Global icon and humanitarian Dolly Parton had been battling cancer before she "died peacefully" on Aug. 25, her representatives confirmed to USA TODAY.
Parton died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville after being hospitalized there on Aug. 21. Representatives described her illness as a brief battle with cancer but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched," her representatives said in the statement.
"Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand. Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination
Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly's unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.”
Just four days before the Queen of Music died, Dolly Parton opened up about her health issues.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over (late husband Carl Dean)," she told PEOPLE magazine.
“You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time, too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health.”
The beloved country music icon died on Aug. 25, her nephew Brian Seaver announced in an Instagram video.
Her death comes barely a week after she shared a video message at Dollywood to commemorate the opening of the park's newest ride. Parton was unable to attend in person then because of her health.
"My little butterfly wings are getting tired," Parton said in the video, with colorful virtual butterfly wings fluttering behind her. "Sometimes I get a little dizzy and I get dehydrated," she added.
Dolly Parton's battles with kidney stones and endometriosis
Recently, Parton’s health issues were related to her digestive system and kidney stones, which she had dealt with for over a decade. She missed a Dollywood event back in 2015 due to kidney stones.
In 1984, Parton was later diagnosed with endometriosis after collapsing during a concert in Indianapolis. Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It is typically accompanied by severe pelvic pain. This leads to inflammation and the formation of adhesions, fibrosis and scar tissue in the pelvic region.
"I wasn’t watching what I ate, I wasn’t conscious of nutrition, wasn’t taking care of myself," Parton said about the health scare in her 2017 biography "Dolly on Dolly."
In 1986, when she was 40, she had her entire uterus and part of her cervix removed when she underwent a partial hysterectomy to treat her symptoms. The surgery left her unable to bear children.
Former Tennessean report Marcus Dowling contributed to this report.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Dolly Parton was fighting cancer when she died in Nashville hospital
