Country music legend Dolly Parton appeared healthy and in good spirits during her last in-person public event on June 24, just two months before her death at age 80. Parton attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop near Cornersville, Tennessee.
Attendees described Parton as upbeat and her "usual funny self." Stacey Best, a concert reviewer present at the event, told Page Six that Parton "seemed very happy" and "not in pain at all." Best also noted Parton's distinctive style, remarking, "She was in her typical gorgeous perfectly curated outfit and super high heels."
Another guest, Amanda Bell, Miss Grand Tennessee 2026, said Parton "surprised everyone" by appearing unannounced. Bell observed that while Parton "didn't move particularly fast," she was wearing her signature stilettos. She echoed Best's sentiment, stating the singer "seemed her trademark happy, spunky self, cracking jokes during her few minutes of speaking."
Brooks Ramsey of Smoky Mountain Faith, Food and Fun also recalled Parton seeming "fine" with her "same kind of energy" at the event. He mentioned that Parton's handlers appeared careful with her, as she had been experiencing unspecified health issues for approximately three years.
During her brief remarks at the ceremony, Parton welcomed attendees and expressed excitement about the new travel stop. She playfully referenced competing convenience stores, saying, "I couldn’t leave it to beavers. I had to throw my spurs in there myself!" She added that the business aimed to provide "everything you’ll want or need."
Parton also appeared virtually on August 19 to accept the Academy of Country Music Poet's Award at the ACM Honors. In her video message, she spoke about songwriting being her "therapy," "release," and "joy," calling it a "gift from God."
While a cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, reports indicate Parton was hospitalized at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on August 21 for "kidney and autoimmune issues." She had previously canceled an appearance at her Dollywood amusement park on August 14 due to "a few little health issues," explaining in a video message that she sometimes felt "dizzy" and "dehydrated" and that her doctors advised against traveling that week.
Parton's husband, Carl Dean, died in March 2025. Following his death, Parton announced she would be putting her music projects on hold, stating she "couldn’t afford the luxury getting emotional."