Country music icon Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her family confirmed on Tuesday. The news prompted an outpouring of grief from celebrities, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kacey Musgraves.
In a video announcement, her nephew, Bryan Seaver, said she is now 'in the arms of Jesus'. He explained that Parton had asked him years ago to make the announcement, adding: '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.'
Stars lead emotional tributes
Sarah Jessica Parker was among the first to pay tribute, writing: 'No!!!!!! I never met @dollyparton but my gosh, did I love her. I don't think any of us had to know her to love her. One of the greatest this country ever produced.' She added: 'Legend. For real. Forever. And always advocating for those she knew and understood needed a champion. What a loss. But aren't we so lucky, so fortunate for the endless gifts she shared. With the world. Godspeed and RIP. You will be terribly missed. Xxx, SJ.'
Jamie Lee Curtis shared an old photo of the singer with the words: 'Thank you, Dolly. For all of it.' Alongside another photo of them together, she wrote: 'They say don't meet your heroes. Her bravery to know that she was more than they thought she was and that she needed to break away and move on into new work and new possibilities led her to write I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, as her way of thanking and loving, but moving on. She is a great example for us all.'
Family announcement
Singer Kacey Musgraves wrote: 'Dolly. This really hurts. The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden. So glad she's with her Carl Dean. No one talk to me today.'
In the video, Seaver, who described himself as the son of Cassie Parton, said: 'My name is Brian Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I'm representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean. Sister, sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next. This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality. 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.'
He added: 'It is an honour, an honour 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 to meet her in the heavens.'
Career and personal life
Parton, often hailed as the Queen of Country, enjoyed a music career spanning six decades. Earlier this year, she announced she would not go ahead with her Las Vegas residency as she still 'has some healing to do'. She had previously pulled out of an appearance at her Dollywood theme park due to a kidney stone 'causing [her] problems'.
After updating fans on her health, Parton shared insight into how she was feeling after the death of her husband, Carl Dean. He died at age 82 on Monday, March 3, 2025, in Nashville, after six decades together. She admitted the year without him had been 'hard' for her, but said 'I will always love him and I will always miss him.'
