She’s not dead yet.
Dolly Parton has had fans worried sick about her after she had to postpone and miss a few events due to health issues. Late last month, Dolly Parton announced that she would be postponing her upcoming Las Vegas residency due to unspecified “health challenges.”
Back in June, Dolly announced she would be playing a run of very special shows later this year as part of a Las Vegas residency, Dolly: Live in Las Vegas. She hasn’t been on a tour since her Pure & Simple tour, which concluded in 2016. Although she has performed a few shows here and there since then, fans were obviously looking forward to seeing her back onstage for a full show.
She had six shows scheduled for the residency at The Colosseum in Caesar’s Palace this December.
However, on September 28, Dolly’s team shared a post she wrote to fans, announcing that she would have to postpone her residency dates due to “health challenges.” She didn’t get specific, obviously, but the 79-year-old Dolly explained that whatever she is going through will require surgery, and she will need time to recover; therefore, she will not be ready to perform in complete show form by December.
In typical Dolly fashion, she joked that it wasn’t an appointment for her “usual trip to see my plastic surgeon,” and she feels as though God is trying to tell her to slow down for this season and rest up.
She assured everyone that she’s not quitting, and she plans to give the fans the show she feels they deserve as soon as she’s back to 100%:
“I want the fans and public to hear directly from me that, unfortunately, I will need to postpone my upcoming Las Vegas concert. As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures.
As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon! In all seriousness, given this, I am not going to be able to rehearse and put together the show that I want you to see, and the show that you deserve to see.
You pay good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you. While I’m still able to work on all of my projects from Nashville, I just need a little time to get show ready, as they say. And don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet.
But, I believe He is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you. I love you and thank you for understanding.”
Recently, on September 17th, Dolly had to miss a previously scheduled appearance at Dollywood to announce her new Night Flight Expedition ride due to kidney stones. However, it’s unclear if any of this is related.
And while we don’t know what the Queen of Country Music is dealing with, her sister is asking everybody to keep Dolly in their prayers through these health challenges.
In a post to Facebook, Dolly’s younger sister, Freida Parton, called for Dolly’s fans to continue to pray for her recovery:
“Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly. Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been lead to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me. She’s strong, she’s loved, and with all the prayers being lifted for her, I know in my heart she’s going to be just fine. Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you!”
After Freida’s comments became a huge story, she took to Facebook once again to clarify her previous statement, saying she didn’t want to “scare anyone or make it sound so serious,” but she believes in the power of prayer, and since Dolly has been feeling under the weather, she wants to help her in any way she can.
She explained it was “nothing more” than a little sister looking out for her big sister:
“I want to clear something up. 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.
It was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister. Thank you all for lifting her up. Your love truly makes a difference.”
Soon after Freida’s post, Dolly’s other sister, Stella, then chimed in, sharing that she was offended some fans want her to be their “personal information center,” and that Dolly would speak when she was ready. Stella is often outspoken online, especially when it comes to being protective of Dolly, so fans were met with some harsh words from the southern belle.
“To those with genuine concern for my big sister Dolly’s well being, she posted a video last week to share with her fans that she has had kidney stones and is getting treatment. My sister Freida is always concerned when one of her siblings isn’t feeling well so she ask for prayers on Dolly’s behalf.
It’s my job as a sister to both of them to love and respect their privacy as I expect them to do for me. To those of you who make it your job to attack me for not being your personal information center, you need to go check their pages!
Most fans are genuinely concerned, but some of you are way out of line with disregard for my feelings concerning their well-being. My big sister will share with her fans when she so chooses in the meantime don’t come at me with questions or insults.”
Understandably, we all want to know what’s going on with Dolly because she is so beloved. Still, it’s always best to give the family privacy and wait for Dolly to share more if and when she is ready, rather than trying to get it out of her family members.
I suppose all the hoopla surrounding her sisters speaking out has prompted Dolly herself to share with fans what has been going on.
Dolly Parton has entered the chat and is setting the record straight that she “ain’t dead yet!” In a social media post, Parton explains that she’s far from being bedridden with illness, but needs to be closer to home for doctor’s appointments, leading her to postpone shows and miss appearances.
“I want to say something! Well, today’s October 8th, and obviously I’m here, doing some commercials for the Grand Ole Opry, which is why I’m dressed kind of like a country western girl!
But before I got started, I wanted to say lately, I know everybody thinks that I’m sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here! Anyway, I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease, those who seemed to be real concerned —which I appreciate. And I appreciate your prayers because I’m a person of faith, I can always use the prayers for anything and everything. But I wanted you to know that I’m okay. I’ve got some problems, as I mentioned.
Back when my husband Carl was very sick, that was for a long time, and then when he passed, I didn’t take care of myself. So I let a lot of things go that I should have 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 to be closer to home, closer to Vanderbilt, where I’m kind of having a few treatments here and there.”
In typical Dolly Parton fashion, she had to interject some humor into the announcement. She brought up some hilarious AI-generated images that had been circulating on social media, showing her lying ill with Reba by her side.
“But I wanted to you to know that I’m not dying. Did you see that AI picture of Reba and me? Oh Lordy! I mean, they had Reba at my deathbed, and we both look like we need to be buried. And I thought, ‘Oh my Lord!’ But if I was really dying, I don’t think Reba would be the one at my deathbed. She might come visit me earlier, 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.
So anyhow, that’s what I wanted to say. I’m not ready to die yet! I don’t think God is through with me, and I ain’t done working. So I love you for caring, and keep praying for me.”
Well, there you have it, folks. Dolly Parton is far from being done working, performing, and being the most beloved woman in country music. It’s good to see that she’s still keeping busy, but slowing down enough to take care of herself.
We love you, Dolly, and we will continue to pray for you.
