Dolly Parton, the country music icon, has died at the age of 80, her nephew Bryan Seaver announced on Instagram. Before her death, Parton had planned her own funeral, requesting a small, private service for immediate family and asking that donations be made to her Imagination Library charity in lieu of flowers.
Nephew shares the news
In a video shared with Parton's 8.9 million followers, Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, said he was representing the Parton and Owens families. He described Parton as "Aunt Granny" to one generation and "Gigi" to the next. Seaver, who served as her head of security for more than two decades, a role his father Larry held before him, said: "This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality."
Seaver 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 for her to meet them in the heavens."
A life of opening doors
Reflecting on his time with Parton, Seaver recalled first going on the road with her as a kid in the early 1980s. "Dolly opened doors, not just for me, but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn't even know was possible," he said. "She never saw a door she couldn't open, and the doors she opened made and changed history."
Seaver also shared Parton's final wishes for her resting place: "Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest."
Legacy of music and philanthropy
Parton's career spanned more than six decades, with over 100 million records sold worldwide and more than 3,000 songs written, including "Jolene," "9 to 5," and "I Will Always Love You." She also owned the Dollywood theme park. Her Imagination Library, launched in 1995 and inspired by her father Robert Lee Parton, who couldn't read or write, has delivered more than 270 million free books to children worldwide.
Her team confirmed: "At Dolly's request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly's fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com."
