Dolly Parton is wasting away as she agonises over the end of her 41-year marriage to businessman Carl Dean , Womans Day reports.

The star's aunt, Ora Dale Parton Gray, confirms Dolly, 61, is headed for divorce as she and her husband live increasingly separate lives — and says the star is resorting to extreme dieting in the belief it will make her look younger and more attractive.

"Dolly has several houses in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee, and has been staying there more and more while her husband stays at their place in Nashville. They're never together," says Ora.

"Dolly began seeing herself as getting older and losing her appeal — and stopped eating to keep her youth," says Ora.

"I think she's become almost obsessed with losing weight in a misguided attempt to look young and sexy, but instead she looks like she's dying!"

"Family members, including her older sister Willadeene, have told me that everyone's afraid for Dolly," adds Ora Dale. "She's barely eating and her behaviour is erratic.

"The family fears she needs mental and physical help and is inching closer to death every day. We're all terrified that Dolly is going to have a nervous breakdown or commit suicide." Concern over Dolly and Carl's marriage was first raised in April, when the singer criticised Carl during a concert in Sweden. Before performing her hit song Jolene — about another woman who tries to steal her husband — the country music singer remarked, "Now, when I look at my husband of 40 years, I wish she had taken him."