Insider Reveals How Dolly Parton Deteriorated After Husband’s Death

DollyParton.com Dolly Parton was not herself following the death of her husband of almost 60 years, Carl Dean, in March 2025, a source close to the music legend claims.

Page Six quotes “insider” Nikki Lund in its report that the music icon’s “broken heart” may have played a role in her death on Tuesday.

Parton’s family announced the star died “peacefully” that morning after a “brief battle” with cancer .

Parton revealed last year that she’d been struggling with kidney stones and GI issues, which led her to cancel several shows and appearances.

Parton remained busy while grieving Dean , and was gearing up for a Las Vegas residency before her health slowed her down.

According to Lund, the star was suffering with more than just her health since Dean’s death.

“She wasn’t doing well,” said Lund, who told the site she knew Parton through the star’s longtime manager, Donny Nozell.

“I think it’s like a broken heart, you know?” she continued, as Parton had been through “a lot of loss in a short amount of time.” Just over a year after the loss of her husband, Parton’s oldest brother Coy “Denver” Parton, died in June.

“Normally, she works all the time because she loves it,” Lund continued.

“She’s just a busy bee.

She’s always busy.

And for the last year, she took a step back from the public eye and wanted to spend more time at home.

She wasn’t around anyone as much for the last year.” Parton always cited her health in the videos she released to fans in lieu of her canceled performances.

“I was very surprised when I saw her after he died,” Lund said.