NEWSDolly Parton's Devastation: Country Legend Reveals Younger Brother's Death Just Two Days After Her Birthday
Country singer Randy Parton, who is Dolly Parton's younger brother, has died at age 67. The country queen confirmed the heartbreaking loss just two days after her 75th birthday.
The "9 to 5" crooner revealed that her brother "lost his battle with cancer" on Thursday, January 21, via a Facebook post.
"The family and I are grieving his loss but we know he is in a better place than we are at this time," the blonde beauty wrote. "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.
"We will always love him and he will always be in our hearts."
My brother Randy has lost his battle with cancer. The family and I are grieving his loss but we know he is in a better...
Posted by Dolly Parton on Thursday, January 21, 2021
Randy was born on December 15, 1953, in Sevierville, Tenn., and is the eighth of 12 children in his family. Randy is the second of his siblings to die from the musically gifted family. Dolly's other brother, Floyd Parton, died in December 2018 at age 61.
Randy began hosting shows at Dollywood, the East Tennessee theme park, in 1986. He was known for his live performances and was highly praised for the seasonal favorite "My People, My Music."
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Officials from Dollywood referred to the country crooner as the "creative leader" at the park. "He has left a lasting legacy at Dollywood with his talent, his creativity and his leadership," director of Dollywood entertainment Paige Bales shared in the statement. "We will all miss him but heaven has gained another star."
Randy recorded several tracks during the '70s and early '80s and was especially known for his chart-topping duet "Old Flames Can’t Hold A Candle To You" with Dolly — whom he frequently joined on stage to play bass and guitar in her band.
Dolly also wrote that her "You Are My Christmas" duet with Randy, which features his daughter, Heidi, "will always be a favorite."
The tune appeared on Dolly's latest Christmas album and rose to No. 21 on Billboard's Holiday Digital Song Sales chart. "It was his last musical recording and he shined on it just like he's shining in heaven now," Dolly shared in her statement.
Last year, the "Jolene" songstress revealed that she wrote the song for her brother. "He was born around Christmas time and he was our Christmas baby," Dolly previously told The Tennessean. "We always called him 'Christmas' just for fun. ... I just thought, well, I'm gonna write a song for him to sing with me."
Randy is survived by his wife, Deb Parton, two children and two grandchildren.
