Country music legend Dolly Parton in 2017.
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Dolly Parton — the beloved, award-winning icon of American country music — has died. She was 80. Parton's nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced the news on her Instagram on August 25. "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," Seaver says in the video. "This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality. 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 til now."No cause of death was given. Parton had suffered declining health in recent years, prompting her to share a video last fall in which she proclaimed, "I ain't dead yet." On Aug. 21, Parton shared a health update with People, telling the magazine she was dealing with some "health issues.""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." She added, "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."The legendary singer-songwriter, famed for her towering hair and razor-sharp wit, topped the Billboard country music charts with 25 of her songs and won 11 Grammys, 10 Country Music Association Awards, and four People's Choice Awards.She also holds a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
