American country music icon Dolly Parton has passed away at the age of 80.
The news was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, in an Instagram video posted on Tuesday, Aug. 25 (US time).
Seaver identified himself as the son of Cassie Parton and said he was representing the Parton and Owens families in announcing the passing of his aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean.
It was revealed in Seaver’s video that the announcement was something Parton had asked him to make years before her death.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he shared.
“It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness,” he said. “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.”
Seaver also reflected on Parton’s impact on his life, their family, and generations of artists around the world.
“I first went on the road with Dolly as a kid, getting a taste of the road life in the early 1980s,” he recalled. “Dolly opened doors not just for me but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn’t even know was possible.”
He added that the legendary singer-songwriter opened doors for “generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and dreamers from every walk of life and across every continent.”
“By her example, we believed that anything is possible. She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history,” Seaver said.
Seaver also spoke about how Parton became a beloved presence in the lives of millions through her music, films, and television appearances.
“My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly, but so have you,” he said. “She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD and on your phone playlist, becoming an extended part of your family whether you liked it or not.”
Seaver said the Parton family and the team entrusted with preserving her legacy would continue working to ensure that her influence would live on.
He also shared a touching personal memory of the music legend, describing her as someone who found joy in creating happiness for others.
“Dolly was a farmer, just like her daddy; he farmed the soil, she farmed songs and happiness,” he said.
According to Seaver, Parton once told him that she wanted to rest in “a beautiful bed of plush cotton” after a lifetime of wearing her signature rhinestones.
“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,” he said.
Seaver ended his tribute with a heartfelt farewell to his aunt.
“Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly — Aunt, Granny, Gigi. May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all. She will always love you.”
