The death of Dolly Parton ‘s husband Carl Dean’s has left her close friends fearing the iconic country singer could die from “heartbreak.”

The focus is now on Parton’s health as the Jolene hitmaker is believed to be hiding a crippling depression after Dean’s dementia death , RadarOnline.com can reveal.
The 79-year-old is no stranger to health issues as made evident by her onstage collapse in the early 1980s due to endometriosis – which involves tissue similar to the lining of the womb growing outside of the uterus.

The entertainer was forced to endure a partial hysterectomy, ending any chance of her to ever carry a child. Parton also dealt with Bell’s palsy in 2019, requiring a four month recovery period.

A source revealed Parton is also currently taking “medicines for high blood pressure and brittle bones.”
The insider added: “There is a major concern that having to deal with the aftermath and devastation of losing Carl, who had been by her side since practically day one, is going to make her own health decline.”

According to Dr. Gabe Mirkin, who has not treated Parton, there is a correlation between traumatic events and a person’s health.

He said: “Stress, grief and sorrow absolutely increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and premature death after losing a loved one.”

Mirkin added in cases of Alzheimer’s, “there is more stress on the caretaker than the demented person, since the caretaker knows what’s going on. That grief and stress causes inflammation and weakens the immune system.”
Dean – who died on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82 – was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s before his death , as an insider revealed his memory and facial recognition faded until he often failed to recognize Parton – his wife for nearly 59 years.

The source said: “… She devoted herself to caring for him, but in the end, Carl didn’t recognize people, had quit eating, and Parton could see the light fading from his eyes. She sweetly told him, ‘You can let go now Carl, just know I will always love you.’”

“For so many years, Dolly was caught up in work, barely home 50 days a year, but by the time she finally stayed put, Carl was already fading,” they added.
Now, the new source claimed the 9 to 5 star is feeling more alone than ever without Dean.

“Dolly has friends, of course, but right now she just wants to be left alone with her thoughts and memories of Carl,” the insider continued.

“She secretly had always hoped she would pass before Carl – because she couldn’t imagine her world without him.”
On March 14th, Parton made her first public appearance since the death of her husband when she surprised fans and Dollywood season passholders in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, at the opening celebration for the theme park’s 40th season.

During the appearance, she touched on her longtime love and said: “I will always love him, and I miss him.”

“I need to laugh. I need some fun, so I’m probably gonna be stupid. I’ve been crying enough the last week or two,” she expressed to the loyal crowd.