Dolly Parton Addresses Health Concerns Amid Residency Postponement
Dolly Parton reassures fans about her health following the postponement of her Las Vegas residency due to medical procedures.
Country music icon Dolly Parton has addressed recent concerns about her health following the postponement of her Las Vegas residency. In a video shared on Instagram, Parton, 79, stated, "I wanted to say I know lately everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I'm working hard here." She emphasized her commitment to ongoing projects and assured fans of her well-being.
Parton explained that she is undergoing medical procedures that had been delayed after the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, in March. "I didn't take care of myself, so I let a lot of things go that I should have been taking care of," she said. These procedures necessitated staying close to home, leading to the postponement of her Las Vegas shows.
The singer also addressed rumors stemming from an AI-generated video depicting fellow artist Reba McEntire at her deathbed. "There's just a lot of rumors flying around, but I figured if you heard it from me, you'd know that I was OK," Parton stated. "I'm not ready to die yet. I don't think God is through with me, and I ain't done working."
Speculation about Parton's health intensified after her sister, Freida Parton, requested prayers on social media. Freida later clarified, "I didn't mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly. She's been a little under the weather, and I simply asked for prayers because I believe so strongly in the power of prayer."
In late September, Parton announced the postponement of her December 2025 Las Vegas residency to September 2026, citing health challenges requiring medical procedures. She humorously referred to it as her "100,000-mile check-up," assuring fans that she is not retiring but needs time to recover and deliver her best performance.
Earlier in September, Parton missed an event at her Dollywood theme park due to a kidney stone infection, following medical advice to avoid travel. Despite these health challenges, Parton remains active and committed to her work, expressing gratitude for the support and understanding from her fans.