I met Dolly Parton , who died yesterday at the grand ol' age of 80 after a battle with cancer , when she was 60, or 'sexty!' as she exclaimed as she tried to give me a bear hug.

The artist was a star performer in country music, and went on to become one of the genre's most recognizable and universally adored ambassadors to broader popular culture.

Dolly Parton, the beloved music and film star known for her vibrant personality and poignant songwriting, has died. She was 80 years old.