Dolly Parton Passes Away, Family Reveals Battle Against Cancer

Kapanlagi.com - The country music world is in mourning. Dolly Parton passed away at the age of 80 on Tuesday (25/8/2026), after a brief battle with cancer. This sad news was first announced by her family and followed by confirmation from representatives to PEOPLE.

"Dolly closed her eyes forever today at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, surrounded by her loved ones," the family wrote in a statement to PEOPLE.

Dolly Parton's representatives also confirmed the news to PEOPLE on the same day, without detailing the type of cancer the legend suffered from.

1. Family Announcement and Official Confirmation

Dolly Parton on the Red Carpet © AFP

The news of Dolly Parton's passing was first revealed by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, through a video on Instagram on Tuesday (25/8/2026). In the video, he introduced himself as the son of Cassie Parton representing the extended Parton and Owens family to deliver the announcement.

Seaver mentioned that the announcement video was indeed requested directly by Dolly many years ago. He stated that the message was prepared for the moment when the family had to share the heavy news with the public.

On the other hand, Dolly Parton's representatives confirmed the sad news to PEOPLE without providing further details regarding the type of cancer. The official family statement to PEOPLE highlighted how throughout her life and career, Dolly brought joy, laughter, hope, and sincerity, with her generosity touching the lives of countless people.

The family statement also referenced the legacy of the Imagination Library program, which has donated hundreds of millions of books, as well as funding contributions for research that helped create life-saving vaccines used worldwide.

2. Chronology of Treatment in Nashville

Dolly Parton was known to have entered the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville on Friday (21/8/2026). Four days later, on Tuesday (25/8/2026), she passed away surrounded by her loved ones.

Before her passing, Dolly was also facing kidney health issues and an autoimmune disorder. Information regarding her condition was shared alongside news of her intensive care in the hospital.

In the announcement video, Bryan Seaver conveyed a family message that Dolly had prepared well in advance. "This sorrow belongs to us, not to Dolly," Seaver said.

He added his belief that Dolly is now at peace with God, alongside her late husband, Carl, and other beloved ones who had passed before her. This message became part of the closing of the video uploaded on the same day as Dolly's passing.

Days before her death, Dolly Parton acknowledged her declining health in an interview with PEOPLE. She mentioned that she had been less attentive to her own health because she was focused on caring for her husband, Carl, and recalled having gone through difficult health times in the early 1980s.

"I am still in recovery, but I am still working!" said Dolly Parton.

3. The Career Path and Legacy of Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is widely known as the best-selling female country music artist of all time, with album sales exceeding 160 million copies worldwide. This achievement places her among the most influential figures in the history of popular music.

Her career began with her debut album "Hello, I'm Dolly" in 1967. Since then, she has produced a series of iconic songs across generations such as "I Will Always Love You", "9 to 5", and "Jolene", which continue to be played and covered to this day.

In March 2025, Dolly lost her husband, Carl Dean, after nearly 60 years of marriage. At that time, Dolly reminisced about their time together through a post on Instagram, stating that words would never be enough to describe the love they shared for over six decades.

(kpl/rsp)