Dolly Parton Was All Smiles & Jokes at Final Public Appearance, 2 Months Before She Died

Dolly Parton‘s final public appearance came just two months before her death at age 80.

The country music icon, who died Tuesday (Aug. 25), was last seen publicly on June 24, when she made a surprise appearance at the grand opening of Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee.

Parton arrived at the new travel center in a whimsical blue-and-pink fringed outfit and took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, greeting the crowd gathered for the occasion. The appearance was a rare one for the superstar, who was staying out of the public eye during ongoing health complications.

The June event also showcased the admirable sense of humor that had long been synonymous with Parton. While welcoming guests to the travel stop, she joked about competing chain Buc-ee’s, whose mascot is a beaver. “I couldn’t leave it to beavers,” she quipped.

Parton’s appearance was exciting due to the uncertainty surrounding her health and professional plans. She announced in September 2025 that she was postponing her Las Vegas residency because of health issues. She eventually did cancel the full run in May 2026, explaining that she still had lots of healing to do before returning to the spotlight.

She did, however, continue to work on the projects that had kept her busy throughout her career. In the days before her death, Parton spoke about her health while announcing plans surrounding her upcoming Broadway musical, Dolly: A True Original Musical, as well as a new museum in Nashville. She said at a time that she was still healing but remained determined to see her projects through.

“I’m still workin’!” Parton said in an Aug. 21 statement to People, adding that she had “so many things” she still wanted to accomplish.

Her June appearance at the Tennessee travel stop wasn’t her only public-facing moment of the year. Earlier in March, she attended the opening-day ceremony at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and she continued to connect with fans through videos and other appearances when she was unable to attend events in person.

Parton’s health challenges followed an unfortunate and difficult period in her life, as her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, died in March 2025. Parton later acknowledged that she had neglected her own health while taking care of him.

Despite those struggles, she continued to pursue music, business and other entertainment endeavors until the end of her life.

Parton’s death was announced Tuesday by her newphew Bryan Seaver, who shared the news in an Instagram video. Seaver said the announcement was something Parton had asked him to make years earlier.