Reunited with the love of her life.
This afternoon, the family of Dolly Parton announced that she had passed away this morning at 80-years-old in Nashville Tennessee. Dolly had been dealing with undisclosed health issues for the last year or so, and she previously shared that she was having issues with severe kidney stones. Aside from that, she understandably didn’t share more, though clearly there were more serious issues going on.
TMZ reports that Dolly was admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on Friday morning “with kidney and autoimmune issues:”
“Admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on early Friday morning with kidney and autoimmune issues.”
The source also revealed that she passed away in the hospital this morning.
That’s as much detail as has been revealed in terms of specifics, and it’s completely understandable if her family never wants to share more. The world is in mourning, Dolly was so beloved, and it’s just so sad to think that she’s gone.
It’s simply incredibly sad and shocking news, and there are so many tributes pouring for her from fans and friends, a fitting way to honor her legacy. I know I’ve seen it and written it several times now, but there never has been, nor will there ever be, another Dolly Parton.
Of course, aside from incredible musical accomplishments and decades-long career in the entertainment business, she’s known for her platinum hair and striking makeup, making for a very “overdone” look that I personally love, though as the famous story goes, Dolly modeled it after the “town tramp” where she grew up in east Tennessee:
“They called this lady ‘trash’ because she wore too much makeup, big hair, red nails, high heels, short skirts and all of that, but when I was little, that impressed me. And then the Frederick’s, I used to look at that, and I would just see those lounge outfits, those beautiful robes, gowns… I just thought they weren’t even real people.”
Her signature look is something she talked about ad nauseam throughout her decades-long career, and she always, always stayed true to that. Even after countless record executives, and even some of her peers, told her she should tone it down. Dolly obviously knew better than them, and so it’s only right that she be laid to rest in that same, iconic style.
So the fact that she will buried in her “signature heels” is only fitting for the queen she was.
Dolly’s nephew Bryan Seaver revealed to TMZ that Dolly will be buried in the mausoleum at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, Tennessee, where Carl is buried.
She will be buried:
“In her signature high heels and a comfortable cotton dress.”
I mean, once again, iconic…
He shared in the announcement video that, after a life of wearing “heavy rhinestones,” she deserves to be “comfortable” and “rest”:
“After a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.”
I am going to get another tissues now…
It’s so sad to think about Dolly being gone, she was such a bright light in this world, and she will continue to be an icon and inspiration forever.
Dolly’s family is planning to hold a small, private ceremony in Nashville soon, and no public memorial has been announced yet, though I have to imagine that is coming too because Dolly loved her millions and millions of fans so much.
Here is the video shared to her Instagram account this afternoon:
Dolly released a song for Carl Dean called “If You Hadn’t Been There” shortly after his death last March, and it obviously has a much deeper meaning now given that she is gone too. I know she had medical issues