The late country music icon Dolly Parton died at the age of 80 on Tuesday, August 25. After a lifetime in the spotlight and a six-decade marriage to her late husband Carl Thomas Dean, Parton’s legacy will live on forever.
However, the “I Will Always Love You” artist and Dean did not have any children, something Parton previously explained.
No Children
The “Steel Magnolias” star was open about her health struggles through the years, revealing that she was never able to have children. Parton told Saga Magazine in 2023 that having children was not her main focus.
“When you’re a young couple, you think you’re going to have kids, but it just wasn’t one of those burning things for me,” she said at the time. “I had my career and my music, and I was traveling.”
Sadly, it wasn’t just a decision to focus on her career that led to her decision not to welcome children of her own.
“I couldn’t have children, I tried to for years. I’ve never been pregnant in my life,” Parton told Interview Magazine in 1984. “When I was a girl and fooling around, I was scared to death I’d get pregnant, and then when I got married and wanted to have children, I couldn’t have any. But I don’t miss it. I did for awhile, but I realize that I am everybody’s mother. I’ve raised five of my younger brothers and sisters, and now their kids call me Aunt Grannie. I’m like the grandma and the aunt.”
In her 2017 memoir, “Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton,” Parton revealed her struggles with endometriosis that ultimately led to her having a partial hysterectomy.
“I’m grateful it happened when I was still young enough to bounce back,” she explained. “I went through a dark time until I made myself snap out of it.”
Dolly’s Death
The “9 to 5” artist died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, August 25, her family shared in a video message presented by her nephew, Brian Seaver.
“My family and I have shared a lifetime of beautiful memories with Dolly. But so have you,” Seaver said. “She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD and on your phone’s playlist, becoming an extended part of your family whether you liked it or not.”
In a follow-up post, the Parton family announced that per Dolly’s wishes, she would be laid to rest in a “small, private service” for her immediate family.
“A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience,” her obituary read. “With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”
It was later revealed that the beloved star passed away after a brief battle with cancer.
