What to know
- Dolly Parton, the legendary country singer and songwriter, has died at 80.
- Her death was announced by her nephew Brian Seaver in a video posted to Parton’s official Instagram account.
- Parton’s final live Toronto concert was at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre on Sept. 9, 2016, during her Pure & Simple Tour.
- Her Toronto legacy continues with Dolly’s, a new country bar at 58 The Esplanade that opened this summer.
American country music icon Dolly Parton, has died at 80.
Her death was announced Tuesday by her nephew Brian Seaver in a video posted to Parton’s official Instagram account.
Seaver, the son of Parton’s sister Cassie, said he was representing the Parton and Owens families and described the announcement as something Parton had asked him to make years ago.
“She has lived in the light, and is in the arms of Jesus,” Seaver said, adding that he imagined she was being welcomed by her late husband, Carl Dean, her parents and other family members.
Parton was born in Tennessee in 1946 and built a career spanning more than six decades, becoming one of country music’s most successful singer-songwriters with hits including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.”
She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Dolly Parton’s lasting connection to Canadians and Toronto
Her influence extended into film, television, business and philanthropy, including her free book gifting program Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which expanded into Canada 20 years ago.
For Toronto fans, Parton’s final live concert appearance in the city came on Sept. 9, 2016, when she performed at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre (now RBC Amphitheatre) as part of her Pure & Simple Tour.
Her spirit also lives on in the 6ix at Dolly’s, a country bar opened at 58 The Esplanade in July this year that features Southern music, line-dancing, and late night bites.
Parton passes just 17 months after her husband
Parton’s death comes a little over one year after the death of her husband of nearly 60 years. Dean died in March 2025 at age 82.
In his announcement, Seaver remembered Parton not only as a global star, but as the person who opened doors for her family and for generations of artists.
“She never saw a door she couldn’t open,” he said
