Over the past few months, fears have grown for the health of the 79 year-old country music legend Dolly Parton. These concerns were spurred at the end of September when Parton postponed her Las Vegas residency from December of this year to September of 2026 due to health issues.
Now, fans are worrying about Parton even more after she was forced to skip a major hall of fame honor because of orders from her doctors.
‘I’m Truly Sorry…’
Parton, who is set to turn 80 in less than two months, was inducted into the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Hall of Fame on Thursday. Instead of accepting this honor in person, she appeared via video message, admitting that she’s dealing with “a few health challenges.”
“Well, hey there, it’s Dolly, and I sure wish I could be with you in person today, but you probably heard that I’ve been dealing with a few health challenges this fall,” Parton said in a video posted to Instagram. “And my doctors told me to take it easy for just a little while. And I’m truly sorry I can’t be there, but I sure wanted to take the chance to say thank you for this incredible honor.”
Parton went on to thank her Dollywood partners Jack and Peter Herschend for helping to make her dreams come true.
“I trust them, and they trust me, and they always listen when I come in with one of my big ideas and dreams,” Parton gushed. “And somehow the amazing team at Dollywood finds a way to make those dreams come true.”
Check out Parton’s full comments on this in the video below.
‘I’m Not Ready To Die…’
This comes after Dolly postponed her Las Vegas residency from December of this year to September of 2026. Days before that, Dolly canceled a public appearance due to a kidney stone-related infection.
On October 8, Dolly took to Instagram to post a video in which she tried to assure her fans that she’s doing well.
“Lately everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am. Do I look sick?” Dolly said in the video. “I let a lot of things go that I should’ve been taking care of. So anyway, when I got around to it, the doctor said, ‘We need to take care of this. We need to take care of that.’ Nothing major, but I did have to cancel some things so I could be closer to home. But I wanted you to know that I’m not dying.”
“But anyway, there’s just a lot of rumors flying around, but I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was okay,” she concluded. “So anyhow, that’s what I wanted to say, and I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is through with me and I ain’t done working. I love you for caring and keep praying for me.”
Check out Dolly’s full comments on this in the video below.
Parton Is ‘Taking Care Of Herself’
Last week, an insider close to Parton updated fans on how she is doing.
“Dolly is getting better every day,” a source close to Dolly, 79, told People Magazine.
“She is at home taking care of herself while many friends and family visit her,” the insider added. “In true Dolly spirit she has already started decorating for the holidays — her favorite time of year.”
This comes after a difficult year for Parton. Indeed, she lost her beloved husband Carl Dean back in March after nearly sixty years of marriage.
While we’re glad that Parton appears to be maintaining a positive outlook on life, it’s clear that she’s still fighting for good health. Please join us in saying a prayer for Dolly Parton as she continues to navigate this difficult chapter of her life!