Dolly Parton’s Sister Addresses Rumor She Died of a ‘Broken Heart’ After Carl Dean’s Death

Dolly Parton was devastated by the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, but her sister doesn’t believe grief was responsible for the country legend’s death.

Stella Parton addressed speculation that Dolly died of a “broken heart” following Dean’s death while speaking with Gayle King on CBS Mornings Thursday, September 10. The couple had been married for 58 years before Dean died in 2025 at age 82.

“I think she was very sad,” Stella said. “But I don’t think that’s why she got sick. I think she worked too hard and didn’t maybe take as good of care of herself as she should have.”

Stella acknowledged just how difficult Dean’s declining health had been for her sister. “I think it broke her heart to see him in the shape he, you know, got to before he passed away,” she said. “But I don’t think that’s what made her sick. I think my sister worked so hard for so long and just kept going.”

In fact, Stella said Dolly was still working during their final conversation. “That was her passion,” she said.

She also talked about Dolly and Dean’s famously private marriage. While Dolly became one of the world’s most recognizable entertainers, Dean largely stayed away from Hollywood. “He adored her,” Stella recalled. “He was fascinated with her. He thought she was funny, like Tinkerbell, you know?”

Dean was also “proud” of his wife and, according to Stella, “loved her enough to let her be what she was.”

Dolly died August 25 at age 80 following what her representatives described as a brief battle with cancer. The specific type has not been publicly disclosed.

READ MORE: Why Did Dolly Parton Keep Her Cancer Diagnosis Secret? Her Niece Reveals the Reason

Dolly’s niece Jada Star also shed light on how the singer handled her health struggles behind the scenes. Speaking to Extra after her aunt’s death, Star explained that Dolly deliberately kept much of what she was experiencing within the family.

“You know, we kind of kept all that stuff real private and so she never wanted to worry anybody,” she said.

Dolly had previously acknowledged that she neglected some of her own health while caring for Dean as his health declined. She also revealed in May that her immune and digestive systems had gotten “all out of whack” over the previous three years.

Related: Dolly Parton’s Final Instagram Post Honored a Special Moment With Kenny Rogers