Country music legend Dolly Parton died at age 80 on Aug. 25, following a battle with cancer, her representatives confirmed. Parton passed away at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who also serves as her longtime head of security, announced her death in an Instagram video, stating, “Sadness lies with us, not with Dolly.” Seaver shared that Parton had requested to be laid to rest “in a beautiful bed of plush cotton” after a life of performing in elaborate costumes.
Parton was reportedly admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center five days prior to her death with kidney and autoimmune issues. She had been experiencing health struggles in the weeks leading up to her passing, which she discussed in her final interview with People on Aug. 21. At that time, she mentioned dealing with health issues she had not paid attention to while caring for her late husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025.
Days before her final interview, Parton canceled an appearance at Dollywood due to her doctor’s advice against travel because of ongoing health issues. She explained in a prerecorded video that she sometimes experienced dizziness and dehydration.
Parton’s final public appearance was on Aug. 19, when she virtually accepted the ACM Poet’s Award at the ACM Honors. In her acceptance speech, she emphasized the importance of songwriting in her creative life.
Friends and colleagues paid tribute to the singer-songwriter. "Steel Magnolias" co-star Julia Roberts described Parton as a “magical and joyous human,” adding, “I hold knowing her as a treasure in my life. The sun has dimmed today.” Sally Field and Lily Tomlin, who co-starred with Parton in "9 to 5," also honored her memory.
Parton’s career spanned decades, marked by her distinctive voice, songwriting talent, and philanthropy, most notably through her Imagination Library, which has donated millions of books to children worldwide.