Dolly Parton Death

Dolly Parton's nephew, who announced her death, has been fired from his longtime role protecting the country legend's properties ... and the abrupt security shake-up is fueling an escalating war over her estate.

TMZ obtained a termination notice sent to Bryan Seaver -- Dolly's nephew and former head of security -- informing him that he and his security companies were immediately dismissed from every Dolly property.

Sources tell TMZ ... the notice landed Wednesday, just as replacement guards descended on Dolly's main home in Nashville. Her museum, downtown residence and warehouse were also taken over by the new security team.

Dolly Parton made a shocking appearance at an awards show Wednesday night ... speaking to the audience weeks after her death.

In the video, the late singer showed off her iconic charm, telling the crowd, "Well, hey, it’s Dolly. I’m honored to be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association.”

"It’s a great honor, truly, and just know that I will always love you," she added, referencing her iconic hit song.

Dolly Parton left a lasting impact on the world, which was honored during the 2026 Emmys on Monday.

Her "Steel Magnolias" costar, Sally Field, remembered Dolly during the broadcast with a heartfelt speech.

Then, Reba McEntire took the stage to sing an emotional rendition of the late legend's song "Appalachian Memories," with a powerful vocal performance that would make Dolly proud.

Dolly Parton is getting one of the biggest honors possible in her home state ... Nashville International Airport is set to be renamed after the late music legend.

The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority voted Friday unanimously to begin the renaming process. Officials say the change could take at least a year to complete. Once finalized, Dolly would become the first woman to have her name on one of the 50 busiest airports in the United States.

The vote follows a petition started by Dolly fan Lydia Popovich, which collected more than 175K signatures after the singer’s death.

Dolly Parton's sister Stella Parton says some of her relatives were caught off guard by her death ... because not everyone in the family knew she had cancer.

Stella told "CBS Mornings" in an interview with Gayle King airing Thursday ... "She didn’t want a lot of the family worried about it. Some of us knew, the ones that were closer, but not every relative." 

The 77-year-old made a good point ... the legendary singer just "did not want people sad."

This isn't the first time Dolly's sister has set the record straight on the music icon's death.

Dolly Parton's social media accounts posted a little message from beyond Sunday morning ... sharing an uplifting lyric less than two weeks after the country legend's death.

The post features a pink background with one of Dolly's signature butterflies and a line from her song "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" ... "I can see the light of a clear blue morning ... everything's gonna be alright, it's gonna be okay."

The caption was simply a butterfly emoji ... but the timing obviously hit fans hard, with the comments quickly filling up with people mourning Dolly and reacting to the posthumous message.

Dolly Parton's sister Stella Parton is calling out the "stampede of endless misinformation" circulating online following the country music icon's death.

Stella shared an emotional statement on Instagram Friday, thanking those who have shown "genuine" support and love to her family as they grieve.

The 77-year-old said she will be okay "in time," but explained she's mourning in her “own personal way.”

Jessica Simpson is singing Dolly Parton's praises ... saying the country music legend was truly the queen of all music.

Our cameraman caught up with Jessica at LAX Friday and asked who should take over as the queen of country music following Dolly's death.

Jessica made it clear she doesn’t think anyone can simply step into Dolly’s shoes ... saying Dolly was the queen of all music and calling her crown “impossible Louboutins to fill.”

Dolly Parton's Hollywood Walk of Fame star has been restored after it was vandalized ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained photos showing Dolly's star looking good as new Friday, with her name fully intact. A turquoise butterfly has also been placed over the center medallion, while flowers and other tributes surround the star.

The butterfly is a fitting tribute ... Dolly has long used the insect as a personal and career symbol because of her connection to nature. She's said she felt connected to butterflies ever since chasing them as a child in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains.

Dolly Parton's vandalized Hollywood Walk of Fame star will be fixed by Friday ... TMZ has learned.

Ana Martinez, a spokesperson for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, tells TMZ ... the star needs to cure for three days before crews return to polish it Friday morning.

Martinez says Dolly's family is not responsible for the repairs. The Hollywood Historic Trust, a nonprofit organization, maintains and repairs the stars along the Walk of Fame.

Repairs are underway at Dolly Parton's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after a fan reported it was scratched up ... one week after the country music icon's death ... TMZ has learned.

Video captured by KNX shows crews working to replace the star after Dolly's name was scratched off. The star was dedicated in her honor in 1984.

Ana Martinez, a spokesperson for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, tells TMZ ... Dolly's star already had cracks in it, and the chamber had scheduled it to be repaired Tuesday.

Martinez tells us a fan reported last night that someone had stolen flowers from the star and scratched it up.

Bobby Brown knows better than most what it's like to watch the world mourn an iconic artist.

TMZ caught up with the New Edition alum at LAX on Monday, where he told us how the world lost "another great one" when Dolly died last week.

As you know, Whitney Houston's cover of Dolly's "I Will Always Love You" was an instant classic.

Dolly Parton's niece says one of the things she'll miss most about the country legend is getting calls from her at 4 AM.

Lainey Parton shared an emotional tribute to Instagram after Dolly was laid to rest ... saying it still doesn't feel real she's gone and she'd give anything to see her name pop up on her phone again.

Lainey wrote ... "I'm even going to miss those 4 AM calls."

The Grand Ole Opry paid tribute to Dolly Parton Saturday night ... bringing together country stars for an emotional celebration of the late icon's life and legacy.

The Opry dedicated its regularly scheduled Saturday night show to Parton, honoring her decades-long connection to the legendary Nashville institution and her enormous impact on country music.

According to a press release, a portion of every ticket sold for the show will be donated to Parton's Imagination Library, the literacy program that has become one of her most enduring philanthropic legacies.

There's increasing evidence Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was under the influence in the months before her death, and finally someone unifies the U.S. -- Dolly. So we gotta ask ...

Dolly Parton may be gone -- but her memory is going to live on forever at the Nashville International Airport, which is going to be renamed in honor of the country music icon, according to the Tennessee governor.

Governor Bill Lee made the announcement Friday ... saying that his office and Nashville International Airport plan to rename the travel hub after Dolly after receiving an outpouring of public support for the measure.

“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said, adding, “From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her."