Dolly Parton‘s family revealed plans for her funeral after the Jolene hitmaker struggled with a variety of health woes over the years.
Parton, 80, had been open about health challenges she faced after the death of her husband Carl Thomas Dean in 2025, including kidney and autoimmune issues.
She shared her final health update on Friday, just days after canceling her Dollywood event, telling PEOPLE: ‘As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl.’
Parton’s publicity team said the hitmaker’s funeral service would be ‘small’ and ‘private’ and held for immediate family.
Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver confirmed her passing in a recorded video on Tuesday, which the legendary country singer had asked him to record years prior.
‘I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now. It is an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness,’ Seaver said.
‘She was the best of America’: Hilary Clinton on Dolly Parton
Former first lady Hilary Clinton took to Instagram on Tuesday to share her feelings about Dolly Parton.
Dolly Parton in her own words: How she cheated on her husband and almost killed herself after one lover broke her heart
She was a pistol packin’ mama who compared herself to Mae West, but behind that bubbly public persona was a dark side of music superstar and legend Dolly Parton.
The undisputed ‘Queen of Country Music’ and crossover music star sold more than 100 million records worldwide before her death.
Her death was announced by her family on August 25, 2026, less than 18 months after she lost her beloved husband Carl Dean following six decades of apparent martial bliss.
However, the Grammy winning, Oscar, Tony and Emmy nominated icon once considered suicide and said only her little dog, a Boston terrier named Popeye, saved her from pulling the trigger.
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Dolly Parton’s publicity team said the hitmaker’s funeral service would be ‘small’ and ‘private’ and held for immediate family.
They did not confirm when the service would be held.
In a post on X, the team encouraged Parton’s friends and fans to pay tribute to the singer by tagging her in social media posts or leaving a message at her website.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Reba McEntire says ‘there will never ever be another you’
Reba McEntire penned a sweet tribute to Dolly Parton on Instagram, saying the world would ‘cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang.’
‘Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth,’ her caption began.
‘Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge huge heart. There will never ever be another you. We will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang,’ it continued.
‘Thank you, Lord, for Dolly. She’s gonna have a blast in heaven singing all her favorite songs with all her family and friends who have gone on before her.
‘I’ll never forget the first time I met you and I’ll never forget our last conversation. I hold it with love in my heart. I will always love you.’
People gathered at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee, to sign a guestbook in memory of Dolly Parton on Tuesday.
‘No one talk to me today’: Kacey Musgraves shares emotional posts to X
Country superstar Kacey Musgraves penned a series of heartbreaking posts after learning the news of Dolly Parton’s passing on Tuesday.
The Middle of Nowhere hitmaker paid tribute to Parton at the 2019 Grammy awards, saying ‘I mean, let’s be honest. She’s just the ultimate songwriter.’
Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker honored Dolly Parton on Instagram on Tuesday.
She said she had ‘never met’ the country star, but ‘my gosh, did I love her.’
See her emotional tribute in full:
‘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.
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’
TOM LEONARD: Dolly Parton modelled her look on the ‘town tramp’ and never denied repeated affair rumours – but her brilliant business brain meant she could have been a billionaire if she hadn’t given so much to charity
Dolly Parton never let anyone forget that she was born poor. So ‘dirt poor’ that her illiterate sharecropper daddy could only pay the doctor who delivered her in their one-room cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains with a sack of cornmeal.
Ferocious hard work, sustained talent, an endearing persona and a sharp business brain transformed those deeply humble roots into a vast business empire that, it was said, would have made the iconic singer-songwriter into a billionaire if she didn’t give so much away to good causes.
The irrepressible Queen of Country, who has died aged 80, fans liked to think, summed up all that was best about America – a hard-working, God-fearing star who didn’t forget her roots or the less fortunate, and didn’t let celebrity go to her bouffant-haired head.
Dolly could have been a billionaire if she hadn’t given so much
Dolly Parton, who has died at the age of 80, never let anyone forget that she was born poor.
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Trump orders flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Dolly Parton
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to announce that American flags would be lowered to half-staff to honor Dolly Parton on Tuesday.
‘Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people,’ he began.
‘There has never been anyone like her, and never will. In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM. Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you. President DONALD J. TRUMP’
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Trump breaks silence on death of Dolly Parton
Donald Trump paid tribute to Dolly Parton following her death at 80.
