Country music icon Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her family announced in a video posted to her X account. Her nephew Bryan Seaver, who served as her head of security for over two decades, delivered the news with a mix of pride and sorrow, noting that Parton 'has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.'

Seaver recalled how Parton opened doors for her family and countless others, saying, 'She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history.' He also shared Parton's final wish: to rest in a bed of plush cotton, 'because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.'

Tributes flooded in from across the globe. Patti LaBelle called her 'deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend who was loved by all,' adding that Parton's 'light will forever shine!' Kelly Clarkson, Colman Domingo, Kristen Chenoweth, Jamie Lee Curtis, Paris Hilton, and Meghan McCain were among the many famous names honoring the singer. McCain called her 'an absolute American icon and legend' who 'had the ability to unite and truly bring everyone together.'

Parton's Broadway musical, 'Dolly: A True Original Musical,' will proceed as planned, beginning previews at New York's St James Theatre on 7 December and opening on 19 January, what would have been her 81st birthday. Producers confirmed it was Parton's wish, and she had promised it would be 'true in every sense of the word.' The show premiered to a sold-out run in Nashville last summer.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which has sent hundreds of millions of books to children worldwide. The Empire State Building will honor her tonight at 9.25pm ET with a pink sparkle light display, a nod to her iconic song '9 to 5.'

As we say goodbye, let's remember her wit: 'Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.' And, of course, 'If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.' Rest in peace, Dolly. We will always love you.