Dolly Parton's Brother Coy "Denver" Parton Dies at 82, the Fifth of Her Siblings Lost in Recent Years
Coy "Denver" Parton, Dolly Parton's older brother, died Thursday at age 82, according to an obituary shared by Atchley Funeral Home in Sevierville, Tennessee. A cause of death was not disclosed.
Denver was the third of 12 children born to Lee Parton and Avie Lee Owens Parton in Sevier County, the same large Smoky Mountains family Dolly Parton has drawn on throughout her music and public storytelling. According to the obituary, he spent years working as a crane operator building bridges and was also a homestead farmer and avid hunter, living largely outside the public spotlight his younger sister has occupied for six decades.
Denver is survived by daughters Chris and Jennifer Parton, grandson Ian Parton and fiancée Taylor York, brother Bobby Parton, and sisters Willadeene Buzzeo, Dolly Parton, Stella Parton, Cassie Griffith, Freida Parton, Rachel George and Laura Price, along with a wider circle of nieces, nephews and cousins. A private service is planned for a later date, and the family has asked that condolences be shared through the funeral home rather than directly.
Sister Stella Parton, also a musician, gave the only public family statement so far, telling People: "My brother Denver was a deeply private person. I appreciate the kind messages and expressions of condolences on behalf of my nieces Chris and Jennifer, and the rest of my family." Dolly Parton had not issued a public statement as of Monday.
Denver's death marks the fifth loss among Dolly Parton's siblings in recent years: brother Floyd Parton, who co-wrote her song "Rockin' Years," died in 2018; brother Randy Parton, a singer and longtime member of her band, died in 2021; brother David Parton died in 2024; and her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, died in March 2025. Following Randy's death, Dolly Parton wrote in a statement: "The family and I are grieving his loss but we know he is in a better place than we are at this time. We are a family of faith and we believe that he is safe with God." Whether she issues a similar statement for Denver remains to be seen.
The news arrives as Dolly Parton continues preparing for "DOLLY: A True Original Musical," a Broadway production based on her life scheduled to begin previews Dec. 7.
