Country music legend Dolly Parton died on August 25 at the age of 80. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, confirmed her passing in a social media post.
In the days leading up to her death, Parton had canceled a Dollywood event and shared her final health update in an interview with People magazine, published August 22. She admitted to dealing with "some health issues" that she had "just didn’t pay attention to" while caring for her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at age 82.
Parton's decades-long career was marked by both her prolific artistry and her candidness about personal health challenges.
Health Battles Through the Years
In the early 1980s, Parton experienced severe abdominal pain and hemorrhaging, leading to hospitalizations and procedures. In 1982, her condition forced her to cancel a tour and resulted in a diagnosis of endometriosis, a chronic condition affecting an estimated 1 in 10 women, characterized by tissue growth outside the uterus that can cause intense pelvic pain and fertility issues.
To address these gynecological problems, she underwent a partial hysterectomy in 1985 at age 36. This surgery meant she could no longer carry children, a subject she discussed openly.
Depression and Mental Health
During the mid-1980s, Parton spoke about a significant period of depression. In a 1985 interview, she described experiencing a rough few years where her mental and physical health deteriorated due to poor self-care, stress, and unaddressed personal issues. She reflected in a 2004 interview that "money ain’t everything" and that mental health struggles affect everyone, including those in show business.
Parton recounted a period of deep depression lasting about 18 months to two years, during which she felt overwhelmed by weight issues and other concerns. She stated that people in show business face the same problems as everyone else, and fame or wealth does not alter these fundamental human experiences.
Physical Ailments
In 2008, the North American leg of her "Backwoods Barbie" tour was postponed due to a back problem that required six to eight weeks of rest. Parton initially attributed the pain to her large chest but later clarified that she had injured her lower back by popping a disk while bending to pick something up.
In September 2025, Parton stepped back from public life due to kidney stones and an infection, which required her to rest. She had previously revealed in 2015 that kidney stones were removed, which led to speculation about stomach cancer, which she denied.
Following the kidney stone infection diagnosis, she postponed her Las Vegas residency due to "health challenges" and "a few procedures." By May 2026, the shows were canceled altogether as she needed more time to recover and reach "stage performance level." Parton assured her fans that her conditions were treatable and she was improving.
Just five days before her death, Parton was reportedly hospitalized with "kidney and autoimmune issues" at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, according to TMZ. Earlier in August, she had canceled a planned appearance at her Dollywood theme park on doctor's orders due to ongoing "health issues," including dizziness and dehydration, which led her doctor to restrict her travel for the week.