AP’s coverage of Dolly Parton’s life dominates in all formats, with breadth and innovation

Insightful preparation, thoughtful curation and a dedication to innovative storytelling ensured AP’s coverage of the death of Dolly Parton offered audiences a fitting tribute to the music legend.

The package was anchored by a leading text obituary, prepared by Kristin M. Hall, a video journalist and veteran entertainment reporter, that had been prepared years in advance, with contributions from National Writer Hillel Italie. It included a tribute by Music Writer Maria Sherman, who had also prepared a playlist of songs with notable backstories after Parton began cancelling appearances in 2025. Additionally, Sherman had parsed decades of Parton’s interviews with AP to draw together an “In Her Words” piece that let the music legend tell her story in her own voice.

But AP didn’t stop there. After Parton’s death was announced, AP immediately launched a live blog and a reaction quote box. It published a photo gallery that had been curated in advance and was updated with fresh AP photos of the world mourning Parton, notably in Nashville, East Tennessee and Los Angeles.

Hall rushed to Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame to hold a live shot and gather fan reactions on camera. AP offered live footage from Dollywood and Parton’s hometown of Sevierville, as well as her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. AP also offered video edits including some of Parton’s best AP interviews from the archives, expert interviews, a reporter debrief and cultural analyses on topics such as Parton’s impact on the LGBTQ+ community. Reporter Dylan Lovan was dispatched to East Tennessee, Parton’s home region, for video and text coverage, with writer Kimberlee Kruesi anchoring the story, offering unique insight into Parton’s Appalachian footprint.

Philanthropy editor Glenn Gamboa and reporter James Pollard reached out to a variety of people and institutions to furnish a story that went beyond a summary of Parton’s philanthropic causes. Religion reporter Krysta Fauria delved into her faith, spirituality and embrace of LGBTQ+ people, placed against the often-conservative world of country music. National Writer Jocelyn Noveck took on Parton’s relationship to feminism and her particular ideal of womanhood.

Adding to the reader experience was a quiz, created by Religion News Editor Holly Meyer, with the assistance of Hall and Erin Logan from the digital department. Logan added a “reader pulse” poll and crafted bespoke comments for each AP News story to drive reader engagement. Further coverage included the curiosity of a tropical storm named Dolly, a jump in music streams and efforts to rename Nashville’s airport.

Judges were impressed with the breadth and innovation in the coverage that gave readers thorough and moving accounts of her life befitting of her achievements and influences.

For the exceptional coverage, Hall, Sherman and all other staff working on the coverage of Parton’s life win this week’s Best of the AP — Second Winner.