Dolly Parton Opens Up About Her Health Issues: ‘I’m Not Dying’

NEW YORK (AP) — Dolly Parton “She’s not dead yet,” the country superstar said on social media Wednesday following public speculation about her health.

“There’s a lot of rumors going around. But I thought if I heard it from you, you’d know I was okay,” the 79-year-old singer said in a new two-minute video. posted on Instagram. “I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is done with me. And I’m not done working.”

Her post, which appeared on many of Parton’s social media accounts and on her website, was captioned: “I’m not dead yet.”

End of last month Parton postponed his first Las Vegas residency in 32 years, citing “health problems.”

She was scheduled to perform six shows at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace for “Dolly: Live in Las Vegas” between Dec. 4 and 13, overlapping with the National Finals Rodeo. Its dates have been moved to next year – September 2026.

She did not provide specific details at the time, writing, “As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health issues and my doctors are telling me I need to have a few procedures. As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000 mile checkup, even though it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon!”

In the new music video shared on Wednesday, Parton is seen sitting on a set speaking directly to the camera, telling her audience that she’s about to record some commercials for the Grand Ole Opry, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

“Everyone thinks I’m sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I work hard here! Regardless, I wanted to reassure everyone, those of you who seem really worried, which I appreciate,” she continued. “And I appreciate your prayers because I’m a person of faith. I can always use prayers for anything and everything.”

On Tuesday, a Facebook post shared by her sister Freida Parton intensified concerns about Parton’s health when she wrote that she was “up all night praying for my sister Dolly.” A few hours later, Freida Parton posted another message.

“I want to clarify something. I didn’t want to scare anyone or make it seem like this was so serious by asking for prayers for Dolly,” she wrote. “She was struggling a little bit, and I just asked for prayers because I deeply believe in the power of prayer.”

Parton offered her own clarification in the video, referring to her Late husband of almost 60 years Carl Dean, died earlier this year at the age of 82.

“I want you to know that I’m fine. I have some issues as I mentioned. At the time my husband Carl was very ill it lasted a long time and then when he passed away I didn’t take care of myself. So I let go of a lot of things that I should have taken care of,” she said. “Anyway, when I got there, the doctor said, ‘We need to take care of this. We need to take care of that.’ Nothing major but I had to cancel some things so I could be closer to home, closer to Vanderbilt, where I’m kind of getting a few treatments here and there.

And in true Parton fashion, she ended with a joke. “But I wanted you to know that I’m not dying. Have you seen this AI image of Reba (McEntire) and me, oh Lord! I mean, they had Reba on my deathbed, and we both look like we should be buried,” she laughed.

“If I was really dying, I don’t think Reba would be the one on my deathbed. She might visit me sooner.