Dolly Parton and her family are mourning the loss of her older brother, David Parton, who passed away at the age of 82.
The heartbreaking news was confirmed by their sister, Stella Parton, in a heartfelt post shared on the social media platform X on Friday.
Stella described her brother’s passing as “peaceful,” writing, “My brother David passed away peacefully this morning. It’s never easy to say goodbye to a loved one, but he got his angel wings and is now at peace.”
Fans quickly offered an outpouring of condolences and support in response to Stella’s announcement. One supporter shared, “So sorry for your loss, and how lucky he was to have two amazing sisters,” while another wrote, “May his soul rest in peace and may his memory be with you forever.”
At the time of reporting, Dolly Parton has not publicly addressed David’s passing, and the family has not released further details about his death.
David Wilburn Parton was one of 12 siblings born to Robert and Avie Lee Parton, who raised their large family in a modest two-room cabin on a farm in Locust Ridge, Tennessee.
According to Dolly’s official website, the siblings, in birth order, are Willadeene, David Wilburn, Coy Denver, Dolly Rebecca, Bobby Lee, Stella Mae, Cassie Nan, Randel Huston “Randy,” Larry Gerald, Estel Floyd and Freida Estelle (twins), and Rachel Ann.
David’s passing marks the fourth loss among Dolly’s brothers. Larry Gerald, the youngest sibling, tragically passed just four days after his birth in 1955. In 2018, Floyd Parton, a close collaborator and talented songwriter, died at 61. Randy Parton, a musician and performer, succumbed to cancer in 2021 at the age of 67.
