Dolly Parton’s niece has shared a heartfelt tribute to the country music icon after her death at the age of 80.
The news was first announced Tuesday in a social media video by Parton’s nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver. His sister, Rebecca Seaver, has since reflected publicly on the bond she shared with her famous aunt, who was the sister of Rebecca’s 75-year-old mother, Cassie.
‘Today, the grief we feel is insurmountable because of the enormous amount of love we all have for Dolly Rebecca Parton,’ Seaver, 39, wrote as she began an emotional Instagram tribute.
Alongside the message, Seaver posted a carousel of family photos, many of them showing her as a young child beside the beloved country music legend.
The images capture Parton across earlier chapters of her life and career, looking every bit as polished and glamorous as fans came to expect throughout her remarkable seven-decade run in music.
Dolly Parton’s niece honored the country music superstar after her death at age 80 on Tuesday
Rebecca Seaver reflected on her close relationship with her aunt in an Instagram tribute shared Wednesday
Photos shared by Seaver show a younger Parton looking glamorous alongside family
‘She has always been the light, not just for those directly in her orbit but for the entire world. We all wanted to be better versions of ourselves for her sake, and I hope we all continue to do just that,’ Seaver continued.
Other pictures in the carousel show how close Parton and Seaver were as adults.
The pair not only shared a professional bond, in addition to a personal one.
Seaver is the executive director of the Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum and established the Dolly Archive.
The archive features iconic costumes, awards and personal treasures to help make sure her cultural impact endures.
‘Today, I embark on a new journey: a life without my most trusted confidant,’ Seaver went on. ‘My best friend, my favorite adventurer, my name-giver, my godmother, my precious Aunt Granny.’
Parton’s representatives confirmed the superstar’s death in a statement to People, sharing that the singer died following a ‘brief battle with cancer.’ They did not disclose what type of cancer it was.
Her death came following her husband of 60 years, Carl Dean’s death in 2025.
Parton was the sister of Seaver’s 75-year-old mother Cassie, who is pictured on the left
Seaver’s touching social media tributes comes one day after her brother Bryan announced their aunt’s death in a video on Parton’s Instagram page
The blonde bombshell is being remembered for donating hundreds of millions of books to children through her Imagination Library
The 39-year-old is the executive director of the Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum and established the Dolly Archive
According to the statement, Parton lost her life Monday after being admitted to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center on Friday and was ‘surrounded by loved ones.’
‘I know she has been welcomed into the mystic by Carl and my Mamaw Avie Lee,’ Seaver added, referring to Parton’s late husband and the star’s late mother. ‘She is now on her most important celestial journey with God and I know she is at peace.’
Among other things, the blonde bombshell is being remembered for donating hundreds of millions of books to children through her Imagination Library.
The star also donated $1million to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in April 2020, which funded research that helped create a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Seaver said in Wednesday’s caption: ‘I am so grateful to have experienced the magic of her presence in my life and in all of yours.
‘It is my absolute honor to pay tribute to her today, and always, by telling her beautiful story. Her legacy is the joy she brought and will continue to bring to all of us.’
Seaver went on to ‘mourn this incredible loss,’ adding that she wants ‘us all to remember that joy and grief exist together.’
She explained that the post was a ‘celebration of a beautiful life, lived unapologetically and with the most incredible heart,’ adding that Parton ‘never left a rhinestone or a dream unturned.’
‘I am so proud to carry those shining dreams forward. She will forever be shining down on us and flying with butterflies,’ she wrote. ‘I will miss you and love you endlessly.’
The mom said she is ‘so grateful to have experienced the magic of her presence in my life and in all of yours’
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On Wednesday, Parton’s goddaughter Miley Cyrus took to Instagram to share her pain with her 205 million followers, writing: ‘The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share. Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts.’
Parton did a guest role on the pop star’s Disney Channel series Hannah Montana back in 2006.
Cyrus recently made a Disney+ concert special for the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana based on her life and career advice.
Despite keeping some of their most personal moments to herself, she continued the heartfelt caption by saying Parton’s presence will always be felt.
Cyrus continued: ‘What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong. I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis.
‘I will always love her and want to make her proud,’ she added. ‘My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply. We’re in this loss together and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things.’
