Death Announced by Nephew and Head of Security

Dolly Parton, the iconic country music singer and songwriter, has died at the age of 80. Her death was announced on Tuesday by her head of security, Bryan Seaver, in a video posted to her Instagram account.

Seaver, who is her nephew, introduced himself as the son of Cassie Parton and said he was representing the Parton and Owens family in delivering the news. In the video, he said the announcement was something Parton had asked of him years ago. He described his role as head of security for more than two decades, a position his father Larry held before him.

"It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness," Seaver said. "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."

The video included Parton's full name and nicknames: Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis, Granny to one generation, and Gigi to the next.

A Career Spanning Decades

Parton's career extended over six decades, during which she released hits such as "9 to 5," "Jolene," and "I Will Always Love You." She started early: her first single, "Puppy Love," was recorded when she was 11, and she signed with Monument Records in 1965, releasing her debut album, "Hello, I'm Dolly."

"Jolene," released in 1973, reached number one on the country charts. In 1980, she released three consecutive country chart toppers, including "Starting Over Again" and "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You." Her song "9 to 5" topped the pop charts and earned her two Grammy Awards and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

Parton's career continued into recent years; she featured alongside Sabrina Carpenter on "Please Please Please" in 2025 and released a heartfelt song for her late husband.

She also starred in films including "9 to 5" and "Steel Magnolias." Her statistical achievements are staggering: she sold more than 100 million records worldwide, had 25 singles or albums that went Gold, Platinum, or Multi-Platinum, 26 number one country hits, and 42 top 10 country albums. As of 2012, she had written more than 3,000 songs. She won 11 Grammys from 55 nominations and was ranked #27 on Rolling Stone's 2023 list of the greatest singers. She was inducted into several halls of fame, including the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Her impact extended beyond entertainment: her Imagination Library gave millions of books to children around the world.

Parton grew up in poverty in Tennessee before achieving stardom.

Health Struggles Leading to Her Death

The reports vary on the exact circumstances of Parton's health leading to her death. TMZ reported that she had been dealing with health issues in recent months, canceling her September Las Vegas residency and abruptly pulling out of a Dollywood appearance earlier this month after her doctor advised her not to travel due to dehydration and occasional dizziness.

The Sun reported that she had been forced to bow out of scheduled gigs planned for December and had spoken that she needed "a few procedures" amid ongoing "health challenges." On October 6, her sister Frieda pleaded with fans to pray for Parton. Frieda posted an emotional message stating, "I have been led to ask all of the world that she loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me."

The Sun also said Parton had been diagnosed with a kidney stone that was causing her "a lot of problems." LADbible quoted Parton's own words from earlier in the year, when she acknowledged "few little health issues" and said "all is going well on the medical end of thing." In May, she told fans she was "responding really well to meds and treatments" and "improving every day": acknowledging the "swimmy-headed" side effects of medication that made wearing five-inch heels challenging, she echoed the sentiments by saying "everything I have is treatable." "I always love you."

A Difficult Year

The year leading up to her death had been hard for Parton. Her husband Carl Dean died in March at the age of 82 after nearly 60 decades of marriage. The pair were married for 58 years and did not have children. The Sun reported that Dean, who had died, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2019. Parton dedicated the song "If You Hadn't Been There" to Carl after his death.

Reflecting on her life and legacy, representatives across outlets say she was one of the most beloved figures in entertainment. TMZ said she "truly one of a kind," growing from a "dirt poor" background to be one of the biggest stars on the planet.