Dolly Parton’s brother David Wilburn dies as sister pays emotional tribute

DOLLY Parton’s member David Wilburn Parton has died.

The bittersweet quality was announced by Dolly’s sister Stella, arsenic she posted a connection to accidental helium was “now astatine peace.”

She wrote connected X: “My member David passed distant peacefully this morning. It’s ne'er casual to accidental goodbye to a loved one, but helium got his angel wings and is present astatine peace."

Born successful Sevier County, Tennessee, David was 1 of 12 children calved to Robert and Avie Lee Parton.

Fans were near heartbroken by the news, arsenic 1 idiosyncratic penned: “Stella. I’m truthful atrocious for your loss. Condolences. Sending prayers to you and your household and loved ones!" 

Someone other wrote: “Holding you and each your household successful the light. I precocious mislaid my oldest sister and she excessively passed peacefully and I was truthful grateful; she lived agelong and afloat life."

Dolly and her household grew up adjacent the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee's Sevier County, and had adjacent to thing backmost then.

In bid of birth, the six boys and six girls were named Willadeene, David Wilburn, Coy Denver, Dolly Rebecca, Bobby Lee, Stella Mae, Cassie Nan, Randel Huston “Randy”, Larry Gerald, twins Floyd Estel and Freida Estelle, and youngest Rachel Ann.

Oldest member David was calved connected March 30, 1942, portion Coy was calved a twelvemonth aboriginal connected August 16, 1943.

None of them pursued a vocation successful showbiz, truthful precise small is known astir them, but Dolly erstwhile referred to 1 of her brothers arsenic a carpenter.

Stella, who announced the quality of David’s death, is simply a vocalist who was calved connected May 4, 1949.

She is younger than her sister Dolly by 3 years and sixth-born successful the family.

Her biggest deed is I Want To Hold You In My Dreams, which was released successful 1975.

Other apical 20 state euphony hits see The Danger of a Stranger, Standard Lie Number One, and Four Little Letters.