Dolly Parton is pictured through eight decades as she turns 80

Country singer Dolly Parton turns 80 on January 19, 2026, and the feature presents eight photos tracing her career from the 1950s through the 2020s.

Dolly Parton turns 80 on January 19, 2026, and this feature marks the milestone with eight photos spanning her life and work. She began performing and songwriting in Tennessee as a child and signed to a record label at 19. Parton rose to mainstream solo fame in the 1970s and later crossed into film, bluegrass collaborations, and large-scale projects such as Dollywood. The piece highlights moments from the 1950s through the 2020s. Key points: - Born January 19, 1946, in a cabin on the Little Pigeon River in Tennessee and raised with 11 siblings. - Signed to a record label at 19 and gained wider attention after joining The Porter Wagoner Show in the 1960s. - Achieved solo fame in the 1970s with songs including "Jolene" and "Coat of Many Colors," earning Grammy recognition by the end of the decade. - Expanded into film in the 1980s with 9 to 5 and other roles, and opened Dollywood in 1986. - In the 1990s she recorded bluegrass albums including the Grammy-winning Trio with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, and Whitney Houston's cover of "I Will Always Love You" brought renewed attention to the song. - In the 2000s and 2010s she received honors such as the Library of Congress Living Legend Medal, the National Medal of Arts, and Kennedy Center Honors; 2023's Rockstar became her highest-charting album and a Las Vegas residency is planned for 2026. Summary: The photo feature highlights a multi-decade career across music, film, and public recognition. She turned 80 in January 2026, and a Las Vegas residency is reported for later in 2026.