David Parton, the older brother of music icon Dolly Parton, has passed away at the age of 82.
The somber news was shared by their sister Stella Parton in a heartfelt social media post early Friday morning, November 15.
‘My brother David passed away peacefully this morning,’ Stella wrote on X at 5:54 a.m. ‘It’s never easy to say goodbye to a loved one, but he got his angel wings and is now at peace.’
David Wilburn Parton was one of 12 siblings born to Robert and Avie Lee Parton, a family celebrated for their roots in Sevier County, Tennessee.
The Parton children, in birth order, are Willadeene, David Wilburn, Coy Denver, Dolly Rebecca, Bobby Lee, Stella Mae, Cassie Nan, Randel Huston ‘Randy,’ Larry Gerald, twins Estel Floyd and Freida Estelle, and Rachel Ann, per Dolly’s website.
The family has not released further details about David’s passing.
The somber news was shared by their sister Stella Parton in a heartfelt social media post early Friday morning, November 15
Fans quickly flooded the comments section with condolences and words of support for the Parton family.
‘So sorry for your loss, and how lucky he was to have two amazing sisters,’ wrote one follower.
Another shared, ‘May his soul rest in peace and may his memory be with you forever.’
David Parton led a private life, steering clear of the fame that defined much of his family’s legacy in entertainment.
He ‘retired from Simpson Construction as a bridge builder superintendent; and worked on many of the bridges in the Kingsport, Johnson City, and Knoxville areas,’ according to his obituary.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Kay Parton.
His passing marks the fourth loss of a brother in the Parton family.
The youngest sibling, Larry, died shortly after birth in 1955, while Floyd, a songwriter, passed in 2018 at 61, and Randy, a performer, died of cancer in 2021 at 67.
Fans quickly flooded the comments section with condolences and words of support for the Parton family
Dolly Parton (center) and parents in 1987
Dolly Parton and sister Stella Parton arrive at the premiere of Warner Bros. Television’s “Dolly Parton’s Coat Of Many Colors” at the Egyptian Theatre on December 2, 2015
At the time, Dolly took to social media to mourn Randy.
‘The family and I are grieving his loss but we know he is in a better place than we are at this time,’ she said.
‘We are a family of faith and we believe that he is safe with God and that he is joined by members of the family that have gone on before and have welcomed him with joy and open arms.’
She went on to talk about his talents, calling Randy ‘a great singer, writer, and entertainer’ who ‘sang, played guitar and bass in [Dolly’s] band for many years.’
‘He headed his own show at Dollywood since it opened in 1986. He’s had several chart records of his own, but his duet with me on Old Flames Can’t Hold A Candle To You will always be a highlight in my own career.’
The Parton siblings grew up in humble beginnings, raised by their parents, Avie Lee and Robert Lee, in the heart of the Smoky Mountains.
Their father was a tobacco farmer, and the family lived in a modest one-room cabin in Locust Ridge, a site that has since been transformed into a museum honoring their legacy.
Dolly began performing at the age of ten and set her sights on a music career in Nashville.
In 1964, after graduating high school, she made the move to Music City, determined to turn her dreams into reality.
Creativity runs deep in the Parton family, with several of Dolly’s siblings pursuing their own artistic paths.
Willadeene became an accomplished author, penning books that delve into the history of the Smoky Mountains and sharing family recipes in a popular cookbook.
Cassie, Stella, and Freida all found their footing in music, though Freida took a different path by embracing punk rock rather than country.
Her twin brother, Floyd, also displayed remarkable talent, co-writing Dolly’s hit Rockin’ Years.
Rachel Dennison, now 61, ventured into acting, starring in the sitcom 9 to 5, which aired from 1982 to 1988 and was inspired by Dolly’s hit 1980 film of the same name.
Meanwhile, Robert Lee Jr., David, and Coy Denver opted for lives outside the public eye.
The siblings lost their father, Robert Lee Parton, in 2000, and their mother, Avie Lee Parton, in 2003.