Dolly Parton dies aged 80

Plus: Trump orders flags to fly at half mast in honour of country icon

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 Good morning and welcome to your daily news briefing from The Independent   Dolly Parton, the music icon with countless hits, has died aged 80. Mystery surrounds a military plane carrying a CIA director to Moscow for a short visit. A murder probe has been launched after a man was killed at a council's headquarters in Wembley.  Top stories 1 | Dolly Parton, queen of country, dies aged 80 Read more 2 | UK homes face winter energy squeeze as Ofgem reveals 4% price cap rise Read more 3 | Murder investigation after one killed in council headquarters stabbing Read more 4 | CIA director ‘makes mystery visit to Moscow’ with no explanation from Kremlin or Trump Read more 5 | Donald Trump orders US flags to be flown at half-mast to honour music legend Read more Read deeper EasyJet is recruiting over-50s as cabin crew – and it’s a genius move I’m a doctor, here’s how I came off antidepressants without spiralling We need to call out the terrifying skinnification of celebrity culture The elite British students selling their eggs to IVF clinics to fund degrees I wouldn’t let any young man behind the wheel before 25 Your Views Your views ‘We struggle to build anything’: Readers split on Burnham housing plan Our community weigh in on the prime minister’s £10bn plan to build 70,000 new homes, with many questioning whether the scale of the pledge matches the scale of Britain’s housing crisis. Share your opinion here.   This is genuinely good news: when these homes are built, they’re built on brownfield, town-centre sites at a reasonably high density with good infrastructure – exactly the places private developers don’t go. I’d like to see powers to strip land from developers who are land-banking, too.   Garlbalunzie   WATCH  Dolly Parton’s final appearance just weeks before her death STAT OF THE DAY 70,000 The number of new council houses in England Andy Burnham has pledged to build with £10bn package  Read more QUOTE OF THE DAY “She never saw a door she couldn't open, and the doors she opened made and changed history.” Dolly Parton's nephew as he announced the tragic news of her death in a video announcement.  Read more Today's top deals The Singleton whisky is reduced to under £30 at Amazon – cheers!   Enjoy 15% off at Sync Beauty with discount code: "SUMMER15". Other stories you might like DWP tells pensioners to prove they need their benefits Nigella Lawson makes first Great British Bake Off appearance in new trailer ⁠What it’s really like to be a celebrity’s best friend Latest news headlines from Bulletin: Buc-ee’s reveals its expansion rule — and blue states may not like it Trump trails two of his foes in race for Time Person of the Year Trump’s DOJ raises prospect of demolishing Kennedy Center Buc-ee’s reveals its expansion rule — and blue states may not like it Trump trails two of his foes in race for Time Person of the Year Trump’s DOJ raises prospect of demolishing Kennedy Center Download the app now Join the conversation and follow us Download our apps: Please do not reply directly to this email   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter.   To unsubscribe from The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345 Read our privacy policy and cookie policy