Cousin Richie Owens Reveals Dolly Parton's Private Health Struggles and Quiet Burial

Dolly Parton died on Aug. 25 at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, according to a family spokesperson. Her first cousin Richie Owens, who has worked with her musically and serves as the family historian, told TODAY that Parton concealed the seriousness of her health issues from many relatives, aiming to maintain a positive atmosphere.

"She of course posted herself that she had been going through health problems, but no one really knew what a lot of that was, including myself," Owens said. "She always kept things private because she always wanted to keep everybody being positive around her and put that out there in the world. Just, 'Don’t worry about me, I’m going to be fine.'"

Owens clarified that Parton’s final arrangements were not a formal funeral but a private burial beside her husband, Carl Dean, who died in 2025. The burial took place in Nashville on Aug. 28 with only a few family members present, reflecting Parton's wish for a low-key ceremony.

"She wanted it very quiet… it was very quiet, very quickly done, and not for any bad reasons whatsoever, it’s just that’s what she wanted," Owens added.

He also noted that Parton had repeatedly expressed a desire for any money typically spent on mourning to be redirected to her charitable work, such as the Imagination Library.

"She said she would much rather see people take that $50 you should spend on flowers and give it to her Imagination Library," Owens said.

The news of Parton's death was first announced in a video posted on her Instagram by nephew Bryan Seaver, who said the message fulfilled a request she had made years earlier.

"This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality," Seaver said, describing the task as an honor mixed with pride and sadness.