Dolly Parton, the beloved American country music legend, has died at age 80
Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced the news on Parton’s Instagram on August 25.
“My name is Bryan 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,” Seaver says in the video.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continues. “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 ’til now.”
Parton’s representatives told Business Insider that Parton passed “at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones” after “bravely facing a brief battle with cancer.”
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact,” Parton’s representative said.
Concerns over Parton’s health arose in September 2025, after the singer postponed and later canceled her Las Vegas residency. The news prompted Parton to share a video a month later to reassure her fans. “I want you to know I’m OK. I’ve got some problems … nothing major,” she said, adding, “I ain’t dead yet.”
The legendary singer-songwriter, famed for her towering hair and razor-sharp wit, topped the Billboard country music charts with 25 of her songs and won 11 Grammys, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 10 Country Music Association Awards, and four People’s Choice Awards.
She also holds a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Throughout her life, Parton became a successful businesswoman, actor, philanthropist, and even theme-park owner as she rose to superstardom not just as a country artist but also as a humanitarian and LGBTQ+ advocate.
