Music icon and philanthropist Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, according to the star’s family. Her nephew Bryan Seaver, who worked as her head of security for more than two decades, broke the news in a video posted to her official Instagram page on Tuesday.
“I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now,” Seaver says in the video. “I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my Aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean—sister, sis, aunt granny to one generation, and Gigi to the next.” Seaver does not reveal the cause of her death in the video.
The family’s official announcement reveals that Parton died “peacefully” in Nashville on Tuesday. “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family,” the statement also says.
“Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience,” the statement continued. “With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.”
The family also asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in lieu of flowers.
Parton’s death comes just a year and a half after the death of her husband of 60 years, Carl Dean, who died on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82. Her passing also comes just months after the death of her older brother Coy “Denver” Parton, who also died at the age of 82 in June.
The music icon told People just this past Friday that she had been going through some “hard times” with her health.
“It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” she said. “But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago.”
Earlier this month, she canceled an appearance at her Dollywood theme park due to a health scare.
“I’m still in Nashville, and I’m sorry about that,” she told fans in a video shown at the park. “I’m supposed to be there in person, like we planned. Now I’ve told you before, all my fans, that I have had a few little health issues.”
In May, she canceled shows that were part of her Las Vegas residency, which would have begun in September, also due to a health scare.
At the time, the 11-time Grammy winner revealed in a video posted to Instagram that she was receiving treatment for issues with her GI and kidney stones. “They assure me everything I have is treatable,” Parton said in the video, adding that she’s been “responding really well to meds and treatments” and “improving every day.”
Fans have worried about the star for nearly a year, and she has tried her best to assuage fears. Back in October, Parton gave fans another update after several cancellations. “Everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you?” she asked. “I’m working hard here. Anyway, I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease, those of you that seem to be really concerned, which I appreciate, and I appreciate your prayers.”
On Friday, Parton said she was still being treated. “As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” she told People. “You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health.”
Parton also told the site that she had no intentions of slowing down. “I’ve dreamed myself into a corner, and I still have so many things I want to achieve,” she said. “So I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”
Parton, the best-selling female country music artist of all time, was born in Pittman Center, Tennessee, in 1946 to a poor family. She told People in 1977, “We never actually starved, but sometimes we never had quite enough to eat.” She found solace in playing guitar and singing in her grandfather’s church at age 6, and began writing her own songs only a year later.
She broke onto the country music scene in 1971, with her top five hits “Joshua” and “Coat of Many Colors.” In 1973, she released “Jolene,” which charted at number one on the country charts and also topped Billboard’s Hot 100. The song has yet to lose its pop culture relevancy. She went on to make music history throughout her 60-year career.
Parton also starred in several iconic films throughout the 1980s, including 1980’s 9 to 5 and 1989’s Steel Magnolias. In addition to her 11 Grammy wins, the star won a Primetime Emmy Award for producing Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square and was nominated for six Golden Globes and a Tony. She was also awarded an honorary Oscar for her humanitarian work.
The star’s enduring popularity led President Donald Trump to attempt to align himself with her, including offering the icon his Presidential Medal of Freedom. She turned it down—twice. Despite the rejection, Trump was uncharacteristically sympathetic in his acknowledgment of her passing on Tuesday, writing on his Truth Social platform, “Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away.”
“This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will,” Trump added. “In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one-week period beginning tonight at 6:00 PM. Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you.”
Parton was as well known for her career achievements as for her philanthropy. Her Dollywood Foundation, founded in 1988 to support childhood education, community development, and disaster relief, has helped over 120 million children worldwide through its Imagination Library program. The foundation also offers scholarships and relief funds to families in need.
The star explained why she began the Imagination Library, which mails free books to children across America, in a statement posted on the foundation’s website. “Before he passed away, my Daddy told me the Imagination Library was probably the most important thing I had ever done. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me because I created the Imagination Library as a tribute to my Daddy. He was the smartest man I have ever known, but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams.”
She added, “Inspiring kids to love to read became my mission. In the beginning, my hope was simply to inspire the children in my home county, but here we are today with a worldwide program that gives a book a month to well over 3 million children...It’s been quite a journey, but we have so much more left to do.”
