Country icon Dolly Parton dies at 79 after brief cancer battle

Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 79, her team confirmed Tuesday. She passed away at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee, after a "brief battle with cancer," according to a statement released to People magazine.

The statement did not specify the type of cancer Parton had, but confirmed she had been admitted to the specialized medical center on Friday, August 21. The singer had also been hospitalized for kidney and autoimmune issues, according to TMZ. On the same day of her passing, Parton had acknowledged to People that she was facing difficult health moments but insisted she still had much to accomplish.

"I'm dealing with some health issues that I haven't paid much attention to while taking care of Carl," Parton told People, referring to her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, who died in March 2025 at age 82. The artist had previously hinted at her delicate condition in September 2025, when she postponed a series of concerts scheduled for December in Las Vegas. Those shows were eventually canceled months later.

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After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly Parton has passed away from this earthly life today at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, surrounded by her loved ones.

This situation also coincided with her absence from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Governors Awards ceremony, where she was honored with an honorary Oscar. She accepted the award via a pre-recorded video message. Parton's nephew, Bryan Seaver, was the first to confirm her death through a video posted on the singer's Instagram account. Seaver, the son of Cassie Parton and the singer's head of security, spoke on behalf of his family as per Parton's request.

Dolly Parton is widely regarded as one of the most significant figures in country music history. She amassed 11 Grammy Awards and, in addition to her film work, was also a notable philanthropist and businesswoman.

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I'm dealing with some health issues that I haven't paid much attention to while taking care of Carl.