Dolly Parton, the beloved country music legend and cultural icon, has died at the age of 80. Her family announced the news on social media through her nephew, Brian Seaver, who shared a video statement on Tuesday, August 25.
The "I Will Always Love You" hitmaker had been suffering from health concerns over the past year, which kept her out of the spotlight for months, most recently at a Dollywood event earlier this month. Her husband of nearly six decades, Carl Dean, passed away just over a year prior in March 2025.
## A Message from the Family
In his video announcement, Brian Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, spoke on behalf of the Parton and Owens family:
"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 Karl, 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 believed that anything was 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."
## A Legendary Career
Dolly's career began when she was just a child, performing on local radio and TV programs before making her leap into writing and recording country music in the 1960s.
What followed was a legendary career spanning Grammy-winning songs, box office hit films, and a legacy of kindness and philanthropy. She is regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, having composed over 3,000 songs during her lifetime.
After achieving minor success as a songwriter, she began collaborating extensively with Porter Wagoner, with whom she released multiple solo albums, starting with 1967's *Hello, I'm Dolly*.
She began to experience notable success on her own, and by the late 1970s had fully crossed over into mainstream territory. She became a household name in 1980 with her film debut in *9 to 5* opposite Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, not only a box office smash but also critically acclaimed. She even earned an Oscar nomination for the film's title track.
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*We're compiling HELLO! readers' memories for a special tribute article. Tell us what Dolly meant to you in the comments below.*
