Dolly Parton’s Silent Health Battle: How Endometriosis and a Stage Collapse Led to Depression and Despair
Country music icon Dolly Parton may be best known for her boundless energy, dazzling stage presence, and legendary voice — but behind the rhinestones and smiles lies a chapter of her life marked by serious illness, emotional turmoil, and a near-breaking point.
The 77-year-old “Jolene” and “9 to 5” star, who recently wowed NFL fans in a cheerleading outfit during a Texas halftime show, has faced health struggles for much of her career. In her 2017 book Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton, she revealed the turning point came in the early 1980s, at the height of her fame.
By 1981, Parton had achieved massive success with her hit “9 to 5” and her acclaimed film debut in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. But behind the scenes, her lifestyle was taking a toll. “I was getting away with murder,” she admitted. “I wasn’t watching what I ate, I wasn’t conscious of nutrition, wasn’t taking care of myself. I was working hard, and underneath I was a pile of personal and emotional problems. All at once I fell apart.”
The breaking point came in 1984, when she collapsed on stage during a performance in Indianapolis after ignoring medical advice to rest. Doctors diagnosed her with endometriosis — a painful and often misunderstood condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other parts of the body, such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries. At just 36, she underwent a partial hysterectomy, which ended her chances of having children naturally.
The surgery was physically and emotionally devastating. “Suddenly I was a middle-aged woman,” she wrote. “I went through a dark time, until I made myself snap out of it.” That dark time included binge eating, excessive drinking, and even moments where she considered ending her life. Her weight ballooned by 50 pounds as she cycled through fad diets — liquid protein, Scarsdale, Atkins, and even water fasting — only to binge again. “Overeating is as much a sickness as drugs or alcohol,” she acknowledged. “My body couldn’t hold up under that strain.”
Endometriosis affects around one in 10 women of reproductive age, according to Endometriosis UK, yet it often goes undiagnosed for years. The World Health Organization describes it as a condition that can cause severe pelvic pain, heavy periods, digestive distress, and, in some cases, infertility. While the cause remains unknown, treatment can include medication or surgery, though there is currently no cure.
For Parton, the physical pain was compounded by the emotional weight of losing the dream of motherhood. She has often spoken of her love for children and has played a nurturing role in the lives of her nieces, nephews, and godchildren, but the loss was deeply personal.
Eventually, she clawed her way back from depression, crediting her faith, her work, and her own inner resilience. “You can’t just dwell on the bad stuff,” she has said in later interviews. “You have to move forward, and you have to find joy again.”
Today, Parton remains one of the most beloved entertainers in the world, with more than 100 million records sold, 25 number-one hits on the Billboard country charts, and countless awards. But her experience with endometriosis and depression stands as a reminder that even the brightest stars can face battles hidden from the public eye — and that recovery is often as much about healing the spirit as it is about treating the body.