Dolly Parton died after a brief fight with cancer, her representatives said in a statement on Tuesday.
Parton died earlier in the day, surrounded by loved ones at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. The country icon was admitted to the hospital on Friday. The statement provided no other details about her illness.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,” the statement said.
Parton pushed back on rumors that she was ill in her final days. In an interview with People — published, coincidentally, the same day she was admitted to the hospital — the singer assured her fans that she was simply fatigued and in poor health due to kidney stones and caring for her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025.
It was obvious to fans that Parton was not well. Concerns for her health arose after she postponed a Las Vegas residency last year due to unspecified health problems that required her to be closer to her home near Nashville. The residency was ultimately canceled in May. Parton said at the time she was dealing with kidney stones and digestive issues.
Just over a week ago, she canceled a scheduled appearance at her Dollywood amusement park. Visitors were instead shown a video in which she said she had been dealing with dizziness and dehydration and was cautioned from traveling by her doctors .
In her last known interview, with People, she said she was still intent on continuing to work. That included the forthcoming Life of Many Colors Museum in Nashville, which will celebrate her life and career
“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.”
Tributes to the country icon have continued throughout the day, and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee ordered flags across the state lowered “in memory of Dolly Parton, Tennessee’s favorite daughter.”
