Dolly Parton’s Life in Photos: From Smoky Mountain Girl to Queen of Country Music

Dolly Parton has lived a truly remarkable life, from growing up as one of 12 kids in a tiny house in the Smoky Mountains to becoming one of the most revered singers, songwriters, performers and philanthropists in the world.

In honor of the legendary star — who died at the age of 80 on Tuesday (Aug. 25) in Nashville — Billboard is looking back at her incomparable life and career in photos. Born almost 30 years before the digital camera was invented, the earliest photographs of Parton capture her world-famous smile at a time when her singular voice was heard only by her family and the beautiful Appalachian nature surrounding her beloved home in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. That would soon change as she began traveling to Nashville to pursue a career in music, signing her first record deal in 1965 shortly after moving to Music City — where she also famously met her husband of nearly 60 years, the late Carl Dean.

What followed was an unforgettable run of musical excellence, starting with debut album Hello, I’m Dolly — a project that propelled her to a spot on The Porter Wagoner Show, from which sprang her seven-year musical partnership with Porter Wagoner. After their professional split in 1974, Parton fortified her career as a soloist with enduring hits such as “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene” and “9 to 5,” winning 10 Grammys and 22 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 in the process. Parton will also forever be remembered outside of music for everything from her signature look to her kindness, activism, generosity and industrialism, founding her flagship Dollywood amusement park in 1986 and her Imagination Library program in 1995.

As the world grieves the loss of a great, check out Parton’s life in photos below.