Heartbroken celebs lead tributes after death of Dolly Parton: ‘This really hurts’

Country music superstar Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80 (Picture: AFF-USA/Shutterstock) Celebrities have led emotional tributes to country icon Dolly Parton after her death at the age of 80. The family of the Jolene and 9 to 5 singer confirmed her death on Tuesday, saying she’s now ‘in the arms of Jesus’. ‘This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,’ her nephew, Bryan Seaver, said. ‘Dolly called me and said 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,’ he added. Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker lead the tributes, writing: ‘No!!!!!! I never met @dollyparton but my gosh, did I love her. I don’t think any of us had to know her to love her. One of the greatest this country ever produced. She added: ‘Legend. For real. Forever. And always advocating for those she knew and understood needed a champion. What a loss. But aren’t we so lucky, so fortunate for the endless gifts she shared. With the world. Godspeed and RIP. You will be terribly missed. Xxx, SJ.’ Ozzy Osbourne’s daughter Kelly penned an emotional tribute alongside photos of herself with Dolly and her son, Sidney, writing: ‘Dolly, thank you for paving the way. Not only for women in music, but for women everywhere to be unapologetically themselves. You showed us that we could be ambitious and kind, strong and soft, fearless and authentic. The singer’s death was announced on Tuesday by her family (Picture: NBC/Getty) She added: ‘Through your philanthropy, generosity, and commitment to literacy and education, you changed countless lives and made the world a better place.’ Julia Roberts, who starred with Parton in Steel Magnolias, wrote: ‘Dolly was a magical and joyous human. I hold knowing her as a treasure in my life. The sun has dimmed today.’ Actress Jamie Lee Curtis wrote alongside an old photo of the singer: ‘Thank you, Dolly. For all of it.’ She added alongside a photo of them together: ‘They say don’t meet your heroes. Her bravery to know that she was more than they thought she was and that she needed to break away and move on into new work and new possibilities led her to write I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, as her way of thanking and loving, but moving on. ‘She is a great example for us all.’ Singer Kacey Musgraves added: ‘Dolly. This really hurts. The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden. So glad she’s with her Carl Dean. No one talk to me today.’ Actor Pedro Pascal wrote: ‘One of one 💔. We must make more. #DollyParton #Love.’ In a video, Dolly’s nephew announced the country singer’s death, saying: ‘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. ‘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 added: ‘It is an honour, an honour 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 to meet her in the heavens.’ Parton was hailed the Queen of Country during her remarkable music career that spanned six decades. Earlier this year the singer announced she would not go ahead with her Las Vegas residency as she still ‘has some healing to do’. Dolly. 💔 This really really hurts.— K A C E Y (@KaceyMusgraves) August 25, 2026 She previously had to pull out of an appearance at her Dollywood theme park due to a kidney stone ‘causing [her] problems’. After updating fans on her health, Dolly shared some insight into how she was feeling after the death of her husband, Carl Dean. He died at age 82 on Monday, March 3, 2025, in Nashville, after six decades together, keeping their love away from the spotlight. Deals of the Day Shop MySweetSmile's biggest Bank Holiday offers before they end Back-to-school shopping just got a lot cheaper thanks to Primark The back-to-school essential parents forget every year – and it could cost them Simba's cooling mattresses are now up to 30% off ahead of the bank holiday The best hosepipe ban-friendly products to protect your garden this summer She admitted the year without him had been ‘hard’ for her, but said ‘I will always love him and I will always miss him.’ Arrow MORE: Inside Dolly Parton and Carl Dean’s ‘wonderful’ but private 58-year marriage Arrow MORE: North West reveals unlikely ‘regular job’ she wants when she turns 14 Arrow MORE: Bruce Willis’ daughter admits ‘some days are just so hard’ in heartbreaking update