Dolly Parton experienced profound sadness and retreated from public view in the year following the death of her husband, Carl Dean, a family friend revealed. Nikki Lund, who has connections to Parton through her manager, shared that the singer "wasn't doing well" and believed she suffered from a "broken heart."
Lund stated that Parton had endured "a lot of loss in a short amount of time," referencing the March 2025 death of Dean and the more recent loss of her brother. "Normally, she works all the time because she loves it. She’s just a busy bee. She’s always busy. And for the last year, she took a step back from the public eye and wanted to spend more time at home. She wasn’t around anyone as much for the last year," Lund told Page Six.
Parton's representatives confirmed her death at age 80, stating she passed away after a "brief battle" with cancer. "Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched," her reps said in a statement. "Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand."
They added, "Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones."
Parton had previously spoken about how Dean's death impacted her. Just days before her own passing, Parton told People she had been "dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl."
Dean, who, along with Parton, operated an asphalt road-paving business in Nashville, was born in 1942. The couple met in 1964 outside a laundromat when Parton was 18. Dean passed away in March 2025 at the age of 82, after nearly 60 years of marriage. "Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy," Parton shared at the time of his death.
In July 2025, Parton indicated she was taking a brief hiatus from music, stating she could not "afford the luxury" of "getting emotional."
Parton's nephew and longtime head of security, Bryan Seaver, announced her death on Tuesday via an Instagram video on behalf of the Parton and Owens families. She was 80 years old. "It is an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly," Seaver said.
The Grammy winner is set to be laid to rest beside her husband. Photos obtained by Page Six show that the couple will be entombed at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville. The country music icon’s name is already inscribed on the bronze frontispiece of the tomb, which features a mountain scene from their native Tennessee.