Dolly Parton’s life and career have been marked not only by her extraordinary musical achievements but also by a series of significant health challenges that she has faced with candor and resilience. Over the decades, the country music icon has spoken openly about her struggles, both physical and emotional, often using her platform to connect with fans through honesty about her vulnerabilities.
In 2015, Parton underwent surgery to remove kidney stones, reassuring her supporters that she was recovering well and returning to work shortly thereafter. One of her most profound health experiences came at age 36, when she had a partial hysterectomy due to complications from endometriosis.
The procedure brought an end to her ability to have children — a loss she has said deeply affected her — and triggered what she described as a “dark time” in her life. During that period, she turned to binge eating and excessive drinking as coping mechanisms and even contemplated suicide. Her openness about these struggles has since resonated with many who have faced similar battles.
Physical strain has also at times interrupted her work. In 2008, she was forced to postpone part of her North American tour on doctors’ orders due to back pain.
While she recovered, she acknowledged the physical demands of a career that has kept her on the road for more than half a century. She has also taken time to publicly dismiss false rumors, including speculation that she had stomach cancer, clarifying that while she has faced serious health issues, she has never been diagnosed with that illness.
In recent years, Parton’s greatest personal challenge has been the illness of her husband, Carl Dean, her partner of more than 50 years. Reports have suggested he battled Alzheimer’s disease, and though she never confirmed the specifics publicly, she did step away from certain professional commitments to be with him. His death in March 2025 left her grappling with loneliness, but she has said she continues to feel his presence and draws strength from the life they shared.
Despite these hardships, Parton’s resilience has been unwavering. She has continued to pour her energy into ambitious projects, including a Las Vegas residency scheduled to begin in December 2025 and a Broadway musical based on her life. Her candid reflections on health — from kidney stones to mental health crises — have reinforced her reputation as a woman of grit, grace, and unflinching honesty. For fans, her story is not just one of country music stardom, but also of survival, reinvention, and the power of confronting life’s trials without losing one’s sense of hope.