Dolly Parton dies at 80

Country music artist, entrepreneur and philanthropist Dolly Parton died yesterday at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer.

The news came via a video announcement by Parton’s nephew and security chief, Bryan Seaver, who said he was asked by Parton years ago to make such an announcement at the time of her death.

Seaver offered a tribute with the announcement.

“She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history,” Seaver said.

Parton’s achievements extended beyond country music and into the business and entertainment sphere, including Dolly Parton’s Stampede, with locations in Branson and in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Dolly Parton’s Stampede, a dinner and live-entertainment show that includes Western-themed equestrian feats, celebrated its grand opening in the summer of 1995, according to news accounts archived by the Springfield-Greene County Library.

The attraction is operated by World Choice Investments LLC, founded by Parton and co-owned since 2023 with private equity firm ZMC LP, according to the ZMC website. The company also operates Pirates Voyage themed dinner show locations in Myrtle Beach, North Carolina, and Panama City Beach, Florida.

World Choice Investments CEO Jack Lawrence released a statement on behalf of the Stampede.

“Working alongside Dolly Parton over the years has been one of the great honors of our company’s history,” said Lawrence. “Our partnership was built on a shared commitment to creating meaningful, memorable experiences for families. Dolly’s vision elevated everything she touched, but it was her kindness and genuine love for people that left the greatest impression on all of us. Her legacy will continue to guide how we serve our guests and carry forward the traditions we built together.”

The announcement noted that a designated memorial had been placed at the Branson Stampede location, as well as the sites of the other company holdings.

“Our venues have become gathering places for Dolly’s fans and admirers, and it was her wish that they remain open as a place for families to remember her and celebrate her life by enjoying our experiences together,” the World Choice announcement stated.

Branson’s Silver Dollar City also has a connection to Parton, as her Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, was rebranded in 1985 through a partnership with Herschend Family Enterprises, according to the Dollywood website. Herschend Family Enterprises is the owner of Silver Dollar City.

Silver Dollar City President Brad Thomas released a statement, included on the company’s Facebook page, to express sadness at Parton’s loss.

“Dolly Parton’s decades-long partnership with Herschend [parent company of Silver Dollar City] has left a meaningful and lasting impact on our company and all of us who share in its purpose,” Thomas said. “Her joy, her heart for people, and her commitment to doing good in the world set an example that continues to inspire. She will be deeply missed and always remembered.”

The statement notes that Parton and Silver Dollar City owners Jack and Peter Herschend began their partnership in 1985 with the creation of the Dollywood theme park and expanded in 2001 to create Dollywood’s Splash Country water park. Dollywood became a destination resort with the opening of Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa in 2015, followed by the opening of Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort in 2023 and Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel in 2026.

In 2025, Forbes magazine estimated Parton’s net worth at $450 million, largely from her half ownership of the Dollywood Co., valued at $165 million in 2021. She also owned her music publishing catalog outright, according to Forbes, and in the 1990s, Parton earned an estimated $10 million from Whitney Houston’s cover of Parton’s original song “I Will Always Love You,” the bestselling song by a female artist of all time. Parton also owned a makeup line, Dolly Beauty, and a line of baking mixes, Baking with Dolly, through Duncan Hines.

Parton’s financial holdings and projects were diverse and often not widely publicized, one example being her executive producer role for the 1990s movie and TV series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and feature film “Father of the Bride,” among many other offerings, via a company Parton co-founded, Sandollar Productions.

Parton’s philanthropic efforts were similarly diverse, with her Imagination Library distributing some 300 million free books to children across five countries, according to the charity’s website.

In November 2023, Missouri became the 14th state to offer the program to children under age 5 in every ZIP code. The state provided funding for the program but the amount dropped to $2 million for fiscal year 2027.

In his video announcement of Parton’s death, Seaver said that his aunt had called him to request that she be buried amid plush cotton.

“After a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest,” he said.