- Dolly Parton reassures fans, asserting that she's not dying.
- She said she appreciates the prayers and the concern.
- Last week, she postponed her Las Vegas residency to next year.
After Dolly Parton postponed some future shows and her sister asked for prayers, many people have shared concern over the country music icon’s health, but she wants everyone to know that “I ain’t dead yet.”
In a video posted to social media on Wednesday, Parton addressed rumors about her ill health.
“I wanted you to know that I’m not dying,” she said.
“I know lately, everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here,” she added. “Anyway, I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease.”
She continued: “Those of you that seem to be real concerned, which I appreciate, and I appreciate your prayers, because I’m a person of faith. I can always use prayers for anything and everything, but I want you to know that I’m OK. I’ve got some problems, as I mentioned.”
Parton did not detail exactly what health issues she is dealing with, but said that while her husband was very sick and after he died, she didn’t take care of herself and “let a lot of things go.”
She said she had to cancel some upcoming shows and events so she can stay close to Vanderbilt hospital, where she is having some treatments done.
She ended the video saying: “There are just a lot of rumors flying around, but I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was OK. 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. So I love you for caring and keep praying for me.”
What Dolly’s sister has said about her health
Many of the concerns around Parton’s health started after her sister Freida posted on Facebook on Tuesday, asking for prayers.
“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 wrote.
She ended the post saying, “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!”
Freida posted again on Wednesday, clarifying that there is no need to be scared or concerned for Dolly.
“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 wrote.
The post continued: “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.”
Dolly Parton postpones Las Vegas residency
These posts from Dolly and her sister follow an announcement the singer made on Sept. 28, saying she would be postponing her Las Vegas residency dates to next year.
The six shows originally scheduled for this December at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace were rescheduled for September 2026, as previously reported by the Deseret News.
“While I’ll still be able to work on all of my projects from here in Nashville, I just need a little time to get show ready, as they say,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
She also added that she has no plans to retire: “Don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet.”
Dolly Parton’s faith
The 79-year-old country music icon is Christian and has never been one to hide her faith and how it has guided her in life. Throughout her career, Parton collaborated with other Christian artists and wrote a variety of religious songs such as “Lord Hold My Hand,” “I Believe” and “Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away.”
Following her husband’s death in March, Parton shared that it was her faith that kept her rooted and helped her move forward.
“I am a person of faith, and I truly believe that I’m going to see him again someday. And I see him every day in my memories and in my heart, and in all the things that we used to do and all the things that we’ve built together,” said Parton, according to The Associated Press. “You just kind of have to learn to kind of make new plans — but that’s the hardest part.”
She had been with her husband Carl Dean for six decades, and he was a proud and loyal supporter of hers throughout her career.
“I really feel his presence,” Parton said, per The Associated Press. “I just try to go on, because I know I have to. And he was ill for quite a while, and part of me was at peace that he was at peace and not suffering anymore. But that still doesn’t make up for the loss and the loneliness of it.”