Dolly Parton, a rhinestone-studded, rags-to-riches daughter of Appalachia who for six decades ruled country music — and much of pop culture — with an outsize personality and down-home wit that enshrined her as one of America’s most cherished originals, died on Tuesday in Nashville. She was 80. Her death was announced in a video posted on social media by her nephew Bryan Seaver. No cause was provided.

From her hardscrabble beginnings to glittering stardom, Ms. Parton’s life was the stuff of make-believe. Her songs spoke to millions, confronting privation and loss even as they radiated possibility and hope. She was, quintessentially, a uniter of people. In 2019, The New York Times ran a story with the headline “Is There Anything We Can All Agree On? Yes: Dolly Parton.”

Inducted into both the country music and rock ’n’ roll halls of fame, Ms. Parton was the top-ranking female singer on country radio from 1967 to 1993, and had a total of 25 No. 1 country singles. Her early breakthrough came in 1967 when she was hired on “The Porter Wagoner Show.” Her songs like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” were among about 3,000 titles she published.

With Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette, Ms. Parton blazed a trail for women in country music, inspiring contemporaries and latter-day hitmakers. “I can’t imagine anybody, especially in country, who doesn’t try to emulate Dolly in some way,” said Emmylou Harris.