The one and only Dolly Parton has passed away. She was 80 years old.
Having served as her head of security for more than twenty years, the country music legend’s nephew, Brian Seaver took to social media on Tuesday (8.25) with a video:
“My name is Brian Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next.” “This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality.”
Adding that he felt pride and “great sadness” to fulfill her wishes, he continued with:
“But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly.” “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by (her late husband) Carl (Dean), her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.”
Noting that that the legendary musician had previously requested that upon her passing, she “wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest”.
Parton’s death comes just days after the musician/entrepreneur spoke publicly about her ongoing health struggles, revealing that she had neglected some issues while caring for her husband of 58 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025.
Adding that she was “gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life,” despite her health, Dolly said she still had “so many things” she wanted to achieve,
It was in 1967 that the superstar singer/songwriter released her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, and went on to become one of the biggest country music stars in history.
Perhaps best known for songs ‘9 to 5,’ ‘Coat of Many Colors,’ and ‘I Will Always Love You,’ the musician/entrepreneur sold 100,000,000+ records globally including 25 number-one songs on the Billboard country charts.
Throughout her decades-long career, Dolly won 11 Grammys, an Emmy, 10 Country Music Association Awards, seven Academy of Country Music Awards and three American Music Awards. She also received two Academy Award nominations, an honorary Oscar, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999.
In addition to music, Parton enjoyed a successful film career, making her acting debut in 1980’s 9 to 5 alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, followed by The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone and Steel Magnolias.
In the months before her passing, the multi-faceted artist was working on Dolly: A True Original Musical, which is set to open on Broadway in December, as well as a new museum dedicated to her life and career in Nashville.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA