Dolly Parton Dies at 80 After Decades of Giving Back

The Announcement and Final Days

Country music legend Dolly Parton died on Tuesday at the age of 80, according to The Daily Caller. Her family made the official announcement, ending a career that spanned more than six decades. Just days before her death, she canceled a scheduled event at her Tennessee theme park due to health issues. New York Post — US News reported she was set to celebrate a new ride on August 14 but could not travel because of dehydration.

In a video message shared by Entertainment Weekly, she explained her condition plainly. “Now, I’ve told you before, all my fans, that I’ve had a few little health issues, and sometimes I get a little dizzy, and I get dehydrated,” Parton said. She noted that her doctor told her not to travel that week. In her final interview with People magazine, she admitted she had ignored her own health while caring for her husband. “I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” she told the outlet.

A Family Tribute and Faith

Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, delivered the news via a video statement on behalf of the family. According to the Washington Examiner, Seaver acted as her security chief for over twenty years. He said Dolly asked him to make this announcement years ago. “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness, but sadness lies with us, not with Dolly,” Seaver said. He mentioned she is now with Jesus and has finally rejoined her late husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025.

Seaver described her as a farmer who cultivated songs and happiness instead of soil. He said she opened doors for generations of singers and dreamers from every walk of life. The family stated she wanted to rest in a bed of plush cotton after a life wearing heavy rhinestones. “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family,” her team said in a statement.

Building a Legacy of Giving

Parton opened her theme park, Dollywood, in 1986 to show pride in her Appalachian roots. She wanted to give back to a community that had seen little economic growth. “I love the fact that I am able to give something back and provide so many people with jobs where none existed before,” she wrote in her 1994 memoir “Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business.” She also wrote that the park was more about the local culture than herself.

Her foundation launched the Imagination Library in 1988 to help children learn to read. Time reported that the program has sent more than 270 million free books to kids worldwide. She also donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University for vaccine research. In 2016, she created the My People Fund after wildfires destroyed homes in her hometown. She gave $1,000 per month for six months to affected families, with total relief donations reaching $12.5 million.