Country icon Dolly Parton has addressed swirling rumors about her condition, posting a video Wednesday in which she insisted that while she is facing health challenges, she is far from given up — and emphatically “not dying.”
At 79, Parton acknowledged having “some problems” but downplayed their severity and insisted she is working with doctors to manage them. “I want you to know I’m OK … I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is through with me,” she said.
Origins of Concern
The public concern was fueled in part by a post from her sister, Freida Parton, who asked fans to pray, prompting speculation that Dolly’s health was deteriorating. In addition, Parton postponed her previously announced Las Vegas residency, citing “health challenges,” further stoking rumors.
Health Issues, But Not Dire
In her video, Parton did not detail all of her ailments, but she acknowledged that in the wake of her husband Carl Dean’s prolonged illness and subsequent passing in March, she had neglected her own health. “I let a lot of things go that I should’ve been taking care of,” she said.
Earlier this month, Parton missed a Dollywood event and shared in a video that she was recovering from a kidney stone and infection, explaining she had been advised by doctors to avoid travel while she recuperated.
Her representatives have confirmed that the health challenges are prompting some delays but are not considered life-threatening.
Work Continues, but Pace Shifting
Parton used her video to emphasize that she remains engaged with her projects, though she’s temporarily scaling back. “I ain’t done working,” she said. While her Las Vegas shows originally scheduled for December 2025 have been postponed to fall 2026, she promised fans she will return once she’s fully ready.
As for her absence from the Academy’s Governors Awards, where she is to receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, her publicist reiterated that her nonattendance was due to a scheduling conflict rather than her health.
A Bit of Humor, A Whole Lot of Reassurance
True to form, Parton mixed candor with humor in her message. At one point, she quipped, “Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here!” She also poked at false imagery swirling online, dismissing AI-generated “deathbed” depictions as baseless.
She closed her message with gratitude for the flood of concern from fans and a reminder: “God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet.”
