The Real Cause of Dolly Parton’s Death Finally Revealed in Major Interview: ‘She Died Of…’

Now, the country icon’s longtime driver, Jason Pirro, is breaking his silence on her passing. According to Pirro, the “I Will Always Love You” singer never got over the death of her husband, Carl Thomas Dean. The two were married for 59 years until Dean’s death on March 3, 2025.

“It was a bad time for her,” Pirro told In Touch. “She didn’t say much, but she sometimes talked about how much she missed him so much. She didn’t want to make a big deal about it because she knew that I knew how she was affected by it.” Related Stories Dolly Parton Couldn’t Handle ‘Negative Things’ as Her Sister Finally Shares Details on the Secret Cancer Battle She ‘Hid’ from Her Family Dolly Parton’s ‘Despicable’ Estate Drama Gets Major Update as Sources Say It’s a ‘Gut Punch’ to Her Family

Pirro then suggested that Parton actually died from the grief of losing her husband. He told the outlet, “I think that’s why she passed away so soon after he did. She died of a broken heart, but she didn’t want to say that because she didn’t want people feeling sorry for her.”

“In a way, I think she was looking forward to passing…It’s sad, but they had a good life together,” he continued. “The way their relationship was, she knew that they were going to be in heaven forever. I didn’t think it would be that soon, but it was.”

Related: Dolly Parton Couldn’t Handle ‘Negative Things’ as Her Sister Finally Shares Details on the Secret Cancer Battle She ‘Hid’ from Her Family

While it remains unconfirmed that the “9 to 5” singer died of a broken heart, Parton’s reps previously revealed her cause of death in a statement to People.

“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,” the statement read. “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,” it concluded. “After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.”