Dolly Parton’s family statement in full as nephew confirms country music icon’s death at 80

THE family of Dolly Parton is mourning the loss of the trailblazing musical icon, who shattered barriers in the country music scene. Parton died on Tuesday in Nashville at the age of 80, her nephew announced in a video posted on her social media accounts. Dolly Parton, 80, bares her midriff in denim crop top and flared jeans for the spring 2026 Good American collection Credit: Good American Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death on Tuesday Credit: Instagram/dollyparton Bryan Seaver, Parton‘s nephew, released the video to her millions of adored fans, saying it’s something his aunt asked of him years before her death. Seaver admitted Parton requested he record the message before he “fully absorbed it as a future reality.” Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment, but haven’t truly felt it until now,” Seaver said. “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Read more in The U.S. Sun “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens.” Seaver said he first got to experience life on the road with Parton in the early 1980s when he was still a kid. “Dolly opened doors, not just for me, but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn’t even know was possible.,” he added. “Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians, and dreamers from every walk of life and across every continent. By her example, we believed that anything was possible. Most read in Entertainment “She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history. My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly, but so have you. “She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD, and on your phone playlist, becoming an extended part of your family whether you liked it or not. “Our family and the team she has entrusted with her legacy will work diligently to ensure her spirit will live with us forever.” Seaver continued, “Dolly was a farmer, just like her daddy. He farmed the soil, she farmed songs and happiness. “Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.” Dolly Parton pictured during her performance at the United Way of America convention in Detroit in May 2009 Credit: AP Dolly Parton performing in the United Kingdom in April 1976 Credit: Getty Parton was reportedly admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on Thursday evening with kidney and autoimmune issues, according to TMZ. She died at the hospital on Tuesday morning. A cause of death was not immediately available. Parton had recently been struggling with her health before her untimely passing. In mid-August, Parton was unable to make it to a Dollywood appearance after suffering from dehydration and dizziness. She updated her fans at the time, “My Nashville doctor has kinda clipped my wings,” adding that she was advised against traveling. The country music icon had been forced to bow out of numerous scheduled gigs in 2025 and earlier this year. Despite her recent setbacks, Parton appeared upbeat during her last public appearance in June, where she unveiled her new truck stop in Nashville. A week before her death, Parton expressed her excitement about opening a new museum in her last social media post. Parton’s death comes over a year after losing her beloved husband, Carl Dean, to Alzheimer. Dean, who was 82 at the time of his death, and Parton were married for 60 years. It comes as… Dolly Parton dead at 80 as nephew shares heartbreaking tribute Star looked upbeat in final photos taken just weeks before her death Khloe Kardashian and Kelly Osbourne lead emotional tributes to country legend Singer revealed ‘hard times with health’ just days before passing Trump pays tribute to one of the ‘greatest singers’ and lowers flags to half-staff Star joked about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s future kids in heartbreaking last video post Parton began her music career as a child performer for local radio stations and TV shows across her hometown in rural Pittman Center, about an hour east of Knoxville. At 11 years old, she recorded her first single, Puppy Love. In the decades that followed, Parton became known as a top songwriter alongside her uncle Bill Owens. In 1965, the then-19-year-old future country icon signed her first record deal with Monument Records as a singer-songwriter. Parton began making splashes in the country music scene at a time when the genre was male-dominated, with artists like Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, and Patsy Cline. In the late 1960s, Parton had several songs crack the top-100 US country music charts – all before releasing her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly. Her most successful mainstream hit came in 1973 with the release of her single Jolene. The song made it to number one on the country charts and even cracked the Hot 100 chart. It also made it onto the UK and international charts, bringing Parton’s vocals to a new audience of country lovers worldwide. In 1978, she won her first Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, for Here You Come Again. Her commercial success continued to skyrocket throughout the 1980s as she released three consecutive country chart-toppers. However, her smash hit 9 to 5 broke through into the pop charts and remained there into early 1981. Parton remained a cult figure in the US music industry for another several decades, releasing music right up until her passing. She had no children but leaves behind a fulfilled legacy in country music. Full statement announcing Dolly Parton's death at 80 Below is the full video statement by Dolly Parton's team announcing her death on August 25, 2026. She was 80. “Hey everyone, my name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I am 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. “This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality. As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment, but haven’t truly felt it until now. “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens. “I first went on the road with Dolly as a kid, getting a taste of the road life in the early 1980s. Dolly opened doors, not just for me, but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn’t even know was possible. “Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians, and dreamers from every walk of life and across every continent. By her example, we believed that anything was possible. She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history. “My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly, but so have you. She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD, and on your phone playlist, becoming an extended part of your family whether you liked it or not. “Our family and the team she has entrusted with her legacy will work diligently to ensure her spirit will live with us forever. Dolly was a farmer, just like her daddy. He farmed the soil, she farmed songs and happiness. “Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest. “Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly. Aunt Granny. Gigi. May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all. She will always love you.” Comment now