Dolly Parton died four days after saying she hadn't cared for her health while caring for her husband

Dolly Parton, the iconic American country music star, passed away at the age of 80 in Nashville, Tennessee. Her death followed a short illness after being diagnosed with cancer, according to her team.

In a poignant revelation just four days before her passing, Parton shared with People magazine that she had not prioritized her own health during the past year. She explained that her focus had been entirely on caring for her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2023 at the age of 82. "Problems that I didn't take care of properly while taking care of Carl," she stated, referring to her health issues.

Parton had been candid about her health struggles, which began to escalate last year. She postponed a Las Vegas performance in September 2025 due to "health issues," later revealing she was recovering from a kidney stone infection. She also missed Dollywood events during this time.

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Problems that I didn't take care of properly while taking care of Carl.

Despite these challenges, Parton continued to engage with her career and fans. She had been working on new projects, including developing avatar performances, and expressed a desire to continue working for as long as possible. However, she acknowledged that extensive touring was no longer feasible, preferring to focus on special performances.

Her team confirmed that Parton had been experiencing kidney and autoimmune-related health problems and was hospitalized shortly before her death. While her team stated she had cancer, the specific type and diagnosis date were not disclosed. Parton's final public statements underscored her enduring spirit and dedication to her craft, even amidst significant personal health battles.

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I still have a lot of things I want to do. I want to keep working for as long as I can and see it all happen.