Aug 26, 2026 12:48pm PT

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The inimitable, irreplaceable Dolly Parton passed away on Tuesday after a brief battle with cancer. She was 80. The country legend and cultural icon was perhaps our last universally beloved celebrity, bridging the widening political and social divide in America.

In addition to creating classic tunes like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” selling over 100 million records, taking home 11 Grammy Awards and starring in celebrated films such as “9 to 5,” “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and “Steel Magnolias,” Parton worked tirelessly away from the cameras to make the world a better place.

Here are some extraordinary things Parton did that you probably didn’t know.