Dolly Parton passed away at the age of 80 on August 25, just 17 months after the death of her husband, Carl Dean.
Parton and Dean were married for nearly 59 years and shared one of entertainment’s most private love stories. Dean died in March 2025 at the age of 82, with Parton later telling People that “without Carl, I wouldn’t be here.”
After his death, Parton spoke openly about the grief of learning to live without him, calling it a “big adjustment” after six decades together. She also released the tribute song ‘If You Hadn’t Been There,’ dedicated to Dean and their life together.
Indeed, it’s called the widowhood effect: the increased risk of death in the period after losing a longtime spouse or loved one. In this gallery, click on to remember the famous figures who died after losing someone close to them.