Dolly Parton Dies at 80: Music Legend Passes Away After Revealing ‘Hard’ Health Struggles at Home

Music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, days after revealing that she had been dealing with undisclosed health issues at home.

Parton—whose husband, Carl Dean, died in March 2025—passed away "peacefully" on Aug. 25 in her hometown of Nashville, TN, where the couple lived for decades, having met there when the singer was just a teenager.

The news of Parton's death was shared in an Instagram post on her personal account by her nephew Bryan Seaver.

"My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next," he said.

"This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality. As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it til now."

He added: "Dolly was a farmer, just like her daddy; he farmed the soil, she farmed songs and happiness. Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest."

Seaver went on to praise his aunt as someone who "lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others." He did not share a cause of death.

"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," an obituary shared with Realtor.com® reads.

"Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. 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."

The news of her death comes just days after Parton opened up to People magazine in an Aug. 21 interview about her ongoing health issues. She told the outlet that she had failed to "pay attention" to her symptoms while she was busy caring for Dean in his final months.

"As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl," she shared. "You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this.

"Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time, too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health."

However, Parton attempted to reassure fans about her health struggles, insisting that things shared on social media were not necessarily an accurate reflection of the reality she was dealing with.

"But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago," she said. "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 healin’, I’m still workin’! You know me—as I’ve often said—I’ve dreamed myself into a corner and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life."

Concerns about Parton's health were first raised in 2025 after she postponed her Las Vegas residency. However, she was quick to insist in a video shared on Instagram that fans shouldn't worry about her well-being.

In the video, the singer said, "I know lately everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am. I ain't dead yet! Do I look sick to you? I'm working hard here!"

She noted that she wanted to "put everybody's mind at ease, those of you that seem to be real concerned," and while she had been dealing with "some problems" and has to undergo "some treatments," she was "ok."

The music legend then announced in May 2026 that she had been struggling with kidney stones, explaining that her immune system "got all out of whack" while she was looking after Dean.

"Lord, they dig more stones out of me a year than the rock quarry in Rockwood, Tennessee," she said, while announcing the official cancellation of her Las Vegas shows.

"But seriously, my immune system and my digestive system got all out of whack over the past couple three years, and they’re working real hard on rebuilding and strengthening those and hopefully I’ll be up to snuff again soon."

Parton is understood to have been undergoing health treatments at her longtime home in Nashville, where she lived since the age of 18—having moved to the city from a tiny town near the Great Smoky Mountains.

The "Jolene" singer and her husband maintained a very private life. While the country music sensation became a global phenomenon, her husband, a former asphalt paver, preferred to stay away from the spotlight, holding down the fort at home while she traveled the world.

The couple met on the same day that the singer moved to Nashville, when they bumped into each other outside of the Wishy Washy Laundromat, according to the Associated Press.

Two years later, the couple tied the knot in a heartfelt ceremony in Ringgold, GA, and opted to stay out of the spotlight. They lived the entirety of their marriage in their ultraprivate Nashville home.

The couple spent their days in the five-bathroom home on 63 acres, informally known as Willow Lake Plantation. During their many years living there, they made thoughtful updates to the property, including the addition of new barns and other structures.

Over the years, the couple owned multiple homes together—including several under-the-radar properties in California, which they appear to have used as private retreats where they would go when they needed time away from the spotlight.

Among the more unique dwellings they previously owned were a cabin in Idyllwild and a petite abode in Solvang that came with its own windmill.

The impressive property portfolio that the duo quietly built throughout their marriage was a world away from the very humble upbringing that Parton had in Pittman Center, TN, where she was raised with 11 siblings.

In previous interviews, Parton opened up about the difficult circumstances her family faced. She admitted in 1977 that, while she and her siblings "never actually starved," they found themselves with not "quite enough to eat" on several occasions.

However, it was clear from a very early age that the future country music icon had a talent for singing, something that she began to display when she was just 6 and singing at her grandfather's church. Parton started writing her own music not long after.

She made the move to Nashville shortly after her high school graduation and later revealed her gratitude that her talents had enabled her to get out of her small town and into the big wide world.

"My songs got me out of the mountains and took me everywhere I’ve wanted to go," she shared in a 2012 interview with People.

Parton won an incredible 11 Grammy Awards, 54 Grammy nominations, 10 Country Music Association Awards, and four American Music Awards. She also expanded her talents to the big screen, appearing in several movies, including "Steel Magnolias" and "Rhinestone."

Through it all, she remained incredibly committed to Tennessee—and to bettering the lives of those living in her home state. She regularly worked with local charities on a number of different initiatives, including the founding of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which has donated more than 300 million free books to children around the world.

In 1986, she opened her own theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, TN, to give back to the community that helped to launch her career by providing jobs for locals. She then established The Dollywood Foundation in 1988 to provide scholarships to students so they could remain in school.

Tributes to Parton poured in from around the world, with several Hollywood stars speaking out to express their heartbreak at her passing, including Kacey Musgraves, Khloe Kardashian, and Maren Morris.