In a poignant final interview conducted just four days before her passing, Dolly Parton expressed heartfelt admiration for her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, while also sharing an optimistic outlook on her enduring career.
On Tuesday, news of Parton’s death was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who also served as her chief of security. The legendary country music star passed away at the age of 80.
In a conversation with People last week, the Queen of Country music divulged that there were still “so many things” on her list of aspirations.
The iconic “Jolene” singer discussed her health candidly, alongside the projects that had her excited about the future. She admitted that while attending to her husband’s needs, she had overlooked some of her own health concerns.
“It’s not like I haven’t encountered challenges with my health,” Parton shared during what would be her last interview, reflecting on difficult times with remarkable resilience.
‘But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago. I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI! Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin,'” Parton continued.
‘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.’
Concerns loomed for months about Parton’s health, but the pop culture icon frequently dispelled her fans’ fears.
Legendary country music star Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80
Parton said in her last interview that she had been through hard times before with her health
Parton’s famous hits include Jolene, 9 to 5, and I Will Always Love You
She pulled out of multiple public appearances, including a residency in Las Vegas and the opening of a new ride, NightFlight Expedition, at her theme park, Dollywood.
Fan videos of the event captured Parton’s recorded message, in which she told attendees she was still in Nashville.
‘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.
Earlier this year, Parton told her fans that she was responding to medication, but the treatment made her feel ‘a little swimmy-headed,’ and she needed time to heal before getting back on stage.
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.
Elsewhere in her final interview, Parton revealed that she was excited about her partnership with Community Coffee to launch Cup of Ambition Coffee.
‘That’s a dream I’ve had for over 40 years, ever since I wrote the line about “cup of ambition” in my song 9 to 5,’ she said.
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‘But, you know, some dreams take longer to come to life than others.’
Parton gushed about her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, in her last interview, admitting that she had not paid attention to some of her health problems while caring for him
Parton had pulled out of her Las Vegas residency, telling fans that she was taking medication and needed time to heal before getting back on stage
Parton wrote and recorded 9 to 5 in 1980 for the comedy film of the same name, in which she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
She wrote the track on set by clicking her nails together to form the beat, and it became one of her biggest hits of the decade.
It went on to win numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Original Song and Country Song of the Year and Female Country Vocal of the Year at the Grammy Awards.
Parton’s death came over a year after her husband’s, to whom she was married for nearly 60 years.
In her tribute at the time, she reflected on the ‘many wonderful years’ they spent together, expressing their deep love and thanking fans for their prayers.
‘Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,’ she said. ‘Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.’
Parton and Dean first met at a laundromat in Nashville in 1964, when she was just 18. They married in 1966, and he remained a constant, supportive figure behind the scenes.
Parton’s nephew announced her death in a touching tribute, revealing in a video message that she had ‘asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality.’
Parton pulled out of recent events at Dollywood because of her health. She is pictured above at the theme park in 1988
Parton’s nephew said she ‘lived in the light’ and was now ‘in the arms of Jesus’ with her husband and parents. Her team remembered her legacy as ‘one of love, compassion, and resilience’
Seaver hailed his aunt for having ‘lived in the light’ and said she was now ‘in the arms of Jesus’ and the company of her husband, as well as her parents and ‘countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.’
Her team said in a statement that she had a ‘rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family.’
‘Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience,’ it continued.
‘With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.’