Dolly Parton’s brother Randy dead at 67: ‘He will always be in our hearts’

Randy Parton, a musician and youngest brother of country singer Dolly Parton, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 67.

Dolly announced the news of her brother’s death on her Facebook page on Thursday.

“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. 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 wrote.

She continued: “Randy was a great singer, writer, and entertainer. He sang, played guitar and bass in my band for many years. He headed his own show at Dollywood since it opened in 1986. He’s had several chart records of his own, but his duet with me on ‘Old Flames Can’t Hold A Candle To You’ will always be a highlight in my own career.

“‘You Are My Christmas,’ our duet on my latest Christmas album, joined with his daughter Heidi, will always be a favorite. It was his last musical recording and he shined on it just like he’s shining in heaven now.”

Parton noted that Randy is survived by her, his wife Deb, his daughter Heidi, son Sabyn as well as grandsons Trent and Huston.

“We will always love him and he will always be in our hearts,” the statement concludes.