Dolly Parton, the legendary country music star, died on Tuesday at the age of 80. In her final interview with People, conducted just four days before her passing, Parton expressed optimism about her career and reflected on her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean.
Parton's nephew, Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security, confirmed her death. The singer had openly discussed managing health issues, noting that she had previously not paid them much attention while caring for her husband.
"It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health," Parton said in the interview. "But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago."
She also touched on the impact of social media, humorously referring to herself as the "Queen of Social Media AI." Despite ongoing health recovery, Parton affirmed her commitment to her work. "You know me — as I’ve often said — I’ve dreamed myself into a corner and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life."
Parton was known for her iconic hits, including "Jolene," "9 to 5," and "I Will Always Love You."