Just days before her death, Dolly Parton revealed that she had set aside her own health concerns while devotedly caring for her husband, Carl Thomas Dean.
The beloved country music legend, who died aged 80, lost Dean in March 2025 after an unspecified illness. The couple had shared nearly 60 years of marriage.
In recent months, Parton had been candid about a series of health challenges which led her to cancel and postpone various public engagements, including a planned residency in Las Vegas. Shortly before her passing, she explained that many of her own health issues had gone unaddressed as she focused on tending to her husband, according to The Mirror.
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After withdrawing from an appearance at her Dollywood theme park, Parton shared: “I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl. It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health. But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago.”
Known affectionately as the singer of “Jolene,” Parton also lightheartedly addressed speculation about her health, saying she had transitioned from being the “Queen of the Tabloids” to the “Queen of Social Media AI.”
Speaking to People magazine, she added: “Seriously, though, even though I’m still healing, I’m still working.”
Her husband had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019, though the cause of his death was not disclosed. Earlier in the month, Parton caused concern by missing the launch of a new attraction at her Tennessee theme park due to dizziness and dehydration.
She appeared virtually for the unveiling of the NightFlight Expedition attraction and explained that doctors had advised her against travelling.
“I’m still in Nashville, and I’m sorry about that,” she told fans. “I’m supposed to be there in person, like we planned.”
“Now I’ve told you before, all my fans, that I have had a few little health issues. And sometimes I get a little dizzy, and I get dehydrated.”
Wearing fairy wings and a pink rhinestone jumpsuit, Parton added: “And I’m dehydrated. And so my Nashville doctor clipped my wings, saying you ain’t travelling this week.”
She continued with characteristic humour: “So I guess if your doctor tells you you ain’t travelling this week, you ain’t travelling this week.”
Amid growing concern, the star had frequently sought to reassure fans. In October, she addressed persistent rumours in a social media video, joking that she “ain’t dead yet.”
She told followers: “There are just a lot of rumours flying around. But I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was OK.”
Parton was compelled to cancel her planned Las Vegas residency due to her health, explaining that although she was responding well to medication and treatments, she needed more time before returning to the stage.
“The good news is I’m responding really well to meds and treatments and I’m improving every day,” she said. “I’m doing really well, and they assure me that everything I have is treatable, so I’m going with that.”
Originally scheduled to perform six shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, these dates were first postponed and eventually cancelled as her health concerns persisted.
Despite her personal health struggles, Parton continued working and making appearances, with her final public event in June when she opened Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop, proudly cutting the pink ribbon at the roadside attraction.
She also faced further personal grief in July with the passing of her brother Coy “Denver” Parton, aged 82. His death was another profound loss for the Parton family, following the earlier deaths of her brothers Larry, David, Randy, and Floyd.
The passing of Dolly Parton has prompted tributes worldwide, marking the end of an extraordinary life and career of one of music’s most cherished and enduring stars.