How Dolly Parton became much more than country music’s 'backwoods Barbie'
Back in 2008 at age 62, Dolly Parton released a single proclaiming she was "just a backwoods Barbie, too much makeup, too much hair."
On August 25, country music legend Dolly Parton passed away at the age of 80 at Nashville's Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, following a brief illness with cancer. Her representatives confirmed the cause of death in a statement to People. Parton's career brought joy, laughter, hope, and integrity to countless individuals, and she was always there with a helping hand.
She was remembered for her unmatched generosity, including donating millions of books through her Imagination Library and funding research that led to a lifesaving vaccine. Four days before her death, Parton spoke to People about her health struggles, revealing that she had been dealing with various health issues, including kidney stones and female issues.
She also mentioned the emotional toll of caring for her husband, Carl Dean, who passed away in March 2025 after 59 years of marriage. Despite her challenges, Parton stated that she would continue working as long as she could, echoing her own words that she had "dreamed myself into a corner" and still had many achievements to make.
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