Country Music Icon Dolly Parton Dead at 80 After Health Struggles
Country Music Icon Dolly Parton Dead at 80 After Health Struggles
Brianna Sainez Wed, August 26, 2026 at 8:51 AM UTC
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The singer passed away on August 25. MEGA
Country music has lost one of its most beloved legends. Dolly Parton has died at 80.
"I am representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my Aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean," Bryan Seaver, the son of Dolly's sister Cassie Parton, announced in a video shared to the singer’s account on Tuesday, August 25. "Sister, sis, aunt, granny to one generation and Gigi to the next. This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago."
Dolly Parton Died at 80
"As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father, Larry, held before, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment, but haven't truly felt it until now," he continued. "Dolly 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 everything was possible."
The "Jolene" singer died peacefully on August 25 in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. A small, private service will be held for the singer's immediate family, while fans and friends are encouraged to leave a message at www.dollyparton.com.
'A Life of Wearing Heavy Rhinestones'
Dolly Parton skipped the opening of a new ride at her Dollywood amusement park earlier this month.MEGA
"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," he concluded. "Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly."
The country music singer's death comes weeks after she raised concerns among fans when she missed the opening of a brand-new ride at her Dollywood amusement park amid ongoing medical issues.
Dolly Parton Recently Missed Dollywood Event Due to Health Issues
Dolly Parton revealed she was feeling 'dizzy and dehydrated' in the days leading up to the event, which she ultimately skipped.MEGA
Dolly was expected to attend the grand opening of NightFlight Expedition, a new rollercoaster at her theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., but ultimately missed the event and appeared virtually, where she addressed a "few little health issues" while wearing sparkly fairy wings.
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"Sometimes I get a little dizzy, and I get dehydrated. And I’m dehydrated," she explained in a pre-recorded video. "And so my Nashville doctor clipped my wings, saying you ain’t traveling this week. So I guess if your doctor tells you you ain’t traveling this week, you ain’t traveling this week. So, I like to keep all of you in the loop like I said I would, on everything."
Inside Dolly Parton's Health Struggles
Dolly Parton canceled her Dolly: Live in Las Vegas residency in May.MEGA
As OK! previously reported, the "I Will Always Love You" singer faced significant health challenges in the months leading up to her death.
In May, the entertainer was forced to cancel Dolly: Live in Las Vegas, a planned six-date residency event at Caesars Palace's Colosseum, after revealing that her digestive and immune systems had gotten "all out of whack."
She told her fans that her future performances would be postponed until she "rebuilt and strengthened" her body.
"The good news is I'm responding really well to meds and treatments, and I'm improving every day," she continued in the video. "The bad news is, it's gonna take me a little while before I'm up to stage performance level because some of the meds and treatments make me a little bit ‘swimmy headed' as my grandma used to say."
Read more at OK!
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
