Dolly Parton Death

Kacey Musgraves brought some Dolly sparkle to the 2026 MTV VMAs ... delivering an emotional rendition of "I Will Always Love You" in honor of the late country legend.

Kacey returned to the VMAs stage in a curve-hugging pink sequined gown ... looking every bit the country superstar as she belted out Dolly's classic.

The tribute came from someone who has long counted Dolly Parton among her biggest influences. Kacey has praised Dolly's songwriting, fearlessness and business savvy ... and even performed alongside her during the 2019 Grammys tribute.

Reba McEntire is revealing that Dolly Parton rang her up before she died ... but unfortunately, Reba didn't get a chance to reconnect.

The "Fancy" singer spoke with Entertainment Tonight about the missed call ... and the lost chance to have one final conversation with the "9 to 5" hitmaker.

She said ... "She did call me the last of July, and I was in a meeting and I missed her call."

Presley Gerber's death raises huge questions about addiction treatment in Hollywood, plus Mother Nature joins the Ed Sheeran-Macklemore chat, Taylor Swift sparks a Swiftee feud, and legal drama for Dolly Parton's beloved nephew! So, we gotta ask ...

Dolly Parton's nephew and longtime head of security, Bryan Seaver, served in the military for two years and earned a couple of accolades, TMZ has learned.

U.S. Army spokesperson Christopher Surridge tells TMZ ... Bryan served as military police in the Alabama National Guard from June 1996 to July 1998.

We're told he didn't have any deployments and left the Army ranked private first class. For his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

Dolly Parton's sister insists the family is still talking to each other ... despite their nephew allegedly threatening the late singer's estate.

Stella Parton took to social media Thursday to set the record straight on where things stand with Dolly's extended family.

Stella says ... "We are still in contact and moving forward because our children and grandchildren look to us for strength and guidance during this difficult time and confusion for them as well."

Chalk up a legal victory for Dolly Parton's estate ... a Tennessee judge granted the estate's temporary restraining order against the late country singer's nephew and former head of security, Bryan Seaver, after claiming he sent threatening messages.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ ... She's Alive, the entity created to oversee Dolly's estate, filed a complaint claiming that Bryan and his security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services (SAPS), threatened to wipe out Dolly's legacy and business empire with threats of violence. 

On Wednesday, the judge signed the restraining order barring Bryan and SAPS from coming within 1,000 feet of She's Alive employees, lawyers, and business partners. The order also prevents Bryan and SAPS from interfering with the entity's business relationships.

Dolly Parton's sister is setting the record straight about the ongoing drama between the late legend's manager and nephew.

Freida Parton took to Instagram on Wednesday, writing ... "I'll say this and this only: there is no feud within our family. No one among the Parton/Owens family is fighting over Dolly's estate."

She went on the clarify that no on in the family has an issue with Dolly's nephew, Bryan Seaver, who was just sacked from his role as head of security for the singer's properties.

Dolly Parton wasn't keeping 9-to-5 hours on her deathbed ... instead, she was closing up and refusing to allow most friends and family to see her -- except for one essential worker.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Dolly's dying wish was that no one could see her on her deathbed because she didn't want anyone to remember her in her fragile, dying state.

However ... we're told there was one exception to the rule -- her longtime wig and makeup artist, Cheryl Riddle -- because Dolly wanted to be all dolled up after she passed.

Dolly Parton's death put the world in mourning ... and apparently put her nephew in main-character mode.

According to text messages submitted in court docs related to the Dolly estate war, her nephew Bryan Seaver boasted, "But I'm now the face of the biggest social media post in human history."

Bryan was referring to the August 25 video in which he announced Dolly's death -- a post that suddenly thrust him into the global spotlight.

The battle between Dolly Parton's nephew and the company managing her assets has allegedly gotten so scary, some employees stopped going to the office ... and the company needed to hire private security at their homes.

TMZ obtained court docs submitted Tuesday by Dolly's management company -- She's Alive, LLC -- supporting its request for a temporary restraining order against Dolly's nephew Bryan Seaver and his security company.

Dolly's management company claims her nephew called himself an "international arms dealer and mercenary" and declared, "I'm a killer."

After Dolly died, Bryan allegedly bragged, "All I do is warfare," and warned, "Everyone needs to be worried about what I might do."

Dolly Parton's nephew wasn't just fired as security for the singer's properties ... he was ordered to stay away and told to have his personnel “peaceably vacate the Properties at once” ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained the letter Bryan Seaver received terminating him and his security companies following "changes in ownership of the Dolly Parton properties."

The letter gets right to the point ... telling Seaver that he and his companies were "formally dismissed and terminated and he's not to be on any of Dolly's properties, effective immediately.

Dolly Parton's family war is getting ugly ... with her longtime manager filing a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order against the late singer's nephew, Bryan Seaver, TMZ has learned. 

TMZ obtained court docs filed by Dolly's manager, Danny Nozell. The manager claims Bryan began "invoking his self-proclaimed military-contractor experience, access to weapons, and capacity for violence" to extort Dolly's manager into giving in to his demands for money. 

The manager said he was forced to terminate Bryan due to his threatening conduct ... and said he started a campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion a few weeks before her passing. 

Dolly Parton may be gone, but her iconic looks live on ... through a massive trove of mementos from her legendary time on Earth.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … Dolly saved every little thing connected to her life and career, so much so that she could "fill a Nordstrom" department store.

We're told every item -- which her team calls "artifacts" -- was saved ... from the shoes she wore during a photoshoot to a dress she wore at an award show.

Presley Gerber's final hours are coming into focus ... with sources telling TMZ he appeared to be under the influence when he checked into rehab the night before his death.

Check out the new YouTube collab between TMZ and the New York Post, "The Low Down," where we bring you stories that are gripping, outrageous, and sometimes scandalous.

Influencer Clavicular is facing charges of rape, drugging someone for sex, and providing alcohol to a minor in Massachusetts -- allegations his rep is pushing back against.

Dolly Parton secretly traveled to Germany for an experimental cancer treatment about a year before her death ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Dolly privately battled cancer during the final year of her life and sought treatment overseas.

We're told the music icon flew to Frankfurt on a private jet to undergo the treatment. It's unclear exactly what the procedure involved ... but our sources say Dolly remained in Germany for about a week before returning home.