Dolly Parton's Secret Battle with Cancer Before Her Passing Stuns Fans
Dolly Parton’s cause of death has been revealed after the country music icon died at age 80.Reps for the singer confirmed to People that she died after being diagnosed 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,” the statement to People reads.“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 statement concluded.Dolly Parton’s cause of death has been revealed to be cancer after she died Aug. 25 at age 80. MediaPunch / BACKGRIDHer death came after her longtime husband, Carl Thomas Dean, died in 2025. MediaPunch / BACKGRIDParton died on Aug. 25, her nephew and longtime head of security, Bryan Seaver, confirmed in an Instagram video posted Tuesday.“I am representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my Aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean,” Seaver began. “Sister, sis and Aunt Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next.“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “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.“It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly.”Parton’s nephew and longtime head of security, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video. MediaPunch / BACKGRID“Sadness lies with us, not with Dolly,” Seaver said in part. MediaPunch / BACKGRIDSeaver later revealed that Parton had called him before her death and asked to be laid to rest “in a beautiful bed of plush cotton.”“After a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable,” he added.Parton was reportedly admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, five days before her death with “kidney and autoimmune issues.”Parton told Seaver before her death that she wanted to be laid to rest “in a beautiful bed of plush cotton.” Penske Media via Getty ImagesParton was reportedly hospitalized with “kidney and autoimmune issues” five days before her death. Getty ImagesShe died at the hospital Tuesday morning, according to TMZ.In what would be her final public appearance, Parton appeared to be in good spirits as she virtually accepted the ACM Poet’s Awards at the ACM Honors on Aug. 19.“I just want to send a very special thank you to the Academy of Country Music for honoring me with the Poet’s Award,” Parton said in part in her acceptance speech, which was posted to Instagram. “You know, I’ve been able to do many things throughout my life, but at my core, songwriting has always been the most important part of who I am creatively.”Parton appeared to be in good spirits during her final public appearance on Aug. 19. MediaPunch / BACKGRIDShe appeared virtually during the ACM Honors, where she accepted the ACM Poet’s Award. MediaPunch / BACKGRIDThe latest news on music icon Dolly Parton’s death at 80
Johnny Oleksinski: Dolly Parton’s ‘I Will Always Love You’ has a surprising true story
Dolly Parton’s funeral plans revealed after her death at age 80
‘Happy’ Dolly Parton was ‘not in pain at all’ in one of her final public appearances 2 months before death
Dolly Parton’s shocked loved ones rushed to be by her side as health took sudden decline: report
But Parton was also facing health struggles in the days leading up to her death, opening up about them in her final interview with People on Aug. 21.She told the outlet that she had been “dealing with health issues that [she] just didn’t pay attention to when [she] was watching over Carl,” referring to her late husband, Carl Dean, who died at age 82 in March 2025.“It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” she said.Parton opened up about her ongoing health struggles in her final interview on Aug. 21. MediaPunch / BACKGRIDParton’s “Steel Magnolias” co-stars Julia Roberts and Sally Field were among those to pay tribute to her after her death. ©TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett CollectionDays before the interview, Parton had canceled an appearance at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, after her doctor told her not to travel because of ongoing “health issues.”In a prerecorded video, she said, “Sometimes I get a little dizzy and I get dehydrated … And so my Nashville doctor clipped my wings, saying, ‘You ain’t traveling this week.'”Parton’s “Steel Magnolias” co-star Julia Roberts mourned her death in a statement to Page Six, calling her a “magical and joyous human” and saying, “I hold knowing her as a treasure in my life. The sun has dimmed today.”Sally Field, who also starred alongside Parton in the 1989 comedy-drama, and Parton’s “9 to 5” co-star Lily Tomlin were also among those to honor the late singer-songwriter after her death.
Community GuidelinesWelcome to the Page Six Community!Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas in a safe space.In order to do so, we've created a simple set of rules that will improve your experience.Simply put, keep it civil.Your post will/might be rejected if it contains:
Spam
Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language and threats of any kind
Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author
User accounts will/might be blocked if we notice:
Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
Racist, sexist, or homophobic comments
Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk
So, how can you be a power user?
Stay on topic and share your passion. Feel free to elaborate to get your point across.
'Like' or 'Dislike' when you are filled with emotions!
Protect your community. Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.
Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Don't forget, freedom of speech is not the freedom of reach!