Dolly Parton’s family is preparing a small, private service following the country music legend’s death at age 80 in Nashville on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
The intimate gathering is being held at Parton’s request, according to a statement from her representative. The ceremony is expected to bring together her immediate family and closest loved ones as they privately celebrate her life and legacy.
Parton’s fans around the world, meanwhile, are being encouraged to pay tribute in their own way. Her representative asked supporters to tag Parton’s social media account or leave messages through her official website.
The family is also asking fans to skip flowers and instead make donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the literacy initiative founded by the singer that has provided millions of books to children around the world.
News of Parton’s death was announced Tuesday by her nephew Bryan Seaver in an Instagram video. Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades after his father Larry held the role, said the singer had asked him years earlier to make the announcement when the time came.
Seaver described the moment as an honor mixed with “absolute pride and great sadness,” while emphasizing his belief that Parton had lived a full life.
Parton’s death has already prompted tributes from fellow entertainers, including Reba McEntire, who shared a series of photographs with the country icon. McEntire thanked Parton for her music, love and generosity, writing that “there will never ever be another you.”
The news came just days after Parton publicly discussed her health struggles. In an interview with PEOPLE published shortly before her death, she said she had been dealing with health issues that she had not given enough attention to while caring for her husband, Carl Dean, before his death in March 2025.
Parton also acknowledged that her health had been difficult at times in the past, but insisted she intended to keep working. “I’m still workin’!” she said, adding that she still had many things she wanted to accomplish.
Parton had been dealing with health complications in recent months, including immune-system and digestive issues, kidney stones and medication-related problems. She also canceled appearances and postponed a Las Vegas residency while focusing on her health.
There are currently no finalized plans for a larger public funeral or celebration of life, according to the supplied reporting.
For more than six decades, Parton built a legacy that stretched far beyond her music. Songs including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You” became enduring classics, while Dollywood and the Imagination Library extended her influence into entertainment, tourism and children’s literacy.
Now, her family is preparing to say goodbye privately — while leaving the door open for millions of fans to celebrate Dolly Parton in their own way.
