Dolly Parton Dies at 80

Dolly Parton, the beloved country music icon, actress, and philanthropist, died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. Her family confirmed her passing in a video announcement shared on her official social media accounts, stating she died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee.

In the video, her nephew Bryan Seaver, who served as her head of security for over two decades, announced the news. He explained that the message was recorded at Parton's request years prior. Seaver stated that Parton "has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus," now reunited with her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025, as well as her parents and other family members.

While an official cause of death was not released, Parton had been open about recent health struggles. She canceled a planned Las Vegas residency in May 2026 and missed public appearances, including the opening of a new attraction at her Dollywood theme park. In an interview published on August 21, just days before her death, she told People magazine she was "dealing with some health issues" she had neglected while caring for her husband. She noted, "Even though I'm still healin', I'm still workin'!"