Dolly Parton Asked Her Nephew to Record Her Death Announcement ‘Years Ago’
Dolly Parton’s nephew announced her death today. The country music icon was 80. Parton has dealt with health issues in recent months and stepped away from the public eye. In the announcement, her nephew revealed that she asked him to make the announcement years ago.
The country icon died at 80
On Aug. 25, Parton’s husband, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video. She was 80 years old.
Parton canceled a series of shows and public appearances due to health issues. She said that she was dealing with kidney stones.
Dolly Parton’s nephew announced her death
In the video, Seaver revealed that Parton specifically asked him to announce her death. He said that he has known he has had this responsibility for years.
“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 said 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 until now.”
Seaver said he is honored to have made the announcement.
“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.”
He spoke about Parton’s legacy and the impact that she has had on her family and the general public.
“Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly — Aunt, Granny, Gigi. May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all,” he concluded. “She will always love you.”
Dolly Parton made an announcement about her health just days before her death
Just days before her death, Parton spoke about her health. She admitted that she neglected her health while taking care of her late husband, Carl Dean.
“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 Carl,” she told People. “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.”
Still, she said she planned to keep working for as long as she could.
“I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago,” she said. “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.”
