Brent Allen, a cousin of late US singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, sings karaoke at a bar in Sevierville, Tennessee on August 25, 2026. Dolly Parton, the American country music singer who rose from poverty in Tennessee to become a US cultural giant with hits like "Jolene" and "9 to 5," has died at 80. Parton and her 11 brothers and sisters grew up in severe poverty, and Brent Allen, one of her cousins, said much of the region, even though it remains poor, has been transformed by Parton's relentless work and philanthropy. He recalled how generous Parton was with her time whenever she gathered with him and other relatives for family reunions, celebrations, and funerals. But what struck him was how her "salt-of-the-earth" persona could help so many people and bring so many Americans together, regardless of their socio-political beliefs. "I hope Dolly is our generation's Mother Teresa," Allen said. "She made everybody feel like they were special." (Photo by A.M. Stewart / AFP via Getty Images)