Dolly Parton, the beloved country music icon known for her philanthropy and rhinestone-studded humor, made only a handful of public appearances in 2026.
Of those appearances, her stop at theTennessean Travel Stopin June would become her final major public appearancebefore her death on Aug. 25.
The legendary singer, songwriter and actress was 80 years old.
The announcement was shared Aug. 25 via her social media accounts in a video from her nephew, Bryan Seaver, on behalf of the Parton family.
"A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family," read an official
statement.
"Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact."
Here's a look back at one of Parton's most memorable moments of 2026.
Dolly Parton's appearance at Tennessean Travel Stop was her final major public appearance
Parton appeared at thetravel center's grand opening June 24 in her trademark glamour, wearing a blue-and-pink fringe ensemble and her signature stiletto heels.
In addition to expressing her gratitude and excitement for the project, she used the moment to make a lighthearted joke about travel center competitor Buc-ee's, whose mascot is a cartoon beaver.
"I’m sure some of you want to know why I wanted a truck stop," Parton said. "Well, I couldn’t leave it to beavers."
The crowd responded with roars of laughter and cheers. Many had spent the afternoon exploring the property, sampling food from "DLY BBQ" and trying a "Cup of Ambition" coffee while waiting to see whether Parton would make an appearance.
Parton ended the brief ceremony with a ribbon-cutting marked by an explosion of multicolored confetti.
What to know about Dolly Parton's health battle
While anofficial cause of death has not been announced, Parton had faced a series of health concerns in recent months, which prevented her from attending an announcement about Dollywood's newest ride in 2025 and later led to the delay of her planned Las Vegas residency until 2026, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported.
Earlier this year, Parton was able to welcome fans to Dollywood's newest attraction, just not in person. Instead, she appeared via video.
In an August 2026 video, with colorful butterfly wings fluttering behind her, Parton explained why she could not attend the NightFlight debut.
"My little butterfly wings are getting tired. Now, I've told you before, all my fans, that I've had a few little health issues, and sometimes I get a little dizzy and I get dehydrated.
"Now, I'm dehydrated. And so my personal doctor has kind of clipped my wings saying, 'You ain't traveling this week.'" She added that "all is going well on the medical end of things," and said she was working on other projects.
In May, Parton shared an update on her health via a video posted on her social media accounts. She revealed that her immune and digestive systems have been "out of whack" for several years and that she's long had problems with kidney stones, but said she was responding well to treatment, just not soon enough to return to the stage yet.
Contributing: Bryan West
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Dolly Parton's final public appearance included a joke about Buc-ee's
