Dolly Parton, who rose from humble beginnings to the greatest heights of American music and became one of the country’s most philanthropic, unifying, and beloved stars, died Tuesday in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer, according to a family statement. She was 80.

In a career that spanned over half a century, Parton captured the American experience, penning more than 3,000 songs. Those included “Coat of Many Colors,” a quiet ode to her mother, who stitched together garments in the family’s rural Tennessee home. She wrote and performed songs of love and heartbreak, like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.” “9 to 5,” the title track from the movie of the same name, in which Parton also starred, became an anthem for American women and workers.

Parton went on to release 49 albums and win 11 Grammys, and became one of the most successful country crossover artists of all time, scoring regular hits on the pop charts, including “Islands in the Stream,” a duet with Kenny Rogers.

Later in life, she funneled her massive success into philanthropy, founding a library program, The Imagination Library, that has gifted more than 300 million books to children around the world, including making a big mark in Jackson Parish and surrounding areas.

Long before she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame or celebrated globally as a cultural icon, Dolly Parton made an indelible mark on the brick streets and riverbanks of Natchitoches, LA. When filming began in the summer of 1988 for Steel Magnolias, the film adaptation of Natchitoches native Robert Harling’s beloved play, Parton brought larger-than-life warmth to the role of Truvy Jones. Behind the styling chair of Truvy’s beauty salon, Parton captured the sharp humor, resilient spirit, and deep community bonds that define small-town Louisiana life.

For local residents who watched the production take over the historic district, Parton was more than a visiting Hollywood star. Between takes at the historic home on Jefferson Street and scenes shot across town, her trademark hospitality and down-to-earth charm left a lasting imprint on the community that remains vibrant decades later.