Newly surfaced emails are shedding light on an explosive family dispute involving Dolly Parton’s nephew just days before the legendary singer’s death.
The emails were sent by her nephew, Cole Parton, on Aug. 21, just four days before Dolly Parton died at age 79.
Cole sent a series of profanity-filled messages to people connected to the singer and her family. The messages reportedly centered on a dispute involving Dolly’s husband, Carl Dean, and other members of the family.
In one email, Cole allegedly accused family members of treating him unfairly and expressed intense anger over the situation. The messages reportedly became increasingly heated, with Cole using multiple expletives as he criticized those involved.
The emails surfaced as questions surrounding Dolly’s final days continued to draw attention. Parton died on Aug. 25 at her home, with her family announcing that she had died peacefully after a battle with illness. Her death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow musicians around the world.
Dolly Parton was one of the most celebrated figures in country music, known for hits including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” She was also widely recognized for her philanthropy and the Imagination Library literacy program.
The newly reported emails do not indicate that Dolly was directly involved in the dispute described in the messages, but their timing, just days before her death, has brought renewed attention to the family conflict.