Dolly Parton’s beloved husband, Carl Dean, passed away in March 2025, which was just 17 months before the legendary country singer took her last breath.
In October, the singer shared an update in a video titled “I ain’t dead yet!,” in which she explained that while her husband was sick, she “didn’t take care of myself, so I let a lot of things go that I should have been taking care of.”
CNN spoke with numerous individuals, all highlighting how Parton is just one example of a larger problem facing America. There are 63 million caregivers, and while they are working hard every day taking care of others, it’s “too easy to neglect to care for yourself.”
“The data shows this is happening in millions of homes across America. Caregivers’ health is worn down by the labor of care. Even with her privilege, Dolly is not an exception,” Jason Resendez, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving, told the outlet.
According to a report by the National Alliance for Caregiving, 23% of caregivers report that they find it hard to take care of themselves while caring for another. One “24-hour” caregiver spoke with the outlet, saying she “neglected routine cancer screenings for years until she finally got around to it and had a scare that got her attention.”
This is very pertinent in the case of Parton’s passing as it was revealed that she died after a brief battle with cancer.
Dolly Parton’s Family Announced She Died Of Cancer
In a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday, Aug. 25, which was the same day it was announced that she passed away at the age of 80, her family confirmed her exact cause of death, saying she died after being diagnosed with cancer.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement said. “Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact.
“After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, surrounded by loved ones.”
Dolly Parton Was Laid To Rest Beside Carl Dean
Following her passing, Parton was reunited with her husband, as she was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville, Tennessee, beside him.
On Friday, Aug. 28, her family gathered at the burial site, with Page Six obtaining exclusive photos that showed a dozen of Parton’s closest relatives arriving at the cemetery. An insider told the outlet that the gravesite was “crawling with cops.”
They further reported that Bryan Seaver, Parton’s nephew and head of security who announced her death on behalf of the family in a video on Instagram, was “in charge” of the gathering, having “coordinated with police and security personnel and greeted people when they arrived.”
