Dolly Parton privately battled cancer before her death at 80, the country icon’s team confirms

Dolly Parton had been privately battling cancer before her death at the age of 80 on Tuesday.

Parton’s representatives confirmed the country superstar’s death in a statement to People, sharing that the Jolene singer died following a ‘brief battle with cancer.’

They did not disclose what type of cancer it was.

‘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 read. 

An industry insider also told The Daily Mail that Parton had been quietly battling cancer in the months leading up to her death. 

‘I was told how a long time ago how sick she was but people really didn’t know. We knew she was going to die but we didn’t know it was going to be today,’ the source said.

‘She had cancer – that I know, but I don’t know what kind. We were all afraid to ask [for more details] because we didn’t want to know the answer.’

According to a source, who said people are ‘heartbroken’ by her death, those close to Parton have known about her cancer diagnosis for many months.

‘No one close to her [is surprised that death was close]. That was quite a while ago, like about 11 months ago, that she wasn’t doing too well,’ the insider said.

‘And then she got better for a while, but then she kept canceling stuff, so we knew.’

Meanwhile, Parton’s representatives further told People in their statement: ‘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 went on.

‘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.’

The legendary country singer’s death was confirmed Tuesday in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also acted as her head of security.

She died Tuesday morning after being admitted Friday to Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.

Parton’s representatives confirmed the country superstar’s death in a statement to People, sharing that the Jolene singer died following a ‘brief battle with cancer’; Pictured in 2025

An industry insider also told The Daily Mail that Parton had been quietly battling cancer in the months leading up to her death; Parton is seen in Nashville in March 2025 

‘She had cancer – that I know, but I don’t know what kind. We were all afraid to ask [for more details] because we didn’t want to know the answer,’ the source said; Parton pictured 2023

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Parton’s loved ones began racing to Nashville upon hearing news of her hospitalization, but not all were able to reach her while she was alive.

‘This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,’ Seaver said.

He hailed his aunt for having ‘lived in the light’ and said she was now ‘in the arms of Jesus’ and the company of her late husband Carl Dean, as well as her parents and ‘countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.’

Parton, who is often referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned an incredible six decades and was arguably best known for her hits Jolene and 9 to 5.

Her passing came after months of health woes that saw her pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling fan fears for her wellbeing.

Seaver fondly recalled joining Parton on tour when he was a child in the 1980s, sharing that she ‘opened doors not just for me but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn’t even know was possible.’

He characterized her as ‘a farmer, just like her daddy. He farmed the soil. She farmed songs and happiness. Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.’

Parton looked energized and happy in her last public appearance before her passing, as she discussed her ongoing ‘health issues’ with fans 11 days ago

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Aside from video appearances, Parton was last seen out and about on June 24 when she attended the grand opening of her truck stop, Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop

Family insiders indicated that a private service for close friends and relations will be held in Nashville within the next few days.

In an interview published just four days before her death, Parton had declared she still had ‘so many things I want to achieve’ and vowed to continue ‘working as long as I can to see everything come to life,’ via People.

She also admitted she had recently been having ‘hard times with my health.’

‘I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,’ she said, referring to her late husband, who passed away in March 2025.

Concerns about Parton’s health had loomed for months, with the pop culture icon frequently dispelling her fans’ fears.

She pulled out of multiple public appearances, including a residency in Las Vegas and the opening of a new ride, NightFlight Expedition, at her Dollywood theme park.

The star was supposed to attend the ride’s grand opening on August 14. Instead, a video recording of the star addressing her fans was shared on a screen at the park, which is now regarded as her last public appearance.

‘So my Nashville doctor has kind of clipped my wings, saying, “You ain’t traveling this week.” So I guess if your doctor tells you, “You ain’t traveling this week,” you ain’t traveling this week,’ Parton said in the video message.

The songstress, donning a bright pink top adorned in gems and enormous butterfly wings, looked energized and happy as she discussed her ongoing ‘health issues’ with fans.

‘I’m still in Nashville, and I’m sorry about that,’ she said in the clip. ‘I’m supposed to be there in person like we planned.’

She explained that she ‘sometimes gets a little dizzy’ and ‘dehydrated,’ which is why she couldn’t be there in person.

‘I’ve told you before, all my fans, that I’ve had a few little health issues and sometimes I get a little dizzy and I get dehydrated. And I’m dehydrated,’ she said.

She reassured her fans that she was still hard at work on projects like her new museum, Life of Many Colors, in Nashville, her new hotel and Broadway show, Dolly: A True American Musical.

She also insisted that ‘all was going well on the medical end of things.’