November 16th 2024.
It is with heavy hearts that Dolly Parton and her family announce the passing of her brother, David Wilburn, at the age of 78. The news has left the Jolene hitmaker and her loved ones devastated.
David was the second eldest of 12 siblings, including Willadeene, Coy Denver, Dolly Rebecca, Bobby Lee, Stella Mae, Cassie Nan, Randel Huston 'Randy', Larry Gerald, twins Estel Floyd and Freida Estelle, and Rachel Ann. In a statement released by David's sister Stella, she confirmed his peaceful passing on Friday morning.
"It's never easy to say goodbye to a loved one, but we find comfort in knowing that David has received his angel wings and is now at peace," Stella wrote. The news was met with an outpouring of support from fans, sending their condolences to the Parton family.
David was born to Robert and Avie Lee Parton in Sevier County, Tennessee in 1942. He lived a private life, in contrast to the fame and glamour surrounding his famous siblings. According to his obituary, David worked as a bridge builder superintendent and was involved in building many bridges in the Kingsport, Johnson City, and Knoxville areas. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Kay Parton, and his daughters, Donna Parton and Dena Lane. David also leaves behind five grandsons and three great-grandchildren.
The Parton family would like to extend their gratitude to those who cared for David, including Dr. David McNabney and Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice. David's funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 19 at Leadvale Baptist Church. His passing marks the fourth death in the Parton family, following the death of youngest sibling Larry at birth in 1955, songwriter Floyd in 2018 at the age of 61, and performer Randy in 2021 at the age of 67 after battling cancer.
Dolly, who began performing at the age of 10 and has sold over 100 million records worldwide, paid tribute to her late brother Randy on social media, writing "The family and I are grieving his loss, but we know he is in a better place now." She described him as a "great singer, writer, and entertainer," who had been a part of her band for many years, and had a successful career in his own right with several chart records and a duet with Dolly on "Old Flames Can't Hold A Candle To You."
Dolly's father, Robert, and mother, Avie Lee, also passed away in 2000 and 2003, respectively. Dolly has often spoken about her love for her large family, despite growing up in poverty. She credits her father's work ethic and her mother's creativity and spirituality as her biggest sources of inspiration. Dolly shows no signs of slowing down, having released her 49th album, Rockstar, in 2023, which debuted at number three on the Billboard chart. She recently released Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables, which includes archive recordings with late family members and new tracks with younger relatives.
Dolly's sister Rachel Dennison also had a taste of stardom, starring in the sitcom 9 to 5 from 1982 to 1988. Speaking about her experience in her first and only acting role as secretary Doralee Rhodes, Rachel said, "I'm sure people will compare me to Dolly - it's only human nature." Dolly's other siblings also pursued careers in music, with sisters Cassie and Stella following in her footsteps, and sister Freida taking a different route in punk rock. Brothers Robert Lee Jr. and Coy Denver chose to lead quieter lives outside of showbusiness.
Dolly's latest album, Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables, serves as a reminder of her deep connection to her family, including her late brother David. She continues to share her talent with the world, and her fans eagerly await her next project. The Agency entertainment team can be contacted for any celebrity stories, videos or pictures at email, (020) 3615 2145, or through their Submit Stuff page.
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