Dolly Parton once felt so depressed she reportedly held a loaded gun to her head.
The singing icon has previously spoken of her struggle with depression throughout her life, but during this one episode she was plagued with suicidal thoughts.
And, had she not been interrupted, she could well have taken her own life.
The dark incident occurred back in 1984 when the 9 – 5 star discovered she could never have children of her own, as she underwent a partial hysterectomy.
According to US TV show National Enquirer Investigates, anguished Dolly placed a loaded gun to her head.
During this charged moment, her dog Popeye bowled into the room – and effectively saved her life.
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Dolly has acknowledged she isn’t sure what would have happened, had she not been distracted from her worrying train of thought.
“I don’t think I would have done it,” she said. “And yet I can’t say for sure… it was a really bad time and it took two years just trying to get my physical weight and hormones in order.”
Talking about her experience with the mental illness, the 71-year-old has also admitted in the past to feeling “sad-hearted and melancholy” and revealed “there are times when you just don’t want to get up”.
She attributes her “tender-hearted” nature to being at the root of her depression.
“Depression runs in my family on both sides and I have to be wary,” she explained.
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“If there are problems sometimes it’s a lot for one little person to carry.”
Of course it’s that tender heart and sweet nature – not to mention her self-deprecating humour – that makes her army of fans love her so.