Dolly Parton wants the world to know one thing — she’s still here, still fighting, and far from finished.
At 79, the beloved country music legend took to social media this week after a wave of concern erupted over her health, largely triggered by her sister Freida’s emotional plea for prayers.
In a video posted on X, Parton smiled as she addressed the rumors: “I know lately, everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here!”
But the fears weren’t without reason. Just days earlier, Parton announced she was postponing her first Las Vegas residency in more than 30 years, explaining, “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!”
The truth is, health challenges are nothing new for Parton. Back in the early 1980s, she battled endometriosis — a painful condition that ultimately led to a partial hysterectomy. The emotional fallout from the surgery sent her into a dark place. She’s spoken openly about that time in her life, recalling moments of depression, binge eating, and even contemplating suicide.
“I just said, ‘You’re going to have to get me some answers or I’m getting out of here,’” she once admitted on the Dolly Parton’s America podcast. She credits her dog Popeye for saving her — a small moment that became a divine sign.
This year, her strength was tested again. In March, Parton lost her husband of nearly six decades, Carl Dean. “It’s a big adjustment just trying to change patterns and habits,” she told TODAY in May, adding, “I get very emotional when people bring it up.”
In July, she revealed to Khloé Kardashian that she’s been unable to write music since his death. “Several things I’ve wanted to start, but I can’t do it,” she confessed.
Physically, Parton has faced setbacks as well — from a slipped disk in 2008 to a recent kidney stone in September that sidelined her from a Dollywood appearance. Her team confirms this latest health pause is due to kidney-related procedures, not a more serious condition.
Even so, the “9 to 5” singer insists she’s far from done. “Don’t worry about me quittin’ the business,” she said. “God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet.”
