Dolly Parton died Tuesday, August 25, at the age of 80. Her late husband’s will has revealed an insight into how their assets could be handled, as questions remain over how her estimated $450 million fortune will ultimately be divided.
Parton’s death was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, on Instagram last week.
He started the video by saying: “My name is Brin Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next.”
He continued: “This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality. As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it til now.
“It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.”
Dolly Parton cause of death
More details emerged when Parton’s team confirmed her cause of death to PEOPLE. The singer had been diagnosed with cancer shortly before her death and died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones.
Only a few days before the country music icon’s tragic death, PEOPLE published what will likely be her final interview.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
She went on: “But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago. I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI!
“Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’! You know me – as I’ve often said – I’ve dreamed myself into a corner and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”
Dolly Parton and Carl Dean
Her death came just 18 months after her husband and the love of her life, Carl Dean, passed away in March 2025.
According to Dean’s last will and testament, obtained by The Sun, he intended for his wife to inherit his estate if he died before her. However, his career memorabilia – including photographs, costumes, jewelry, musical instruments, equipment and souvenirs – was to be placed in the Carl Thomas Dean Trust.
Any remaining belongings would then have gone to the couple’s nieces and nephews if Parton had been the one to die first.
The couple never had children together, raising questions about who could ultimately inherit Parton’s estimated fortune. Her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, has been mentioned as a possible beneficiary, although the Hannah Montana star was not named anywhere in Dean’s will.
“Difficult to predict who she planned to leave it to”
Parton did, however, have a large extended family. Her family has not yet revealed how her estate will be divided. The singer was also known for her extensive charitable work, meaning some of her wealth could potentially be directed toward causes she supported during her lifetime.
The singer left behind a substantial fortune, including a Tennessee property reportedly worth around $10 million and a music catalog estimated at an extraordinary $120 million.
Estate lawyer Robert Strauss told Page Six: “We know Dolly did not have any children of her own, so it is difficult to predict who she planned to leave it to,” according to UNILAD.
He also added: “Dolly Parton famously owned her own publishing instead of selling it off to a major, her passing shouldn’t disrupt the management of the catalog itself.
“The copyrights – and the income they throw off – pass to her estate, which can keep managing them exactly as she did.”
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