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Beloved Country Music Icon Dolly Parton Dies; Darlene Graham Wins South Carolina Republican Senate Runoff. Aired 3-3:45a ET

Aired August 26, 2026 - 03:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[03:00:00]

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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: And it's good to have you with us. I'm Polo Sandoval, live in New York, and here's what's ahead on "CNN Newsroom."

World-renowned and beloved country music star Dolly Parton has died. Remember the woman and the music that touched many generations.

And Canada retaliates against President Trump's 50 percent tariffs with 50 dollar -- rather with dollar for dollar measures of its own. We're going to examine what that could mean for you, the consumer.

And Darlene Graham, winning South Carolina's Republican Senate runoff, declaring the crucial state Trump country.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from New York, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Polo Sandoval.

SANDOVAL: We do want to begin this hour with the many tributes that are pouring in for the legendary country music star and humanitarian Dolly Parton. She died on Tuesday at 80 years old in her home in Nashville.

Parton's publicist saying that the trailblazing singer-songwriter died after a brief battle with cancer. Parton rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most beloved, unifying, and philanthropic stars in country. She was a fixture in pop culture and a career that spanned more than half a century across music, T.V., and plenty of movies.

Parton's music captured the American working class experience. She wrote more than 3000 songs, released 49 albums, won 11 Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and earned two Academy Award nominations. She became one of the most successful country crossover artists of all time, scoring regular hits on the pop charts.

Parton had been open about various health issues in recent years, especially after the death of her husband of 59 years, Carl Dean. His death in 2025. Parton's family says at her request they will hold a small, private memorial service.

CNN's Randi Kaye has a closer look at Dolly Parton's legacy. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She was, quite simply, an American original. In her 70-year show business career, Dolly Parton sang, acted, and charmed her way into the hearts of millions, and built a music catalog for the ages.

DOLLY PARTON, COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER, AND PHILANTHROPIST: I love that I can write, because I can express everything.

KAYE (voice-over): Among her iconic hits, a plea to a local bank teller, Dolly thought might have eyes for her husband.

Always true to her Tennessee roots, she was also a pioneer in the world of country pop crossover artists.

Dolly's songs were so popular, in fact, not only were they hits for her, they became hits for others.

In time, the movie industry beckoned.

It turned out Dolly Parton was as memorable on the silver screen as she was on the stage.

PARTON: Well, why wasn't he? He's got you for poisoning him, and me for roping him, and you for acting like he was first prize at a turkey shoot.

Well thank goodness, because this is going in the hairdo hall of fame.

KAYE (voice-over): She was so beloved that in 2019, the "New York Times" declared that "if there was one thing Americans could agree on, even in hyper-polarized times, it was their love for Dolly Parton."

And if there were those who didn't take her seriously because of the hair and the makeup and the outfits, well, that didn't bother Dolly, who famously said, "it takes a lot of money to look this cheap, and made it clear early on that she was in on the joke."

PARTON: I know exactly what I'm doing, and I can change it at any time. I make more jokes about myself than anybody. Because I enjoy, I know, like I say, I am sure of myself as a person.

As for her legacy, Dolly Parton pointed to her Worldwide Imagination Library program, funded by her Dollywood Foundation.

[03:05:06]

The program gives books away to preschool-age children every month.

PARTON: That's been a wonderful program, because my dad couldn't read and write, and so that's what inspired me to do that program. When you think of me when I'm gone, I'd like you to smile and think, oh, she was funny. I'd just like to be known for what I think I am, which is just a regular person.

I always say I'm a workhorse that looks like a show horse. I just hope I leave something good behind for other people to enjoy.

KAYE (voice-over): Randi Kaye, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: Right now, a memorial is growing just outside of Dolly Parton's home in Tennessee, and a sign on the gate reads, "We Will Always Love You," and the Grand Ole Opry also wrote, "We Will Always Love You," in its post on social media. The message adds that "There is no doubt Dolly's mark on the world and on us here at the Grand Ole Opry will be deeply felt for generations to come. There will never, ever be another one like her."

Parton made her first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry stage when she was just 13 years old.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: She means a lot to me and so many of my friends as an idol. She brings strength, you know, and she just had such a big heart. She was a true human being.

UNKNOWN: She lived what she was. She was a dreamer, and she was so much loved.

UNKNOWN: She was a beauty. She had energy. She was a humanitarian.

She saw the goodness in so many things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: In 1986, in the midst of her legendary music career, Parton reopened a theme park that she named Dollywood, which later became Tennessee's most visited tourist attraction. The park released a statement saying it will remain open today, quote, "just as Dolly wanted."

Parton is also being remembered for her philanthropy. Her Dollywood Foundation funds her Imagination Library, which is a program that she started in Tennessee. The library provides preschool-aged children with a book every month from birth to kindergarten, the program has spread nationally and also around the world.

Well Parton says that her younger self, who, in her own words, grew up dirt poor in Tennessee, would be proud of all that she's accomplished.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARTON: I had an old trapped car. My bedroom was the back seat and my uncle's bedroom was the front seat.

So we'd come back and forth. That was before I moved here. I started coming in and out of Nashville from the time I was 10 years old.

UNKNOWN: What would you tell your younger self? PARTON: Well, that's a tricky question. It was my dream to do it, but

I would just probably, looking back, I would just say, girl, you better buckle up because you're in for the ride of your life.

You're going to have to take a lot of stuff, you're going to have to give a lot of stuff, and you're going to have to, you know, stand by your guns, believe in yourself, stay true to yourself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Joining me is Holly Gleason, country music journalist and author of "Woman Walked the Line, How the Women in Country Music Changed Our Lives." Holly, welcome to the program.

HOLLY GLEASON, COUNTRY MUSIC JOURNALIST: Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure.

SANDOVAL: So how are you remembering Dolly Parton today?

GLEASON: I've just seen a whole series of moments of Dolly throughout my career and my life, and I write these very long essays, so I'm mid- essay right now, just kind of culling all the wisdom, the drive-by wisdom that is just being around a woman like Dolly Parton.

SANDOVAL: Can you speak about the empathy and humanity that embodied Dolly Parton? I mean, she will be forever known for her philanthropic projects. I wonder if you could just tell our viewers around the world just a little bit about Dolly's good deeds.

GLEASON: Yes.

To try to understand Dolly, I mean, she was one of 12, very poor county in East Tennessee, and it was a family that just never really had enough, so she couldn't do enough. Whether it was the Imagination Library, over 300 million books, for any child, once a month, zero to age five, a book would arrive, just to get children fired up and delighted by the prospect of reading. And that was inspired because her dad couldn't read or write, and it was something that, you know, I think he always wished he could do.

It's her donating over a million dollars at the beginning of COVID to help Moderna vaccine, like, get developed. But even more, you know, she knows how to make donations and not get caught. The fact that she let that slip out was to help people who maybe wanted to take the vaccine and were afraid.

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Like, okay, look, Dolly helped do this, it's got to be safe, right? I have a friend who works at Vanderbilt who told me, you know, Dolly helped finance getting this vaccine fast-tracked and moving, and I'm like, oh my goodness. Because that's, you know, you put your money where your mouth is. This is America.

And she's, I -- there was a publicist who got early onset dementia and had left the business, had left town, the family was really struggling to pay for her care, so she didn't have to go into a state facility because a woman with Alzheimer's is a sitting duck. And I called out to Dolly's business people, and lo and behold, an anonymous donation for $15,000 showed up.

And that kept the young woman, she was 50, in care right up until she died. So, you know, that says everything.

SANDOVAL: Yes, it certainly does. I wonder if you could perhaps recall a moment in covering, or many years covering Dolly, that stands out.

GLEASON: Oh my gosh, there's so many. It seems like every moment there was a moment. When she went into the rock hall, you know, she turned it down, or she tried to turn it down, and they're like, you can't.

And the thing she was the most concerned about was this idea that there was some rock star who wasn't going to get in because she took their place. The Country Music Hall of Fame does one contemporary and one heritage act every year, so if you get in, somebody definitely doesn't. And when they explained it to her, that no, we have the class we have, and if you didn't get in, it doesn't necessarily mean somebody else, you know, was going to have that slot, she was just so concerned that she had, you know, seemed ungrateful or not willing.

She said, you know, people do rock and roll their whole lives, and, you know, I'm a country singer. I like to rock. You know, she'd cut a bunch of rock songs, "Stairway to Heaven," "Time for Me to Fly," REO Speedwagon because Carl, her husband, loved rock music. But, you know, she just didn't want to go where it wasn't appropriate.

And, you know, she made that album Rock Star to say, okay, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, you put me in, and I'm going to earn my stripes.

SANDOVAL: What was it about Dolly Parton that allowed her to be this sort of crossover icon? She was celebrated by feminists, her style certainly adopted by the LGBT community, she even laughed at her plastic surgery, and she talked about her deep faith, and everything she did, she didn't offend.

So how did she pull it off in a country that has such deep divisions today?

GLEASON: I think it's two things. I think everything she does, she doesn't just do it with love, she does with deep love, and I think that she has this joy about, show me who you are, tell me who you are, let's celebrate who you are. She doesn't want you to be her, she really wants you to just be the best, most you can be.

SANDOVAL: I remember 10 years ago, covering those wildfires in Tennessee, and the residents in a shelter, they told me that they were skeptical about the amount of help they would get from local and federal government, but they knew that Dolly would pull through, and sure enough, offering months of support to so many families there.

We do have to leave it there, Holly Gleason, thank you so much for sharing a little bit of her story with us.

GLEASON: My pleasure.

SANDOVAL: And we will continue paying tribute to the Queen of Country a little later this hour, and also on the way here on "CNN Newsroom," with the very latest on Iran. Iranian media reports now that Tehran wants to return to the Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S., but not without some conditions. I'll tell you what they are.

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SANDOVAL: Right now we're tracking a developing story out of Pakistan, where police say that a devastating fire at the largest hospital in Islamabad has killed at least 14 newborn babies. Sources are saying that an air conditioning compressor explosion appears to have sparked the fire. It happened in the nursery on Wednesday morning.

The city's chief commissioner says that the blaze has now been brought under control. Hospital staff reportedly rescued one child, one woman sharing how she had to save her infant nephew's life herself.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MUNEEBA, RESCUED INFANT NEPHEW AND SISTER-IN-LAW FROM FIRE (through translator): At around 6 a.m. the fire erupted, but the staff and doctors did not inform us about this. Rather, they fled the scene and saved their own lives.

There was a lady who screamed and informed us. When I went upstairs, the fire was spread so much that it reached our room. Then I first rescued my nephew, then I evacuated my sister-in-law.

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SANDOVAL: More on that story in the next hour.

And Iran is reportedly seeking a return to the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the United States in June. Iran's semi- official news agency citing an unidentified source who says Tehran's conditions, chief among them Iranian arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz, were relayed to a Pakistani intermediary who was expected to convey that to the United States. After weeks of negotiations, Iran and Oman are now proposing a temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.

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The Iranian and Omani foreign ministries are saying that the two nations discussed a framework to facilitate the corridor and also to clear it of mines. And all this comes as President Trump says that all mines in that Strait have been removed or detonated. And he's also threatening to destroy any Iranian ships that try to place more mines there. President Trump has repeatedly claimed that the U.S. Navy has cleared those munitions from the vital waterway and continues to insist that the U.S. controls the Strait.

CNN's Nada Bashir is joining us now from London. Nada, good morning to you. So, what is the latest?

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we have been hearing for some time now, for weeks even, about the talks going on between, of course, Omani officials and Iranian officials with nods from both sides at the progress being made throughout that dialogue process. And, of course, what we have been hearing now is both from Iranian officials being cited in state media in Iran of a desire to return to the memorandum of understanding to uphold the terms in that agreement.

But, of course, the crucial sticking point had been and stumbling block had been the Strait of Hormuz. And it is understood that Omani officials as well as Iranian officials meeting in Tehran on Tuesday were able to outline the framework of some agreement to establish joint control of a key shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz. And that has, of course, been the key focus of these discussions and negotiations to establish a secure shipping route to allow vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and, of course, to ensure the removal of mines through that key shipping route to allow for vessels to pass securely with the permission, of course, of both the Omani side and the Iranian side.

Now, under the memorandum of understanding in June, it was understood that vessels would be allowed to pass through, but, of course, there were questions around whether they were passing through along the Omani side of the corridor or the Iranian side. And, of course, we did see numerous vessels coming under attack by the IRGC found to be traveling along the Omani side of the corridor.

So the essential hope around this latest agreement is that it would establish a joint uniform corridor that would allow for both sides to exert a level of control and secure that shipping route on either side. But, of course, there has been questions as to whether this is something, a term that the U.S. may be willing to agree to, whether this will shift the needle in the overall negotiations to come to some sort of peaceful resolution between the United States and Iran.

And, as you mentioned, we have heard from the Trump administration say that they believe the U.S. Navy has cleared the shipping route of mines. President Trump has long asserted that the U.S. controls the waterway despite the frequent attacks that we have seen being carried out by the IRGC targeting vessels passing through that key shipping route.

So there is still a lot of questions around what this will mean in terms of the overall efforts to mediate a peaceful resolution. This is certainly something that regional nations will welcome in the Gulf in particular. And we know, of course, that Pakistani officials have been trying to mediate a peaceful resolution.

It is understood that Pakistan's army chief met with Iranian counterparts to understand their conditions around that peaceful resolution, what terms they are looking to be upheld. And, of course, as you mentioned, Polo, it is understood that while the Strait of Hormuz is, of course, the key focus, there are a series of conditions that Iran has put forward and that these are set to be relayed, according to some media and unnamed sources, that this will be relayed to American officials over the coming days.

So whether we see any move towards further negotiations, further dialogue, that remains to be seen. But, of course, there is a lot of pressure mounting on the current situation given the vital necessity of the Strait of Hormuz for so many nations across the globe.

SANDOVAL: As you point out, those Gulf allies are eager to see that sort of dialogue. Nada Bashir, thank you so much for that live update.

Now to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who has made an unannounced visit to Moscow to meet with Russian officials, and that's according to a U.S. official who spoke to CNN.

The official declined to discuss the topics or even the substance of this meeting, and the CIA are also not saying much. The Kremlin spokesperson says that there are no plans for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

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Rohingya refugees are calling for justice as they mark nine years since widespread violence and human rights abuses forced them to flee their homes in northern Myanmar. More than one million refugees now live in overcrowded camps in southern Bangladesh.

The United Nations has described the Rohingya as the most persecuted minority in the world. Thousands you see here rallying in Cox's Bazar on Tuesday urging international communities to help pave the way for their safe and secure return home.

There's so much more ahead here on "CNN Newsroom," including the power of President Trump's endorsements. It is on display in South Carolina, how it helped push Senator Darlene Graham, the sister of the late Senator, over the finish line in her runoff. We'll be right back.

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SANDOVAL: Welcome back, I'm Polo Sandoval in New York, and these are today's top stories.

The Trump administration is moving to revoke asylum-seeker visas on a rolling basis.

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The State Department planning to target people who enter the U.S. on temporary visas before applying for permanent asylum. Now one spokesperson arguing that using this method to remain in the U.S. is considered fraud, a source says that the action could impact some 200,000 foreigners.

A new study estimating that 25 percent of former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE, a neurodegenerative disease that is linked to repeated blows to the head. It triggers symptoms including memory loss, anxiety, depression, anger, and impulse control problems. Researchers are urging sports programs at all levels to implement prevention measures to limit head trauma to players.

And legendary country music star and humanitarian Dolly Parton has passed away at the age of 80, she died on Tuesday at her Nashville home after a brief battle with cancer. She was known for more than just her timeless songs. Her father's inability to read inspired her Imagination Library, which has gifted more than 300 million books to children around the globe.

Canada is releasing details about its retaliatory tariffs against the United States, which are expected to take effect on September 8th. The duties come in response to the Trump administration's 50 percent tariffs on many Canadian goods.

Donald Trump responded on social media calling Canada the most difficult and unreasonable country he's had to deal with. But he also admitted that the U.S. had added 11th hour demands that derailed the trade talks last week, telling CNN's Jim Sciutto, quote, "that sounds like me."

CNN's Anna Stewart with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As promised, Canada has retaliated with tit-for-tat dollar-for-dollar tariffs on over $20 billion worth of U.S. imports.

Now, these tariffs are targeted and they're going to kick in from September 8th. Imports of U.S. steel and aluminum will be subject to a 50 percent tariff, doubling it from the current level of 25 percent. And new 25 percent tariffs are being imposed on a number of U.S. goods, dairy, fish, appliances, pulp, paper, many other products.

This is the full list. It runs around 100 pages long. What we don't know is whether Canada will retaliate on the most recent threat from President Trump, which is to double a tariff on the imports of Canadian cars and auto parts from 25 percent to 50 percent on January 1st.

And ultimately, the big question here is what will the U.S. do next? Will we see further tariffs announced in a prolonged trade war? Canada has announced a $5.4 billion package to help those Canadian businesses and workers impacted by tariffs. And that's a reminder that tit-for- tat tariffs are damaging for both economies and Canada is preparing for pain.

Anna Stewart, CNN, London. (END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: And still ahead here on "CNN Newsroom," Dolly Parton worked a lot more. It's 9 to 5 to make her living. We're going to have a look at her vast business empire and what's next for her.

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SANDOVAL: And welcome back. Let's get you your business headlines.

SpaceX announcing plans to build a $100 billion launch complex on Louisiana's southern coast. Construction on that what Elon Musk is calling the biggest launch site on Earth set to begin next year. The first launch targeted for 2029.

This new complex called Starbase Louisiana will serve as a major hub for SpaceX's massive Starship rocket. The project could transform Louisiana, which has never hosted an orbital launch into one of the world's busiest launch hubs.

The head of Instagram denying encouraging his team to hide negative safety data from the public or knowing of any policy to do so. 29 states currently suing Meta over claims that it addicted young people to social media and illegally collected their data. If Meta loses, the states could collectively seek up to $1.4 trillion in penalties.

The CEO of United Airlines with some discouraging news for us air travelers, Scott Kirby predicting that airfares will continue to rise through the first half of next year. But he says that fare hikes will be gradual and not as steep as this year. The U.S. Labor Department says that airfares jumped more than 25 percent in July compared with a year earlier.

Well, it's certainly paid to be Dolly Parton. The beloved musician, actress and philanthropist was also a savvy businesswoman and very successful.

Over the years, Dolly turned her name, image and unmistakable charm into a branding empire. In fact, here are just some of the businesses through which Dolly Parton's legacy will continue to live on. The Dollywood Amusement Park is credited with creating more than 23,000 jobs and generating nearly $2 billion a year.

The star, known for her full glam looks, also had her own makeup line, Dolly Beauty and a denim collaboration as well as several food and beverage deals and brands. Parton also has a themed hotel that's set to open in Nashville this fall and also a musical that starts previews on Broadway in December.

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All right, let's talk politics now. Big wins for two candidates that were backed by President Donald Trump. It's all happening on election night in America in Oklahoma. CNN now projecting that former state senator Mike Mazzie will win the Republican governor's runoff there.

And in South Carolina, CNN projects that incumbent Darlene Graham will win the Republican runoff for the U.S. Senate. She defeats congressman Ralph Norman.

Graham is a political novice on the job for about six weeks now. You may recall she was appointed in mid-July to fill the seat of her late brother, longtime senator Lindsey Graham. Listen to what she told her supporters after declaring victory on Tuesday.

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SEN. DARLENE GRAHAM (R-SC): Our victory would not have been possible without you and we are truly grateful. South Carolina is truly Trump country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: All right, let's go live to Washington now. Joining me is Nathan Gonzales, he's the editor and publisher of Inside Elections. Nathan, great to have you with us.

NATHAN GOZALES, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER, INSIDE ELECTIONS: Yes, good morning, good evening. I'm not sure which one it is, but it's good to be here.

SANDOVAL: Well, either way, we're so glad that you could stay up late for us. Nathan, what's your immediate reaction to Graham winning this runoff election?

GONZALES: Well, I mean, it's good for Graham, obviously, and I think it's good for President Trump, since the narrative has been building over the last few weeks about how some of President Trump's endorsed candidates have struggled in primaries. But it also fits into that narrative as well. She won a narrow victory and needed some help at the end.

Now, we have to remember that I don't think she would have won without Trump's endorsement, but the president kind of created this situation, meaning he was in favor of her getting this appointment and even more in favor of her moving beyond just being a placeholder and running for that full term. And I think that's where some Republicans in South Carolina, they understood why it made sense for her to come on the heels of her brother, but didn't understand why she was owed or deserved a full term.

And it's probably good for Senator Graham that she faced someone other than a 73-year-old congressman, being Ralph Norman. If it had been somebody who wasn't a member of Congress or a politician or maybe someone a little bit younger, she may not have won this race.

SANDOVAL: And then, I'm sure you know, Annie Andrews, the Democratic nominee in the race, now challenging the senator to a debate. Given her stumble, do you think that might be a good idea for her to actually accept that challenge?

GONZALES: You know, I think Andrews is right to debate because right now we are seeing what happens when, I'll say, a normal person is thrust into the United States Senate and thrust onto the campaign trail in a very big spotlight. I guess if I'm Senator Graham, I wouldn't debate, but I don't know if she could get away with it for the next two and a half months because there will be a lot of pressure, a lot of questions constantly.

Why aren't you doing it? Why aren't you doing it? And it's going to be hard for her to avoid it.

SANDOVAL: Nathan Gonzales, come on back to continue the conversation. Thank you so much for your time.

And thank you so much for watching. We'll see you again in about 15 minutes.

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