Dolly Parton's Hidden Battle: The Secret She Kept Until The End
Dolly Parton’s cause of death has been revealed as she was secretly battling cancer before her death at age 80.
“After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” her reps confirmed in a statement to Page Six Tuesday, though they didn’t elaborate on what kind of cancer she was battling.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,” they also shared. “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 concluded, “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.”
Parton 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.”
Seaver 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.”
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.”
The latest news on music icon Dolly Parton’s death at 80
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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.
Days 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.
