Dolly Parton has been recovering from some health issues in 2025.
In September, Parton surprised fans when she missed a scheduled visit to her Dollywood theme park to celebrate the new Night Flight Expedition Ride. Instead, the country singer appeared in a prerecorded video message played for the crowd.
“Hello Dollywood! It’s me,” Parton said in the clip, which was shared by attendees via X. “I know — and I’m here, and you’re there. And you’re wondering why that is? Well, I had a little problem. I had a kidney stone that was causing me a lot of problems. Turned out it’d given me an infection.”
After assuring fans she needed time to rest, Parton also postponed her Las Vegas concerts scheduled for December due to a “few procedures.”
Dolly Parton’s rep is assuring fans she is fine amid concerns over her health. The “Jolene” singer’s fans expressed their concern on Tuesday, October 7, after Dolly’s sister Freida Parton shared in a Facebook post that she was “up all night praying” for the star. Dolly, 79, recently postponed several Las Vegas shows due to take […]
“Don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet,” she told fans in an Instagram post in September 2025. “But, I believe he is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with you all.”
Keep scrolling to see everything Parton has said about her health so far:
Skipping Dollywood Event Due to Kidney Stone Infection
Instead of attending a Dollywood appearance to celebrate the new Night Flight Expedition ride in September 2025, the singer appeared in a video to the crowd revealing she had “a kidney stone” causing her a “lot of problems.”
“Turned out it’d given me an infection,” Parton explained at the time in the clip, shared by attendees via X. “And the doctor said, ‘You don’t need to be traveling right this minute, so you need a few days to get better.’ So he suggested I not go to Dollywood today, but I am there with you in spirit and I was looking forward to it.”
Parton apologized to fans that she couldn’t “be there in person” and said she would “be back as quick” as she could.
“Don’t worry about me, I’m gonna be OK. Just can’t do it today,” she said.
Postpones Vegas Shows Because of ‘Health Challenges’
After missing her Dollywood appearance, later that month Parton pushed back her Las Vegas concerts, scheduled for December 2025, by nearly a year because of her health.
“I want the fans and public to hear directly from me that, unfortunately, I will need to postpone my upcoming Las Vegas concerts,” she said in a written statement shared via Instagram that September. “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!”
UPDATE — 10/8/25, 3 a.m. ET: Dolly Parton’s sister Freida clarified her comments asking fans to pray for the singer in a new Facebook post late Tuesday, October 7. “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,” Freida wrote. […]
The legendary singer went on to say that “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,” she said, adding that she will be “able to work on all of my projects here in Nashville” for the time being. “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 you all.”
Parton concluded her message by thanking her fans for “understanding.” The shows were rescheduled for September 2026.
Opening Up About Worries Over Her Health
After concern for Parton’s health rose following her Vegas show cancellations, the singer reassured fans that she isn’t dealing with “anything major.”
“I wanna say something,” Parton said in a video posted on social media in October 2025. “Well, today’s October the 8th and, obviously, I’m here doing some commercials for the Grand Ole Opry, which is why I’m dressed kinda like a country western girl.”
Parton went on to say she knows that “everybody thinks” she’s “sicker” than she really is.
Dolly Parton’s younger sister Stella Parton has spoken out amid the widespread discussion about the singer’s health. “My big sister Dolly posted last week, giving her fans an update concerning her health and that she has been seeking treatment for kidney stones,” she wrote via Facebook on Wednesday, October 8. “My sister Freida is concerned […]
“Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here,” she explained. “Anyway, I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease, those of you that seem to be real concerned, which I appreciate. And I appreciate your prayers ‘cause I’m a person of faith. I can always use the prayers for anything and everything. But I want you to know that I’m OK.”
The singer explained that she’s “got some [health] problems,” which she has “mentioned” previously.
“Back when my husband, Carl [Dean], 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,” she said. “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 and closer to Vanderbilt [University Medical Center] where I’m kind of having a few treatments here and there. But I wanted you to know that I’m not dying.”
Parton went on to address a fake photo of her and Reba McEntire that contributed to the rumors about her health.
“Did you see that AI picture of Reba and me? Ooh, Lordy. I mean, they had Reba at my deathbed. And we both looked like we needed to be buried,” she joked. “But I thought, ‘Oh, my Lord, 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 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.”
Needing Time to Rest After Health Issues
In November 2025, Parton missed her induction into the IAAPA’s Hall of Fame for Dollywood — and instead spoke in a video message to fans.
“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, and my doctors told me to take it easy for just a little while,” she explained in an Instagram video. “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.”
