Dolly Parton has revealed that she neglected her own health while caring for her husband, Carl Thomas Dean, in the years before his death last year.
The country music legend, 80, has spoken candidly about ongoing health concerns after being forced to withdraw from a planned appearance at Dollywood earlier this month, the Mirror reports.
Parton on her health struggles
Reflecting on her condition in a new interview, Parton said: “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.”
The beloved singer, who was married to Dean for almost 60 years until his death in March 2025, aged 82, added to People: “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 healing, I’m still working.”
Dean's death and privacy
Dean's cause of death was withheld from the public, in keeping with his family's wish for privacy following his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2019.
Earlier this month, Dolly missed the opening night of a new attraction at her Tennessee theme park after experiencing dizziness and dehydration, with doctors advising her against travel.
Virtual appearance and fan concerns
“I’m still in Nashville, and I’m sorry about that”, she later told fans when appearing virtually, dressed in fairy wings and a pink rhinestone jumpsuit, at the event. “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.
“And I’m dehydrated. And so my Nashville doctor clipped my wings, saying you ain’t travelling this week. So I guess if your doctor tells you you ain’t travelling this week, you ain’t travelling this week.”
Her comments follow several postponed or cancelled appearances which led fans to raise concerns for her health and eventually, in October of last year, she posted a video to social media joking that she “ain’t dead yet.”
Parton's last public appearance was in June when she opened her Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop by proudly cutting the unique roadside destination's pink ribbon.
