Four days before her death, Dolly Parton was still talking about recovery, work, and the dreams she hoped to bring to life. The country music icon died Tuesday, August 25, at age 80. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced the news in an Instagram video, honoring a request Parton had made years earlier. A cause of death has not been disclosed.
What Did Dolly Parton Say About Her Health Before Her Death?
In a statement shared with People on Friday, August 21, Parton acknowledged that she was still managing health problems she had neglected while caring for her husband, Carl Dean.
Dean died in March 2025 at 82 after nearly six decades of marriage to Parton. The singer said focusing on his needs had caused her to overlook her own health. She also recalled spending several months away from work during the early 1980s because of gynecological concerns and weight-related struggles. Despite her latest setback, Parton remained characteristically determined.
Getty“Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’!” she said.
Nothing in the statement suggested that Parton believed her death was imminent.
Why Did Dolly Parton Cancel Her Las Vegas Residency?
Concern surrounding Parton’s condition intensified in September 2025 when she postponed a planned Las Vegas residency. The announcement followed her absence from a Dollywood event while recovering from a kidney stone infection.
Parton officially canceled the residency in May 2026, explaining that she could not yet perform at the standard she expected of herself.
“I’m responding really well to meds and treatments, and I’m improving every day,” she said in an Instagram update.
She explained that some treatments left her feeling lightheaded and that rebuilding her strength would take time. Although she no longer planned to tour extensively, she hoped to return for occasional performances.
What Health Problems Had Dolly Parton Discussed?
Parton had spoken publicly about recurring kidney stones, along with problems affecting her immune and digestive systems. She said her doctors were working to strengthen both systems and had assured her that the conditions they were treating were manageable.
She never identified one diagnosis as the cause of her broader decline. Her family has not connected any previously disclosed condition to her death.
What Projects Was Dolly Parton Still Planning?
Even as she recovered, Parton continued developing several ventures. Her plans included Nashville’s Life of Many Colors Museum, the SongTeller Hotel, new food and pet-product lines and the Broadway production Dolly: A True Original Musical.
She was also exploring an avatar-based concert that could preserve the spectacle of a Dolly Parton performance without requiring her to appear onstage every night.
“I still have so many things I want to achieve,” she told People. Those words now offer a final reflection of the ambition that defined her career, delivered with the optimism and humor her fans knew so well.
