Freida Parton is honoring sister Dolly Parton after the country music star’s death at age 80.
“Thank you all for bearing with me as I mourn the death of my big sister,” Freida, 69, wrote via Facebook on Saturday, August 29. “I know to the entire world, she was a superstar, but to me, she was my Dolly Momma. She was the sister who would climb into bed with me when I was little because we were both afraid of the dark. She was the woman who stepped up and became my Momma, raising me from ages 13 to 18. She was the one who tried to convince me to wear her wigs at my shows in Dollywood (sorry, sister, but I definitely didn’t listen to you on that one).”
She continued, “Like all sisters, we definitely had our share of arguments and disagreements throughout the years, but even through all the highs and lows, and all the laughter and tears, I never stopped loving her.”
Freida recalled asking her followers to pray for Dolly months prior, and again asked her fans to “please pray for me and my entire family as we navigate this insurmountable loss.”
UPDATE — 10/8/25, 3 a.m. ET: Dolly Parton’s sister Freida clarified her comments asking fans to pray for the singer in a new Facebook post late Tuesday, October 7. “I want to clear something up. I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly,” Freida wrote. […]
“There will never be anyone who can replace her in our hearts, and I know she holds a special place in many of yours as well,” Freida wrote. “I know she would want me to keep going, keep smiling, and keep sharing the love she gave so freely with others. That is what I’m going to try to do, even on the days when it feels impossible.”
Freida continued, “I’m working on something very special for all of you in her honor. It’s my way of keeping a little piece of my Dolly Momma with me, while sharing her with all of you who loved her, too. Thank you for loving her, for praying for her, and now, for loving and praying for all of us. .”
She signed the message, “All My Love, Freida.”
Dolly died on Tuesday, August 25, after a brief battle with an undisclosed form of cancer. Dolly’s niece confirmed that she has since been buried beside her husband, Carl Dean, who died in 2025.
Dolly Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver paid tribute to his late aunt while confirming her death at the age of 80 in a sentimental video. “I am representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my Aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean,” Seaver began in the clip posted to Parton’s Instagram account on Tuesday, […]
“This is a really hard post for me to make. I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words,” Lainey Parton wrote via Instagram on Saturday. “From the time I was little, my granny always had a way of making me feel like I was enough. She never made my dreams feel too big or made me feel like I couldn’t do something. She believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself.”
In the tribute, Lainey shared that she was treated like a child of Dolly’s and recalled the late country music icon financially supporting her through school.
“It still doesn’t feel real that she’s gone. I’m going to miss her voice, her laugh, her hugs, and just knowing she was there. I’m even going to miss those 4 AM calls, and I’d give anything to see her name pop up on my phone again,” Lainey wrote. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out, sent messages, flowers to my house, or done any of the little things to show me love. I’ve noticed every single one, and they’ve meant more than you know.”
She concluded, “I feel incredibly lucky that I got to call her my granny. Thank you for always believing in me, loving me, and making me feel like I could do anything. I love you, Granny. Always. 🤍.”
