Dolly Parton dead at 80: her final days, health issues, family message, legacy, more | Headlines

Dolly Parton, the country music icon who rose from poverty to become one of the most celebrated entertainers in the world, has died at the age of 80. We've got more on her life and legacy in today's Page Six Headlines. Parton's nephew and long-time head of security, Brian Seaver, confirmed her passing in an Instagram post on August 25th. Hey everyone, 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, Aunt Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next. This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality. 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 until now. It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness, 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 for her to meet them in the heavens. I first went on the road with Dolly as a kid, getting a taste of the road life in the early 1980s. Dolly opened doors not just for me, but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn't even know was possible. Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians, and dreamers from every walk of life, and across every continent. By her example, we believe that anything is possible. She never saw a door she couldn't open, and the doors she opened made and changed history. My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly, but so have you. She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD, and on your phone playlist, becoming an extended part of your family whether you liked it or not. Our family and the team she has entrusted with her legacy will work diligently to ensure her spirit will live with us forever. Dolly was a farmer, just like her daddy. He farmed the soil, she farmed songs and happiness. Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest. Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly, Aunt Granny, Gigi. May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all. She will always love you. In what would become her final interview, the country music icon told People Magazine on August 21st that she was dealing with some health issues, which had forced her to cancel an appearance at her Dollywood theme park the previous week. Parton acknowledged that she had been through difficult periods with her health before, saying, It's not like I haven't been through hard times with my health. She specifically recalled being down for several months with, quote, female issues in the early 1980s. Parton also said her more recent health struggles came after she failed to pay attention to her own health while watching over her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean. Dean died in March 2025 at 82, after nearly 59 years of marriage to Parton. In the days leading up to her death, Parton was reportedly hospitalized with kidney and autoimmune issues. According to TMZ, she was admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville the evening of August 20th, five days before her death. The outlet reported that she died at the hospital the morning of August 25th. Nine months before her death, Parton also spoke to People about the legacy she wanted to leave behind. I'm at that point in my life where I just want to be able to do good things that can be carried on, she said in November 2025. I'm proud of my legacy so far, and I hope to just continue to do things that might be of use to other people. At the time, Parton said she felt like she was just getting started, and joked, I ain't got time to get old. She added that she believed there was a lot to be said about age, but said she planned to keep going as long as her health allowed. In September 2025, she pulled out of an appearance at Dollywood due to an infection, and later postponed her Las Vegas residency to undergo what she described as a few procedures. Parton reassured fans at the time, joking that she wasn't dead yet, but she continued to face health challenges, skipping her 80th birthday celebration at the Grand Ole Opry in January 2026. In May, Parton officially cancelled her Las Vegas residency and told fans she was responding really well to meds and treatments, and improving every day. She added that doctors had assured her that everything she had was treatable. Born January 19, 1946, in Pitman Center, Tennessee, Parton grew up quote, dirt poor, with 11 siblings and no running water. But she developed a passion for music at a young age, writing her first song, Little Tiny Tassel Top, when she was just 5 years old. She began appearing on local radio shows at 10, and performed at the Grand Ole Opry for the first time at 13. It was there that she met Johnny Cash, who introduced her on stage and helped kickstart what would become a legendary career. Parton's early years in music were far from glamorous. She later recalled sleeping in the backseat of a car while traveling for performances, washing her hair in gas station bathrooms, and putting on makeup in the car's side mirror. Her breakthrough came in 1967, when she was around 21, with the country hits Dumb Blonde and Something Fishy. She also became a regular on Porter Wagoner's syndicated show, helping launch her career as a solo artist. Parton went on to release some of country music's most enduring songs, including Jolene, Coat of Many Colors, I Will Always Love You, and 9 to 5. Over the course of her career, she won 11 Grammys and received numerous other honors, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a National Medal of Arts, a Kennedy Center Honor, and an Honorary Academy Award. She also became a successful actress, starring in films including 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Steel Magnolias. Beyond her own career, Parton inspired generations of artists. She was the godmother of Miley Cyrus, with whom she performed Jolene, and her songs were famously covered by artists including Whitney Houston, Kelly Clarkson, and Beyonce. Parton was also known for her philanthropy. Her Imagination Library has donated more than 318 million books to children around the world since its founding in 1995. Though she never had children with Dean, Parton leaves behind generations of fans and an enormous catalog of music, film, and charitable work. Dolly Parton will be remembered not only as a country music icon, but as a songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and cultural force whose influence stretched far beyond music. We'll always love you Dolly!