Dolly Parton, the American singer-songwriter, actress and philanthropist, has died. She was 80.
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Her nephew, Brian Seaver, confirmed the news in an Instagram video message shared Tuesday.
“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,” Seaver said.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “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 till now.”
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Parton had faced health challenges in recent months. In an update with People last week, she said she was still “dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” referring to care for her late husband Carl Thomas Dean, who died in March 2025.
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She added, “But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago. I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI! Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’!”
In May, Parton canceled her Las Vegas residency and said she still had a long road ahead before she could return to performing.
At the time, Parton told fans she was responding well to medication and treatment but said the process had left her feeling “a little swimmy-headed.”
“The good news is I’m responding really well to meds and treatments, and I’m improving every day,” Parton added, noting that she could not perform at her usual level yet because she shouldn’t be “dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars and such on 5-inch heels.”
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