Dolly Parton has unfortunately lost her older brother, Coy “Denver” Parton.
The country singer’s beloved sibling was confirmed dead in an obituary announcement by a funeral home in Tennessee sharing details of his funeral service.
Coy’s demise comes amid Dolly privately dealing with health issues due to the heartbreak from the loss of her husband, Carl Thomas Dean, over a year ago.
Coy passed away on Thursday, July 23, 2026, according to an obituary announcement by Atchley Funeral Home. He was 82.
Although the cause of death was not revealed, it was confirmed that a private memorial service will be held in honor of the singer’s brother, who served as a crane operator.
According to People Magazine, Coy lived in Sevierville, Tennessee, where he worked in construction, building bridges. He was also a hunter and a homestead farmer.
He was survived by his two daughters, his grandson, as well as one brother, Bobby Parton, and seven sisters, including Dolly, Stella Parton, Rachel George, Freida Parton, Laura Price, Willadeene Buzzeo, and Cassie Griffith.
Coy was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Parton; his parents; three brothers; and his brother-in-law, Carl Dean.
Dolly has yet to break her silence on the demise of her brother.
Dolly Parton Has Lost Four Brothers In Her Lifetime
Coy’s loss adds to the gaping hole in Dolly’s heart as she has lost three brothers. In 2012, her brother Randy Parton, also a singer, died from cancer at 67.
The “Coat of Many Colors” songstress mourned Randy’s passing in a statement, declaring he was “shining in heaven now.” Three years prior, Floyd Parton, who served as Dolly’s songwriting partner, died at the age of 6. The Parton family lost son Larry Parton as an infant in 1955.
Earlier this year, Dolly’s sister Stella spoke on the crushing impact of having lost three brothers, now four. Siblings are closer than anyone, really, because you’ve had them with you your whole life. I didn’t realize it would be such a painful experience,” she told People Magazine.
The Queen Of Country Singer Struggled With Health After Husband’s Passing
4Dolly losing her brother comes a little over a year after she had to say goodbye to her husband of sixty years, Carl Dean.
According to insiders, the deep grief took a great toll on the country singer both physically and emotionally, which in turn led to the cancellation of her Las Vegas Residency in May due to health reasons.
“She was not eating right, not doing the things she usually would do for her continued health, and she let things slip,” a close source said, per The Blast.
Another informant explained that Dean’s death marked the first time Dolly has had to pump the brakes on her busy and packed lifestyle, making it difficult for her to deal with the grief.
Dolly Parton Calms Fans’ Fear With Surprise Appearance
4Amid concerns for her well-being, the “Jolene” songstress, who has majorly retreated from the public eye since Dean died, came out of hiding.
Dolly sent a wave of relief to her fanbase when she made a public appearance at the grand opening of Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville.
As reported by The Blast, the 80-year-old’s return to the spotlight was to showcase some of the site’s new features, including a coffee shop and barbecue restaurant. Dolly appeared in good spirits as she interacted and smiled with attendees
The rare outing sparked chatter among fans about a possible return to the stage as she appeared fit.
Dolly Parton’s Life Story Is Heading To Broadway In Big Production
4Although the eleven-time Grammy winner has remained low-key, retreating from the public eye, she hasn’t stopped working behind the scenes.
Earlier this month, Dolly shocked fans with the announcement that her life story will be coming to Broadway as “DOLLY: A True Original Musical.”
Taking to Instagram to share the news, the music icon explained that the production tells the story of all the ups and downs of her journey to becoming the legend that she is now.
“This isn’t a story about sparkle and shine on the outside. It’s about where I really come from, what I’ve lived, what I’ve lost, what I’ve loved, and how I’ve found my way and told it in my own words,” she said, per The Blast.