Seaver described the announcement as an honor filled with both pride and profound sadness, while emphasizing that the sadness belonged to those left behind.
He said Dolly was now “in the arms of Jesus” and imagined that she had been welcomed by her late husband, Carl Dean, her parents, and other loved ones who had gone before her.
A statement from Parton’s team later confirmed that she died in Nashville and paid tribute to her extraordinary life and career. The statement highlighted not only her timeless music and songwriting but also her wit, warmth, and kindness.
Parton’s family also announced that, in accordance with her wishes, her funeral will be a small and private gathering limited to immediate family. It remains unclear whether a public memorial service will be held at a later date.
Rather than sending flowers, the family has asked those wishing to honor Parton’s memory to consider supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the literacy program that has provided books to children for generations.
Parton’s death comes after the loss of several members of her family, including her husband of 59 years, Carl Thomas Dean, who died in 2025. She was also preceded in death by her mother, Avie Lee Caroline Owens, and her father, Robert Lee Parton Sr.
For more than six decades, Dolly Parton built a legacy that extended far beyond music. Her songs became part of American culture, while her generosity, business achievements, philanthropy, and unmistakable personality made her a uniquely enduring figure.
From her humble beginnings in Tennessee to becoming a worldwide icon, Parton remained closely connected to her roots and used her success to help others.
The music world has lost one of its most recognizable voices, but Dolly Parton’s influence will continue through her songs, her charitable work, the artists she inspired, and the countless people whose lives she touched.