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Watch: Dolly Parton’s family announces her death at 80
Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. Her family announced the death in a video shared on her social media channels Tuesday, with her nephew Bryan Seever confirming the news and sharing her final wishes for a simple rest.
Dolly Parton, the country music icon beloved by generations, died at the age of 80, her family announced in a video shared on her social media channels on Tuesday. The announcement was made by her nephew, Bryan Seever, who serves as her head of security, a role previously held by his father Larry.
In the video, Seever said he was representing the Parton and Owens family in announcing the passing of his aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean. He described her roles as "Sister, Sis, and Granny to one generation, and GiGi to the next." Seever said the video announcement was something Parton had asked him to make years ago, before he had fully absorbed it as a future reality. He recalled that he had imagined the heaviness of the moment but had not truly felt it until now, calling the task an honor mixed with absolute pride and great sadness, but noting that the sadness lies with those left behind, not with Parton herself.
The news came just 10 days after Parton's final Instagram post, which celebrated 43 years of her duet with the late Kenny Rogers, "Islands In the Stream." In that post, she shared a video of herself performing the hit with Rogers, writing "43 years of 'Islands In the Stream.'"
A final rest in plush cotton
Seever shared that Parton had "lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus," and said she was surely met by her late husband, Carl Dean, and countless others who had watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens. He also recounted a final request from his aunt, that she be laid to rest in "a bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones she finally deserves a rest."
The announcement did not include details about Parton's cause of death, and the family has not released further information.
Parton's final post and 'Islands In the Stream'
The timing of the announcement, so soon after Parton's final social media post, drew attention to the song that marked her last public message. "Islands In the Stream" was released in 1983, written by the Bee Gees (Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb). The duet with Kenny Rogers reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned multi-platinum status, becoming one of the defining crossover hits of the 1980s.
Parton's death comes a little more than a year after the death of her husband, Carl Dean. She had often spoken about how heartbroken she was following his death, according to her family's announcement.
Kenny Rogers, Parton's duet partner on "Islands In the Stream," died on March 20, 2020, at the age of 81, of natural causes.
How each outlet told it
al.com
Framing: Highlights that her final Instagram post celebrated a 43-year anniversary, suggesting a poignant contrast between her social media activity and her death. — Sympathetic and reflective, noting the timing of the post as 'tragic news' and emphasizing her connection to Rogers.
Facts Included:
Dolly Parton died at 80.
Her family announced her death in a video on social media on Tuesday.
The news came 10 days after her final Instagram post, which celebrated '43 years of 'Islands In the Stream.'
The duet with Kenny Rogers was released in 1983 and written by the Bee Gees.
The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, earned multi-platinum status.
Kenny Rogers died on March 20, 2020, at 81 of natural causes.
No details about Parton's cause of death have been revealed.
Bryan Seever, her nephew and head of security, broke the news in a video.
Seever said she 'lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.'
She wanted to be laid to rest in 'a bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones she finally deserves a rest.'
Framing: Highlights that her final Instagram post celebrated a 43-year anniversary, suggesting a poignant contrast between her social media activity and her death. — Sympathetic and reflective, noting the timing of the post as 'tragic news' and emphasizing her connection to Rogers.
Facts Included:
Dolly Parton died at 80.
Her family announced her death in a video on social media on Tuesday.
The news came 10 days after her final Instagram post, which celebrated '43 years of 'Islands In the Stream.'
The duet with Kenny Rogers was released in 1983 and written by the Bee Gees.
The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, earned multi-platinum status.
Kenny Rogers died on March 20, 2020, at 81 of natural causes.
No details about Parton's cause of death have been revealed.
Bryan Seever, her nephew and head of security, broke the news in a video.
Seever said she 'lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.'
She wanted to be laid to rest in 'a bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones she finally deserves a rest.'
Framing: Emphasizes the video announcement of her death. — Solemn and reverent, using words like 'beloved' and emphasizing the personal pain of the family.
Facts Included:
Dolly Parton died at 80 on Tuesday.
Death announced in a video shared on her social media accounts.
The announcement was made by her nephew Bryan Seever, who also serves as her head of security, a role previously held by his father Larry.
Seever described her as 'my aunt Dolly, Rebecca Parton Dean' and mentioned the roles 'Sister, Sis, Granny, and GiGi.'
Parton requested to be laid to rest in 'a bed of plush cotton because after a life in rhinestones she finally deserves a rest.'
Parton's death comes just more than a year after the death of her husband, Carl Dean, and she often spoke about heartbreak following his death.
He said she 'lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus' and was 'Surely met by Carl and countless others.'
Framing: Highlights that her final Instagram post celebrated a 43-year anniversary, suggesting a poignant contrast between her social media activity and her death. — Sympathetic and reflective, noting the timing of the post as 'tragic news' and emphasizing her connection to Rogers.
Facts Included:
Dolly Parton died at 80.
Her family announced her death in a video on social media on Tuesday.
The news came 10 days after her final Instagram post, which celebrated '43 years of 'Islands In the Stream.'
The duet with Kenny Rogers was released in 1983 and written by the Bee Gees.
The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, earned multi-platinum status.
Kenny Rogers died on March 20, 2020, at 81 of natural causes.
No details about Parton's cause of death have been revealed.
Bryan Seever, her nephew and head of security, broke the news in a video.
Seever said she 'lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.'
She wanted to be laid to rest in 'a bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones she finally deserves a rest.'
Framing: Highlights that her final Instagram post celebrated a 43-year anniversary, suggesting a poignant contrast between her social media activity and her death. — Sympathetic and reflective, noting the timing of the post as 'tragic news' and emphasizing her connection to Rogers.
Facts Included:
Dolly Parton died at 80.
Her family announced her death in a video on social media on Tuesday.
The news came 10 days after her final Instagram post, which celebrated '43 years of 'Islands In the Stream.'
The duet with Kenny Rogers was released in 1983 and written by the Bee Gees.
The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, earned multi-platinum status.
Kenny Rogers died on March 20, 2020, at 81 of natural causes.
No details about Parton's cause of death have been revealed.
Bryan Seever, her nephew and head of security, broke the news in a video.
Seever said she 'lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.'
She wanted to be laid to rest in 'a bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones she finally deserves a rest.'
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ClaimBryan Seever said in the announcement: "I am representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt Dolly, Rebecca Parton Dean."