Country music legend and Hollywood star Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her family announced on Tuesday.
Her nephew, Brian Seaver, confirmed the news in a video posted on Parton’s official Instagram account. He did not disclose the cause of her death.
“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,” Seaver said.
He revealed that Parton had asked him years earlier to make the announcement when the time came.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he said.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said the singer was now reunited with her late husband, Carl Dean, her parents and other loved ones.
“Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly. May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all. She will always love you,” he added.
Parton’s death came three months after she cancelled a Las Vegas performance and disclosed that she had undergone treatment for recurring kidney stones for several years.
She said at the time that the condition had affected her immune and digestive systems, but expressed hope that she would regain her strength.
Just days before her death, Parton acknowledged that she had slowed down following the death of her husband in March 2025. However, she insisted that she was not ready to abandon her work.
Born into poverty in the mountains of East Tennessee, Parton rose to become one of the most celebrated figures in country music and American entertainment.
During a career spanning more than six decades, she sold over 100 million records and won 11 Grammy Awards. Her success in music, film and philanthropy earned her the enduring title of the “Queen of Country.”
