‘We will miss you down here’: Christian artists react to Dolly Parton’s death at 80

August 26, 2026

Christian artists are taking to social media to mourn after legendary singer-songwriter Dolly Parton died at the age of 80.

The Christian Post reports that Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family, saying the country music icon “has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.”

“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,” Seaver said.

Parton’s unmistakable voice, prolific songwriting and larger-than-life personality made her one of the most beloved figures in American music.

Parton was born in rural Tennessee in 1946 as one of 12 children, and began singing as a child in the church where her grandfather was a Pentecostal preacher.

Parton moved to Nashville after graduating from high school and went on to build a career spanning six decades, becoming the best-selling female country music artist of all time, with more than 160 million albums sold worldwide.

According to the Christian Post, Parton earned 11 Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards and seven Academy of Country Music Awards and was also known for her acting career and extensive philanthropy.

In an interview with The Christian Post in 2019, Parton spoke publicly about the Christian faith that shaped her life from childhood and recalled an older woman telling her when she was young that she was “anointed.”

Parton said the encounter gave her a lasting sense of responsibility to use her gifts for God and others.

Photo: top, Credit: Getty Images/Terry Wyatt