Dolly Parton's niece shares rare family photos to celebrate icon's 'beautiful life' after her death

Rebecca Seaver, 39, the niece of Dolly Parton, shared a touching tribute after her aunt passed away on Tuesday, August 25, aged 80, after a brief battle with cancer. Seaver, the daughter of Parton’s sister Cassie, shared a carousel of throwback photos, including her childhood pictures with Parton. In her lengthy emotional note, she wrote: "Today, the grief we feel is insurmountable because of the enormous amount of love we all have for Dolly Rebecca Parton."

Dolly Parton was married to Carl Thomas Dean for 59 years, but the couple never had children of their own. That never kept her from being a beloved and deeply important presence in the lives of her nieces and nephews.

In another photo, Seaver shared a sweet moment of Parton holding a baby on her lap while surrounded by children. She wrote, "She has always been the light, not just for those directly in her orbit but for the entire world. We all wanted to be better versions of ourselves for her sake, and I hope we all continue to do just that."

In another post, Parton is seen carrying a baby on her lap and surrounded by other children, seemingly some of her nieces and nephews, dressed in boho clothes as she smiles for the camera alongside them. Sharing the image, Seaver continued her note, "Today, I embark on a new journey: a life without my most trusted confidant. My best friend, my favorite adventurer, my name-giver, my godmother, my precious Aunt Granny."

In another photo, Parton is seen in a black jacket, black pants and red boots, standing beside a child with her signature joyful smile. Full of energy and warmth, she appears genuinely happy while riding a carriage at the Dollywood Theme Park in 1993. Sharing the image in her slideshow, Seaver continued her tribute, "I know she has been welcomed into the mystic by Carl and my Mamaw Avie Lee. She is now on her most important celestial journey with God, and I know she is at peace."

One of the old photos from the carousel showed Parton hugging her niece Rebecca and nephew Bryan. Rebecca went on to become the founder of the official Dolly Parton archive and serve as the executive director of Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum. Meanwhile, Bryan served as his aunt's head of security for nearly two decades.

Another photo in the slideshow showed Parton holding Rebecca in a side hug. The 39-year-old continued her tribute, saying, "I am so grateful to have experienced the magic of her presence in my life and in all of yours. It is my absolute honor to pay tribute to her today, and always, by telling her beautiful story. Her legacy is the joy she brought and will continue to bring to all of us."

Seaver also shared in her lengthy note how blessed she felt to have Parton in her life. "I am so grateful to have experienced the magic of her presence in my life and in all of yours. It is my absolute honor to pay tribute to her today, and always, by telling her beautiful story. Her legacy is the joy she brought and will continue to bring to all of us."

In another image shared by Parton's niece, the country icon is seen posing for a photo with Rebecca's son, Leroy Brown, wearing a pink jumpsuit and keeping her hair in her signature style. The teenager, who began playing the piano at 4 years of age, reportedly wrote the song 'Being Me' with his Great-Aunt Dolly for Smoky Mountain DNA.

In another candid photo, Parton is seen wearing fairy wings, likely captured backstage during one of her concerts. She is seen smiling, looking effortlessly happy and full of joy. In her concluding note, Seaver wrote, "While we mourn this incredible loss, I want us all to remember that joy and grief exist together. This is a celebration of a beautiful life, lived unapologetically and with the most incredible heart."

On the final slide of the 10 rare family photos, Parton's niece shared a touching picture of herself hugging her aunt. Alongside the emotional image, Rebecca Seaver wrote, "She never left a rhinestone or a dream unturned, and I am so proud to carry those shining dreams forward. She will forever be shining down on us and flying with butterflies. I will miss you and love you endlessly. Your niece, Rebecca Ann Keikilani Seaver"