Dolly Parton has died aged 80, just over a year since the death of her husband Carl Thomas Dean. The legendary performer was hospitalised just four days before her death.
People reports the music icon was admitted to hospital on Friday, August 21. The country icon, who lived outside Nashville, Tennessee, died just four days later, on Tuesday, August 25, her nephew Bryan Seaver announced in an Instagram video. It is unclear why Parton was hospitalised and no cause of death has been given.
Health issues before death
The country music icon spoke out days before her death about her ongoing health problems after she was forced to pull out of a Dollywood appearance earlier this month. In the aftermath of the cancelled appearance, she issued an update on her health in a new interview, sharing: “I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl.
“It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health. But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago.”
Recent cancellations
Parton's late husband had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019, and sadly died in 2025. Earlier this month, she missed the opening night of a new attraction at her Tennessee theme park after experiencing dizziness and dehydration, with doctors advising her against travel.
She told fans: “I’m still in Nashville, and I’m sorry about that. I’m supposed to be there in person, like we planned. Now I’ve told you before, all my fans, that I have had a few little health issues. And sometimes I get a little dizzy, and I get dehydrated.”
Dressed in fairy wings and a pink rhinestone jumpsuit, she said: “And I’m dehydrated. And so my Nashville doctor clipped my wings, saying you ain’t traveling this week. So I guess if your doctor tells you ain’t traveling this week, you ain’t traveling this week,” she continued, explaining that she likes keeping her fans “in the loop” as she promised she would “on everything.”
It comes after the singer was forced to postpone or cancel appearances in recent months. In May, she was forced to cancel a Las Vegas residency due to ill health. She was originally due to perform six shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in December, but was forced to postpone them due to undisclosed health issues.
Parton famously declared “I ain't dead yet!” in an October 2025 video to reassure fans after internet rumours about her health emerged after her sister Freida asked for public prayers on Facebook. Heartbreaking tributes have poured in for the singer since the news of her death was announced.
