Country music legend Dolly Parton has died aged 80, her nephew Brian Seaver announced on her official Instagram account on Tuesday. Tributes have poured in for the beloved singer-songwriter, whose career spanned more than six decades.
Final public words on health struggles
Just days before her death, Parton spoke to People magazine on Friday, August 21, sharing an update on her health and acknowledging her recent decline following the March 2025 death of her husband, Carl Dean.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Reflection on social media and future plans
She added: “But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago. I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI! Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’! 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's death marks the end of an era for country music, with fans and fellow artists mourning the loss of one of the genre's most iconic figures. Her legacy includes numerous hit songs, a successful acting career, and philanthropic work, particularly in literacy and childhood education.
