.

It comes after an outpouring of emotion following her passing last week and the songs getting frequent airplay as a result.

Two Dolly Parton Songs Back On The Billboard Charts

RadioActive · September 2, 2026 4:20 pm

This seems to happen everytime a famous and beloved artist passes away - an unknown song surfaces.

It's happened again, this time with a recording of Dolly Parton appearing on a radio show sometime in the very early 60s, when she was just a young girl.

The song is called "Another Just Like Me" and she sang it on "The Hayloft Jamboree" over WGAP-AM in Marysville, Tennessee sometime between 1960 and 1962. It starts about 1:18 in and was preserved on reel to reel. You can hear the talent is already there.

The Lost Hayloft Jamboree Recording

mic'em · September 3, 2026 6:20 am

A Coat of Many Colours is on the CW channels tonight.