Randy Parton, a singer-songwriter and the younger brother to country legend Dolly Parton, died after his battle with cancer. He was 67.
Dolly made an official statement on her website and social media. “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 place than we are at this time,” she 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.”
She recalled his recurring headlining show at her Tennessee-based amusement park Dollywood since its opening in 1986 and how their duet “Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You” “will always be a highlight in my own career,” while their joint carol “You Are My Christmas” from her latest holiday album A Holly Dolly Christmas “will always be my favorite.” She noted the latter track, which also has vocals from Randy’s daughter Heidi, was his last musical recording. The country icon concluded, “He’s shining in heaven now.”
“You Are My Christmas” rang in at No. 21 on Billboard’s Holiday Digital Song Sales chart (dated Oct. 17, 2020). Randy also had five hits to his name on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart: “Hold Me Like You Never Had Me” (No. 30, 1981), “Shot Full of Love” (No. 30, 1981), “Don’t Cry Baby” (No. 80, 1981), “Oh, No” (No. 76, 1982), and “A Stranger In Her Bed” (No. 92, 1983).
Dolly directed fans who wished to pay their respects to make a donation to the Imagination Library in honor of their father Robert Lee Parton.
Randy is survived by his wife Deb, his daughter Heidi, son Sabyn and grandsons Huston and Trent.
Read Dolly’s full statement on her brother’s passing here.
