Dolly Parton has reassured fans after her sister, Freida Parton, sparked concerns about the country icon’s health.
On Tuesday, Freida asked for prayers for Parton, who said last month she’s been dealing with “some health challenges.”
The 79-year-old “Jolene” singer has since taken to Instagram to address the situation, saying in a video on Wednesday: “I wanted to say I know lately everybody thinks I am sicker than I am — do I look sick to you?
“I appreciate your prayers because I’m a person of faith,” she said. “I want you to know that I’m okay. I’ve got some problems as I’ve mentioned.”
She continued: “Back when my husband, Carl, was very sick, that was for a long time. When he passed, I didn’t take care of myself. So I let a lot of things go that I should’ve 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 so I could be closer to home and closer to Vanderbilt, you know, where I’m kind of having a few treatments here and there.
“I ain’t dead yet,” Parton added in the caption.
Hours after her initial Facebook post, Freida later clarified that she didn’t mean to scare anyone or give a grave impression when asking for prayers — with the singer’s manager reportedly confirming that Parton has kidney stones.
Freida added that, while Dolly had been “a little under the weather,” she “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,” she wrote on Facebook.
Last month, Parton was forced to postpone her Las Vegas residency in order to undergo a series of medical procedures.
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“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!” she said on Instagram.
“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.”
Her Vegas residency, which was scheduled to run last month, will now go ahead from September 17 to September 26, 2026.
Earlier this year, Parton lost her longtime husband, Carl Dean, who died at the age of 82.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,” Parton said at the time.
Following his death, the singer-songwriter appeared at her Tennessee theme park, Dollywood, telling fans she wanted “some fun” after a difficult few weeks.
“I need to laugh, I need some fun, so I’m probably gonna be stupid. I’ve been crying enough the last week or two,” Parton told the crowd.
