Inside Dolly Parton's deep health battles as she says 'pile of problems'

Dolly Parton, often referred to as the Queen of Country music, has had a remarkable career with numerous chart-topping hits. The 78 year old first made her mark in the music industry back in 1967 when she became a regular on The Porter Wagoner Show and released her debut solo album, Hello, I'm Dolly. This included her first number one hit, Dumb Blonde.

Since then, she's continued to impress with hits like 9 to 5, Jolene, and I Will Always Love You, selling over 100 million records globally, with 25 reaching the top spot on the Billboard country music chart. Despite not having children, she's been a supportive godmother to fellow musician Miley Cyrus, continuing to captivate audiences with new music. However, it hasn't all been smooth sailing for the star.



READ MORE: Patrick Stewart shares heartbreaking domestic abuse story he 'never told anyone' Offstage, Parton has battled various health issues that have put her body under "strain" and led her to some "dark" places. In 2017, she opened up about her health struggles in her biography Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton, revealing that she first fell ill at the age of 35. She confessed: "I was getting away with murder.

I wasn't watching what I ate, I wasn't conscious of nutrition, wasn't taking care of myself," reports the Express . "I was working hard, and underneath I was a pile of personal and emotional problems. All at once I fell apart.

It was stomach problems and female problems - all over health problems actually." Further issues emerged for Dolly after she became an international sensation with the success of her hit song '9 to 5' and her debut in 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' during the 1980s. In 1984, despite suffering from severe stomach problems and against doctor's advice, Dolly performed on stage, only to collapse mid-performance in Indianapolis, leading to serious internal bleeding and a diagnosis of endometriosis.

The NHS describes endometriosis as a condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows elsewhere, like the ovaries or fallopian tubes. After experiencing extreme abdominal pain and bleeding, Dolly had to undergo two surgeries to prevent internal hemorrhaging. At 36, she had a partial hysterectomy, which ended her chances of having children naturally, as noted by John Hopkins Medicine, which involves removing the uterus but leaving the cervix.

This led to a profound depression for Dolly, who turned to binge eating, excessive drinking, and even considered suicide. In her book, she revealed: "It was an awful time for me, Every day I thought, 'I wish I had the nerve to kill myself'. Suddenly, I was a middle-aged woman.

I went through a dark time, until I made myself snap out of it." The heartbreaking circumstances led to Dolly rapidly gaining 50lbs, confessing that she would consume three pizzas but still crave McDonalds and french fries. This quickly evolved into an unhealthy eating habit, as she confessed: "On top of being medicated, Dietin' Dolly would go on liquid protein, Scarsdale, Atkins, the water diet, then I'd binge, diet, gain, start all over again.

" "Eventually, my system wouldn't work anymore. My body couldn't hold up under that strain. Overeating is as much a sickness as drugs or alcohol.

" The musician has since turned a corner and has maintained a healthy diet and exercise regime which has allowed her to continue to perform her number one hits for millions of fans worldwide..