Funeral arrangements for country music legend Dolly Parton have been outlined, with her publicist stating that a small, private service will be held for immediate family. The family has requested that no flowers be sent, instead asking for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Parton died Tuesday morning at the age of 80, her nephew Bryan Seaver announced in a video. She had been admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on Friday for autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ. Seaver, who served as his aunt's head of security for over two decades, shared that the announcement video was something Parton had requested he make years prior.
"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," Seaver said in the video, expressing a mix of pride and sadness. He added that his aunt "lived in the light" and was now "in the arms of Jesus."
Parton's late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, died in March 2025 at the age of 82 after a battle with Alzheimer's and other health complications. The couple was married for 59 years.
In late September, Parton had postponed her Las Vegas residency, originally scheduled for December, to September 2026, citing unspecified "health challenges" that required her to undergo several procedures. Earlier in October, her sister Freida had asked the public for prayers amid Parton's illness, though she later clarified that her sister had been "a little under the weather" and that she simply believed in the power of prayer. Parton subsequently posted a video to reassure fans that she was "okay."
Born January 19, 1946, in Pittman Center, Tennessee, Parton was the fourth of 12 children. She grew up in the Great Smoky Mountains in a home without running water, gas, or electricity. She developed a love for music early, singing on local radio and appearing on television in East Tennessee as a child. Her first single, "Puppy Love," was released when she was 13. Her career spanned six decades, and she became widely known for hits such as "Jolene" and "9 to 5."
Following news of her death, tributes poured in. Former President Donald Trump stated, "Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people." He announced that flags would be flown at half-staff across the United States for a week.
Kelly Osbourne shared a tribute, thanking Parton for "paving the way. Not only for women in music, but for women everywhere to be unapologetically themselves." Actress Sarah Jessica Parker, who never met Parton, wrote, "I don't think any of us had to know her to love her. One of the greatest this country ever produced. Legend. For real. Forever."