Dolly Parton’s representatives have confirmed that the singer, songwriter and philanthropist died after what they described as a brief battle with cancer. The update followed the initial announcement of her death on August 25, which said she had died peacefully in Nashville but did not identify a cause.

The later statement said Parton died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center with loved ones around her. She was 80. Her team did not identify the specific type of cancer, when it was diagnosed or provide a more detailed medical timeline, and those details should not be guessed at.

That distinction matters because early reports reflected the information available at the time: Parton had spoken publicly about health concerns, but a confirmed cause had not yet been released. The new statement is the first attributable confirmation connecting her death to cancer.

Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver has also shared a final request that carried her familiar humour and connection to her Tennessee upbringing. He said she wanted to rest in a “beautiful bed of plush cotton” after a lifetime associated with elaborate rhinestone outfits. The personal detail was presented by Seaver as Parton’s own request, rather than a general description supplied by outside commentators.

Parton’s official memorial describes a private family service and asks supporters wishing to honour her to consider the Imagination Library. The literacy program she founded has distributed hundreds of millions of books to children, becoming as central to her public legacy as her music and screen career.

The request also gives supporters a clear, constructive way to respond. Rather than turning private medical information into speculation, the family’s emphasis directs attention toward a program Parton spent decades building. The Imagination Library began in her home county in Tennessee and grew into an international effort, reflecting the practical generosity that sat alongside her public image.