Dolly Parton’s death: four days ago, she opened up about her “minor health issues” and her “things to accomplish”

The music world is in mourning. On Tuesday, August 25, Dolly Parton died at the age of 80. The news was confirmed by her nephew, Brian Seaver, who spoke in a video at his aunt’s request. ” I had imagined the gravity of this moment, but I had never truly felt it until now. It is an honor, an honor mixed with immense pride and profound sadness ,” he said.

For several months, Dolly Parton had been experiencing health problems . Her condition began to deteriorate after the death of her longtime husband , Carl Dean, in March 2025. Four days before his passing, the singer of ” I Will Always Love You” had even spoken about it in the pages of People magazine . This final statement seemed reassuring at the time.

Dolly Parton had spoken about her health problems

In September 2025, Dolly Parton worried her fans by announcing the postponement of her Las Vegas residency due to ” health issues .” And while the situation hadn’t improved in the following months, the singer, who had snubbed Meghan Markle, was transparent about it . On August 21, she revealed to People magazine : ” As I’ve explained in video messages throughout the past year, I’ve been dealing with some minor health issues that I didn’t pay attention to while looking after Carl. “

Despite her health problems, the octogenarian wasn’t particularly worried . ” You know, it’s not the first time I’ve had to deal with a situation like this ,” she stated. She recalled a long illness due to ” gynecological problems ” in the early 1980s. ” So it’s not as if I’ve never gone through difficult periods with my health ,” she added.

The singer was preparing for the inauguration of her museum

At 80, Dolly Parton had never retired . Four days before her death, Miley Cyrus’s godmother had even spoken with great joy about her upcoming projects . ” Even though I’m still recovering, I’m continuing to work! You know me: as I’ve often said, I’ve outdone myself when it comes to dreams and I still have so much to accomplish, so I’m going to keep working as long as possible to see all my projects come to fruition ,” she had affirmed.

Dolly Parton had a major project in the works. In September 2026, she planned to open the SongTeller Hotel in Nashville . The venue would include two concert halls, a speakeasy, a café, and the Dolly’s Life of Many Colors museum. According to the museum’s website, it would be ” the world’s largest exhibition ever devoted to her life, tracing each defining decade, from mountain peaks to the tops of the world. ” A place that could now help keep her memory alive.