Dolly Parton revealed 'hard times' with health just days before Queen of Country died aged 80

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While announcing the debut of a new museum centred on her life in Nashville, Tennessee, the irrepressible singer told fans she was keeping busy.

Parton admitted that she had suffered through "hard times" with her health, having dealt with a series of issues in recent years.

She told PEOPLE magazine on Friday: “I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [her late husband] Carl.”

After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2019, her husband of 60 years, Carl Thomas Dean, died in March 2025 aged 82.

Read More: Tributes pour in worldwide following death of country music icon Dolly Parton aged 80

Read More: Country music legend Dolly Parton dies aged 80 after 'health issues'

Parton, best known for her iconic songs "Jolene", "9 to 5", and "Islands in the Stream", had been forced to pull out of several appearances in recent years.

“It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Dolly continued.

She said she had been “down for several months with female issues” in the early 1980s.

But Dolly added: “I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago.”

Last October, Parton's sister Frieda posted an emotional statement pleading for fans to pray for the star amid undisclosed health issues.

Frieda posted an emotional statement online saying: “I have been led to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me.”

She was also forced to pull out of a concert at her Dollywood venue last year due to a kidney stone.

The irrepressible country music singer, songwriter and actress whose charisma, heartfelt lyrics and business acumen captured the public's imagination for nearly six decades, died on Tuesday aged 80, her family said in a statement.

She won 11 Grammy awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.

With classic songs including "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You," she became one of the best-selling female artists of all time, with over 100 million records sold.

In the video shared on Instagram, Parton’s nephew said: “My name is Brian 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 added: “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 until now.”