Dolly Parton has died aged 80 after being diagnosed with cancer, her team has confirmed. The rhinestone-clad queen of country music, whose songs, wit and platinum hair made her one of the most beloved entertainers of all time, passed away on Tuesday.
Nephew announces the news
Her death was announced by her nephew Bryan Seaver on Instagram. “I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now,” he said. “It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness.”
Announcing her death, Bryan said she was now “in the arms of Jesus.” He added: “Surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens.”
Brief battle with cancer
Her death comes just four days after she told fans that she had been struggling health-wise after the death of her husband Carl Dean last year. Her team have now confirmed she was battling a form of cancer, though the type was not disclosed.
In a statement to PEOPLE on August 25, representatives for the country star confirmed that the “Jolene” singer’s death at 80 on Tuesday followed a “brief battle with cancer.”
The statement read: “Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.
Final days in Nashville
The singer was admitted to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville on Friday, August 21, where she died four days later. Dozens of artists have paid tribute to Dolly Parton following the news.
