Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 2 September 2026
NEWS
Dolly Parton (1946-2026)
Is there anyone who hasn’t heard of the death of Dolly Parton? CBS and NBC networks led their evening newscasts on August 25 with the breaking news that Dolly had died at age 80, and both devoted half the broadcast to her. President Trump ordered flags flown at half-staff for seven days. The Empire State Building turned pink. Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace played “Nine to Five.” Nashville plans to rename BNA airport as Dolly Parton International Airport. Those only touch on the worldwide outpouring of grief upon her death. Dolly Rebecca Parton was born January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, the fourth of twelve children. Her uncle, Bill Owens, became her partner in building her career; she made her Grand Ole Opry debut at 13 years old. Immediately upon graduating from high school in 1964, Dolly headed to Nashville. She met her future husband, Carl Dean, at a laundromat on her first day in town. This June, 62 years later, she made her final public appearance at the grand opening of her Tennessean travel stop in Cornersville, Tennessee. She was admitted to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville on August 21, where she died four days later. PEOPLE reports that her death followed a “brief battle with cancer.” The type of cancer was not disclosed. She had been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues.
On August 21, Dolly Parton shared a statement with PEOPLE on her health as she announced the debut of a new museum celebrating her life in Nashville. She noted past gynecological problems, saying, “Back in the early ‘80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health.” She underwent a partial hysterectomy in the ‘80s, and she lived with endometriosis, a condition that causes abdominal pain and bleeding and is a leading cause of female infertility. In her statement, she announced plans for her forthcoming Life of Many Colors Museum in downtown Nashville, near her new SongTeller Hotel that opens in September. She was also working on a line of dog treats with Purina, and she expected to launch her Cup of Ambition Coffee in September. “That’s a dream I’ve had for over 40 years, ever since I wrote the line about ‘cup of ambition’ in my song ‘9 to 5,’” she said. “But, you know, some dreams take longer to come to life than others.”
The Los Angeles Times reports that Dolly Parton was laid to rest August 28 in a private family service at Woodlawn Memorial Park, one of Nashville’s largest cemeteries. It is the final resting place of country stars such as Porter Wagoner, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Eddy Arnold, and Marty Robbins. Dolly’s husband, Carl Dean, was interred in the mausoleum in 2025, and she now joins him. This bronze plaque lists their names and their wedding date, along with a depiction of Dolly’s Tennessee mountain home.
Photo property of Amelia Young – Nashville NewsChannel 5
On August 20, reports Country Now, Dolly Parton was honored with the ACM Poet’s Award, recognizing her extraordinary contributions as one of country music’s most gifted and influential songwriters. She accepted the honor virtually through a special video message: “Dolly here! And I just want to send a very special thank you to the Academy of Country Music for honoring me with the Poet’s Award. You know, I’ve been able to do many things throughout my life, but at my core, songwriting has always been the most important part of who I am creatively. Every dream I ever had and all the dreams I’ve been able to see come true in life, well they all started with a song.”
Dolly Parton died with an enormous music catalog, a sprawling business empire, and a fortune estimated by Forbes to be $450 million. PEOPLE asked several Tennessee estate attorneys about the possible distribution of her assets. They expected most of that information to remain completely private, as Dolly’s estate plan probably included significant trust planning. Assets held in a trust or passing directly to beneficiaries would avoid probate. “A will is a public court document. A trust is a private one,” they explained. “Probate is not a proceeding for someone’s whole estate. It is a proceeding for the leftovers.” Dolly’s businesses would have operating agreements, bylaws, or buy-sell agreements to determine what happens to them. “It is entirely possible she has no probate estate at all. Good plans are built to shrink it to nothing,” the attorneys said. “If the plan worked, that is the expected result, not a scandal.” Unless beneficiaries choose to disclose what they received, the ultimate fate of Dolly’s fortune could remain private.
Dallas Wayne of Willie’s Roadhouse broke the news on SiriusXM that Frankie Miller has died at age 95. Tracy Pitcox, President of Heart of Texas Records, reported that Frankie passed away at his home, adding, “He remained active in the industry and continued to enjoy making music into his 90s.” He recently released his biography, The Blackland Farmer: Life Among Country Music Legends, written by Greg Wilson. Born in 1930 in Victoria, Texas, Frankie organized his first band as a teenager. During his Korean War service, he was awarded the Bronze Star and attained the rank of sergeant. Back home again, he signed with Columbia Records, appeared on Fort Worth radio, and played shows in Texas. In 1959, he signed with Starday Records and released his first recording, “Blackland Farmer,” which he’d written about an uncle. The song became his signature song and one of Starday’s biggest sellers. He appeared as a regular on the Louisiana Hayride and guested on the Grand Ole Opry and the Ozark Jubilee. In 1965, he stepped away from the music business and became a car salesman in Arlington, Texas. Three decades later, he returned to the music business and started touring throughout Texas as well as overseas. He headlined the Rhythm Riot in England in November 2003 and completed a successful trip to Sweden in 2015, at the age of 85.
Hayden Panettiere, 36, who played country singer Juliette Barnes on the Nashville TV show, died August 16 at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina. She allegedly went into cardiac arrest after a possible overdose. Cause of death has not yet been confirmed. She had a long history of abuse, depression and addiction. Her former boyfriend and his brother were with her at the time. Police say no foul play is suspected.
A judge denied a request by Grace Kelley, daughter of Wynonna Judd, to be temporarily released from prison to give birth to her second child. According to PEOPLE, she was scheduled to give birth by c-section. She is serving a 15-month jail sentence in Virginia for attempting to elude a police officer while driving with a suspended/revoked license. She has been imprisoned numerous times on a variety of charges and probation violations. While pregnant with her first baby, she was in prison on a probation violation stemming from a 2016 drug possession charge. Kaliyah was born in March 2022, and Wynonna has custody of her granddaughter. In an interview with PEOPLE a year ago, Grace said she was healthy, sober and at peace. She said her mother had a restraining order in place against her that prohibited her from speaking with her daughter and she hadn’t seen Kaliyah in “a couple of years.”
Journalist and author Vernell Hackett, 77, died August 14 after going into cardiac arrest at the Chicago airport on her way to Mexico for a vacation, reports MusicRow. She was a founder and editor-in-chief of American Songwriter. She served as editor of Country News and Country Rhythms and freelanced for many publications. The Texas native originally planned to be a crime reporter, inspired by her Houston police officer brother. After college, she and her husband moved to Nashville, where she began her career as a music journalist. She worked as a booking agent and also represented artists as a public relations specialist. She wrote Carrie Underwood: A Biography and co-wrote Ghosts, Gangsters and Gamblers of Las Vegas.
Bluegrass Today reports the recent death of The Nashville Bluegrass Band co-founder Pat Enright, 81. Born in Indiana in 1945, Pat studied architecture at the Architectural Engineering Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, before enlisting in the Navy in 1965 to avoid the draft. Stationed in Washington D.C. he discovered bluegrass and started playing it. In 1984, he co-founded The Nashville Bluegrass Band–initially to be the backing band for a Minnie Pearl tour. The band became instantly popular with its tight, a cappella harmonies and eclectic repertoire. During its international touring career, it was the first bluegrass group to perform in the People’s Republic of China. The group is the most awarded ensemble in bluegrass history. The band dissolved in 2005 and will be inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame this fall. In 2000, Pat was hired to sing as one of the Soggy Bottom Boys for the O Brother, Where Art Thou movie soundtrack.
Legendary entertainment executive and artist manager Dale Morris, 89, died peacefully in his sleep on August 21, reports Billboard. A Nashville industry leader for almost seven decades, he founded Dale Morris & Associates and turned Alabama and Kenny Chesney into superstars, among his many other successes. His early songwriter credits, before choosing the business side, included “Don’t Monkey With Another Monkey’s Monkey” for Johnny Paycheck in 1967.
INTERVIEW ON KZHE
Terry Burford of KZHE Radio in Magnolia, Arkansas, asked if I would do a live thirty-minute radio show with him on August 19. He began with a Faron Young song, ended with Marty Robbins, and played Randy Travis in the middle. I didn’t know time could go so fast! We just started talking, and we were done already. Here’s the link to Terry’s site. I posted our interview to my website; you can find it at the top of my “Media Room” page.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE FAIR
Again this year, Pam and Sherwin Linton have invited me to be their guest at the South Dakota State Fair in Huron. I’m on the schedule twice tomorrow, September 3, at 1:30 and 3:30. We’ll be at the Farm Bureau Dakotaland Stage. I’m billed as “U.S. Navy Veteran and Country Music Biographer” and will be talking briefly about writing books. Come join us if you can.
LETTERS
Donald Ewert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, says, “I’m sad to hear about Dolly’s passing. Today I’m also remembering my friend Dottie West 10-11-32, 9-4-91. How time flies and yet stands still…”
Bobby Fischer writes from Nashville, “The world will miss Dolly a true great person and talent. We had a couple lucky times to be around her. Lori was in a Broadway show, The Cowgirls, Dolly came to see them and hang out. On one of the songs Lori sang, and Dolly sang some harmony with her. Here is a picture of the cast and Dolly and Lori. I picked up my pal George Goober Lindsey at the airport to go film for Hee Haw and the Porter Wagoner Show; he was performing my song, ‘The Unluckiest Songwriter in Nashville.’ Dolly came over to talk — never forget her first words to me: ‘I love that little ole song of yours.’ She was just good to everyone. She’s up there now seeing the ones who already loved her.”
James Atkenson says, “I always enjoy your newsletter. I was pleased to read the AI item. I’m anxious to know the impact of AI at all levels of the Country Music industry and culture.“
Jim McQuisten in Sioux Falls says, “Your writing makes me proud to be a fellow VFW Post 628 member. The recap of the event was well done.”
Martha Moore of so much MOORE media writes, “Very cool that Cor Sanne met Alex Miller. I saw that video on Alex’s FB page but did not recognize Cor — been so many years since I last saw him. At the Kentucky State Fair last night headliner ERNEST invited ALEX MILLER to join him onstage during his set. They performed five songs, honoring their heroes. Miller was his opening act for the Fair. Photo is Ernest backstage with Alex and The Kentucky Kowboys.”
BOOK REVIEW
Seeing the title 50 Cents and a Box Top: The Creative Life of Nashville Session Musician Charlie McCoy brought me back to my childhood. I remember the days of ordering items advertised on cereal boxes and waiting for the mail to deliver treasures purchased for fifty cents and a box top. That was how Charlie McCoy acquired his first harmonica. Charlie wrote a draft of this memoir, typed by his wife, Pat, and turned it over to Travis Stimeling, a music history professor. Stimeling rearranged it and did the research to fill in the gaps. Published in 2017, it’s a smooth read and enjoyable story. I knew Charlie was in the Country Music Hall of Fame, a Grand Ole Opry member, and a versatile session musician. Two impressive things I learned in this book were his comprehensive music education background and his status as a major international touring artist. It’s a source of history in that it names almost every musician and singer he ever worked with. The unknown names don’t clutter the story, though; they add depth. At age 85, Charlie is still going strong. I spotlighted him in my March newsletter.
COUNTRY MUSIC DISC JOCKEY HALL OF FAME – 2006
Terry Dorsey was an award-winning radio personality for 46 years, becoming one of the most beloved and honored radio voices in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Born in 1948 in Cincinnati, Ohio, he graduated from LaSalle High School in Cincinnati in 1966 and learned how to be a broadcaster in New York City. Drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War, he served as a combat engineer whose job was to clear land mines. In 1977, after ten years in top forty radio, he began spinning country records at WONE in Dayton, Ohio. He moved to Dallas in 1981 and worked for KPLX-FM (99.5) before moving to KSCS in 1988, where he hosted the KSCS #1 morning show for 26 years. He retired in December 2014, three months before his death at age 66 in Princeville, Illinois.
For more than 50 years, Lon Helton has been one of country radio’s most respected voices as a broadcaster, journalist, mentor, and industry leader. The Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) recently presented him with the 2026 CRB President’s Award during the Country Radio Hall of Fame ceremony last month. He began his career in 1971 on WVPC in Monmouth, Illinois, as night deejay. He then moved to major radio stations in Denver, Chicago, and Los Angeles. He has hosted nationally syndicated country radio programs, including Country Countdown USA, which he launched in 1992 and continues to host today. In 1989, he helped create the first radiothon for St. Jude. He was elected both President and Chairman of the CMA (the only person ever to serve three terms in those positions). He is the most awarded national radio personality in CMA history. Since 1983, he has been Nashville Bureau Chief and Country Editor of Radio & Records. He launched Country Aircheck in 2006, which remains a trusted resource for country radio and the music industry. He has served on the boards of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, the Country Music Foundation, the St. Jude Country Radio Advisory Council, and the Country Music Retirement Community.
Arch Yancey began his career in 1955, at age 25, when he bested radio school classmate Johnny Cash for a job at WBIP in Booneville, Mississippi. In 1958, he moved to the Top 40 KNUZ-AM station in Houston, Texas, where he stayed for eight years before joining Country KIKK. He returned to KNUZ-AM when it flipped to Country in 1973. He spent 31 years on the air and in programming in Houston before retiring in 1989. Yancey was named Gavin Country Personality of the Year in 1971 and ACM Personality of the Year in 1982. He died in 2024 at age 88.