Dolly Parton has been hit with another major family loss.
The Queen of Country’s older brother, Coy “Denver” Parton, passed away on Thursday, July 23, according to an obituary shared by Atchley Funeral Home in Sevierville on Monday.
At age 82, Coy — who went by Denver — was the third oldest of 12 children born to Robert Lee Parton and Avie Lee Owens Parton. Unlike most of his siblings, he remained largely out of the spotlight. His obituary notes that he worked as a crane operator, and he enjoyed homestead farming and hunting.
He is survived by his daughters, Chris and Jennifer Parton, and one grandson.
Denver’s death marks the third Parton-Owens child to have passed away in recent years. Dolly’s younger brother, Larry, passed away in 1955 just days after his birth. Meanwhile, the second-oldest child, David, passed away in 2024 at age 82.
The surviving Parton-Owens children include, from oldest to youngest, Wiladeene (born 1940), Dolly (born 1946), Robert Jr. (born 1948), Stella (born 1949), Cassie (born 1951), Randy (born 1953), twins Floyd and Freida (born 1957), and Rachel (born 1959).
The family grew up near the Smoky Mountains in Sevierville, Tennessee, and grew up in poverty. Their upbringing was detailed in the 2015 movie Coat of Many Colors.
In addition to the loss of her parents and three brothers, Dolly was also hit with the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, in March 2025.
The Jolenehitmaker is yet to publicly comment on Denver’s death.
2026-07-28 17:05:00
