Dolly Parton’s loved ones reportedly rushed to be by her side after her health took an unexpected sharp decline before her heartbreaking death on Tuesday.
Although the country music icon had struggled with health issues in the months before her death, her passing was sudden and came as an unexpected shock to even those close to her, TMZ reported.
According to the outlet, some of Parton’s loved ones didn’t make it to Nashville in time before she died Tuesday at the age of 80. They reportedly rushed to town to see the singer after hearing that she had been hospitalized and that her health was declining.
Reps for Parton confirmed to Page Six on Tuesday that the country music icon died following “a brief” battle 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,” they shared in a statement.
“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.”
The singer appeared to be in good spirits during her final public appearance, which occurred just days before her death on Tuesday.
At the time, the “Jolene” songstress appeared virtually to accept the ACM Poet’s Award at the ACM Honors on Aug. 19. It is unclear, however, when she recorded the video message.
“Every dream I ever had, and all the dreams that I’ve been able to see come true in life, well, they all started with a song. Songwriting has been my therapy,” she shared in part.
“Songwriting has been my release, my joy. Songwriting has been a gift from God that has allowed me to touch people with words and music.”
In her final interview, which was published last Friday, Parton told People that she was “dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” referring to her husband Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at the age of 82.
Parton also noted, “It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health.”
As Page Six reported earlier Tuesday, Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver confirmed the singer’s death on behalf of her family in an emotional message shared via Instagram.
“Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus. Surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens,” he said in part.
On her legacy, he gushed, “Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and dreamers from every walk of life, and across every continent. By her example, we believed that anything was possible. She never saw a door she couldn’t open and the doors she opened made and changed history.”