Legendary singer, songwriter, producer, actor, author and philanthropist Dolly Parton died at age 80.

Her nephew, Brian Seaver, shared the news on Dolly Parton’s official social media (below) as a family representative with the message “A message from the family of Dolly Parton” used across the legendary singer’s accounts that include millions of fans.

“This video announcement is something Dolly asked me of years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” Seaver said in the video. “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.”

Parton had previously shared an update on her health just last Friday, August 21, acknowledging a recent decline after the March 2025 death of her husband, Carl Dean, referenced by Seaver above.

The video continued with the full message from Seaver:

“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 dreams 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. Her 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 of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest. Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly. Aunt Grammy. Gigi. May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all. She will always love you.”

Watch the full video announcement below:

With Forbes estimating Dolly Parton’s net worth at $450 million as of June 3, 2025, she ranked No. 78 on the 2025 list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women . She is best known for her songwriting and country hits, with more than 3,000 songs in a catalog Forbes estimates is worth about $120 million. Forbes also notes that a large share of Parton’s fortune comes from her stake in her theme park, Dollywood.

Parton is also a published author whose recent works include Run, Rose, Run (a 2023 novel written with James Patterson that shares its name with her 2022 album) and the children’s book, Billy the Kid Makes it Big (also published in 2023).

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Parton donated $1 million towards research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and encouraged those who can afford it to make similar donations. In 2022, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos awarded Parton $100 million as part of the Courage and Civility Award to give away to her choice of charitable causes. Her Dollywood Foundation manages several projects that bring education and poverty relief to East Tennessee, where she was raised.

Parton has 11 Grammy Awards, three Emmy Awards, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards and a Tony Award. She received a humanitarian honorary Oscar in 2025.

Miley Cyrus is her goddaughter.

A cause of death was not revealed at press time.

This is a developing story.