Dolly Parton Died After a ‘Brief Battle with Cancer,’ Her Team Confirms

The country music legend died at 80 on Tuesday, Aug. 25

NEED TO KNOW

• Dolly Parton’s cause of death has been revealed
• Her nephew Bryan Seaver announced her death in an Instagram video on Tuesday, Aug. 25
• Parton acknowledged her health struggles just days before her passing but expressed her determination to keep working

Dolly Parton’s official cause of death has been determined.

In a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday, Aug. 25, reps for the country star confirmed the “Jolene” singer died after being diagnosed with cancer.

“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.

“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.

Parton died at 80 on Aug. 25. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced the news in an Instagram video the same day.

Parton was admitted to a Nashville-area hospital on Friday, Aug. 21, where she died four days later.

In his Instagram video to share the news of Parton’s death, Seaver began by introducing himself.

“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.

“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”

Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor 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 to meet her in the heavens.”

On Friday, Aug. 21, just four days before her death, Parton herself acknowledged her recent health decline.

“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 [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.

She added: “But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago. I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI! Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’! You know me — as I’ve often said — I’ve dreamed myself into a corner and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”

With a distinguished career that lasted decades, Parton is the best-selling female country music artist of all time, having sold more than 160 million albums worldwide. Her debut album was 1967’s Hello, I’m Dolly, and she went on to release a slew of hits, including “I Will Always Love You,” “9 to 5” and “Jolene.”

Parton was pre-deceased by her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, in March of 2025.

At the time, Parton announced his death on Instagram, writing, “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.”

During their long marriage, Dean opted to stay out of the spotlight but encouraged his wife. “He’s always supporting me as long as I don’t try to drag him in on it,” Parton once told PEOPLE. “He’s always been my biggest fan behind the scenes, but he’s at home. I don’t think they’re probably showing much of this on TV, and if they do, he might see it.”

“I always joke and laugh when people ask me what’s the key to my long marriage and lasting love,” Parton also told PEOPLE in 2018. “I always say ‘Stay gone!’ and there’s a lot of truth to that. I travel a lot, but we really enjoy each other when we’re together and the little things we do.”

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