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Louisiana girl, 8, dies from rare ‘brain-eating’ amoeba found in warm freshwater

 For Lillian Smart, a little girl remembered for her bright smile and joyful spirit, a simple day in the water ended in an unimaginable tragedy. The 8-year-old Louisiana girl died over the weekend after developing an extremely rare infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba.” Health officials believe Lillian was likely exposed while swimming in Lake Claiborne in north Louisiana. Her parents, Daniel and Rebecca Smart, shared the heartbreaking news in a Facebook post Sunday. “Last night Lillian ran from our arms to the arms of Jesus,” they wrote. “The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from. Everyone did everything they could to keep her here.” They added: “We are heartbroken and honestly do not know what to do next…” Lillian had been hospitalized since August 15 after becoming infected with Naegleria fowleri, according to reports. Despite doctors’ efforts to save her, the infection caused devastating damage to ...
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Dolly Parton’s funeral plans revealed following her death at 80


 
Dolly Parton’s family has revealed what will happen following the legendary singer’s death at age 80 — and the plans are exactly what the country icon wanted.

According to a statement shared by her family on Instagram, Parton will be honored in a small, private ceremony attended only by immediate family.

”At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family.”

Rather than holding a large public funeral, her loved ones are encouraging the millions of people who admired Parton around the world to honor her in their own way.

“Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message.”

Her family is also asking fans to consider making donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the beloved charity that provides free books to children.



Dolly Parton 1977 during Dolly Parton File Photos in London, California. (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage)

The heartbreaking announcement began by describing Parton as a global icon and humanitarian whose career stretched across music, songwriting, acting, philanthropy, theater and literature.

The family said she “died peacefully” in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 80.

Paying tribute to the extraordinary life she lived, they wrote:

“A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family.”

“Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”

Nephew announced the heartbreaking news

It was Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver was the family member who announced her passing in an emotional video shared through her Instagram account.

He acknowledged how difficult the moment was, despite knowing it would eventually come.

“I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t really felt it until now,” he said.

“It is an honor, an honor that is mixes with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly.”

His words reflected the extraordinary impact Parton had not only on her fans but on the people closest to her.



Dolly Parton attends We Are Family Foundation honors Dolly Parton & Jean Paul Gaultier at Hammerstein Ballroom on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)

He spoke about how she had helped open opportunities for her own family while simultaneously inspiring countless people around the world.

“Dolly opened doors not just for me but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn’t even know was possible,” he said.

“Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and dreamers from every walk of life, and across every continent.

“By her example we believed that anything was possible. She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history.”

Dolly Parton cause of death

The news comes just days after Parton gave what would become her final interview with People.

During that conversation, the country superstar opened up about putting her own health concerns aside while caring for her husband, Carl Dean, before his death.

“I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” she said.

Despite those struggles, Parton insisted that she wasn’t ready to stop working.

“I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI! Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’.”

Later, a spokesperson for Dolly Parton’s estate confirmed the cause of the country legend’s death to The New York Times.



Singer-songwriter Dolly Parton attends the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 3, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

In a statement also shared with People, a representative for Parton revealed that the 80-year-old icon had been battling cancer before her death.

“After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.”

The representative did not disclose what type of cancer Parton had been diagnosed with.

Earlier, TMZ reported that the legendary singer had been hospitalized on Friday while dealing with kidney and autoimmune-related health issues.

Empire State Building lights up in ‘pink sparkle’

Following the heartbreaking news of country queen Dolly Parton’s death, tributes have poured in from around the world. But one of the most striking tributes came from the heart of Manhattan.

Shortly after news of her passing broke, the Empire State Building’s official Instagram account announced that the iconic skyscraper would be lit up in a pink glow to honor Parton.

The building was set to shine in “pink sparkle” at 9:25 p.m. Tuesday night.

“Dolly was a global cultural icon whose seven-decade career reached generations of fans,” the message read.

“Beyond entertainment, Dolly leaves a significant philanthropic legacy through the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, which has provided hundreds of millions of books to children worldwide.”

The post then included a touching nod to one of Parton’s most beloved songs and films:

“At Nine-Two-Five tonight, we celebrate Dolly and her legacy 🩷”



Empire State Building sparkles in pink in honor of Dolly Parton’s life and legacy on August 25, 2026 in New York, New York. Parton passed away at the age of 80 on August 25, 2026 (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

The time was no coincidence. 9:25 was a clear reference to Parton’s iconic hit “9 to 5,” the song and 1980 workplace comedy in which she starred.

When the clock struck 9:25 p.m., the famous New York landmark lit up in pink, creating a breathtaking tribute to the country music legend.

The Empire State Building later shared a photo of the emotional moment on its Instagram Stories — a tribute to Dolly Parton that lit up the Manhattan skyline.

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