Dolly Parton, often referred to as the queen of country music, has had an illustrious career with numerous chart hits.

The 78-year-old first made a name for herself in the music industry in 1967 when she appeared regularly on The Porter Wagoner Show and released her debut solo album, Hello, I’m Dolly.

This album contained her first number one hit, “Dumb Blonde.” Since then, Parton’s career has continued to rise with iconic songs such as 9 to 5, Jolene and I Will Always Love You.

She has sold over 100 million records worldwide, 25 of which reached the top spot on the Billboard Country Music charts.

Although Parton has no children of her own, she has been a supportive godmother to fellow musician Miley Cyrus.

“I worked hard and underneath I had a lot of personal and emotional problems. Suddenly I collapsed. There were stomach problems and women’s problems – health problems everywhere, actually.”

Further problems arose later after Dolly became an international hit following the huge success of her hit 9 to 5 and her debut with The Beast Little Whorehouse in Texas in the 1980s.

However, not everything went smoothly for the star. Offstage, Parton struggled with various health issues that “took a toll” on her body and led her to some “dark” places.

In her 2017 biography, Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton, she opened up about her health struggles and revealed that she first became ill at the age of 35.

She confessed: “I got away with murder. I didn’t pay attention to what I ate, I didn’t pay attention to my diet and I didn’t take care of myself.”

In her memoir, she made a heartbreaking confession: “It was a terrible time for me. Every day I thought, ‘I wish I had the courage to kill myself’. Suddenly I was a middle-aged woman. I went through a dark time until I managed to get out of it.

Her difficulties led to a rapid weight gain of 50 pounds, as Dolly revealed: “I would eat three pizzas but still crave McDonalds and chips.”

The crisis developed into a toxic cycle of eating habits, with Dolly admitting: “In addition to the medication, Dietin’ Dolly took liquid proteins, Scarsdale, Atkins and the water diet, then I binged, dieted, gained weight and started still.” once again from the beginning.”

Admitting how her behavior was affecting her health, she said: “At one point my system stopped working. My body couldn’t withstand this strain. Overeating is as much a disease as drugs or alcohol.”

Luckily, the acclaimed musician eventually managed to adopt a balanced diet and fitness routine that allowed her to continue touring and performing her chart-topping hits to adoring fans around the world.