“I’m Not Ready to Die” — Dolly Parton’s Raw Confession Turns Quiet Concern Into Public Shock. ML
Dolly Parton Addresses Health Speculation Following Canceled Shows
Country music icon Dolly Parton has responded to growing public concern over her health after withdrawing from several recent appearances. In a video posted Wednesday to her social media accounts, the 79-year-old reassured fans that she is doing well and in good spirits.
“Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here,” Parton said, speaking from behind the scenes of a commercial shoot for the Grand Ole Opry. “I want you to know that I’m OK.”
The Grammy-winning artist had prompted concern after missing a September event at her Dollywood theme park due to kidney stones and later postponing six upcoming concerts at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, originally scheduled for December. At the time, no detailed explanation was provided.
In Wednesday’s video, Parton attributed the setbacks in her health to the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, in March at the age of 82. She revealed that she had neglected her own health in the aftermath of his death.
“When he passed, I didn’t take care of myself,” 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.’”
Parton clarified that her condition is not serious but has required her to remain close to home for treatment at Vanderbilt University. “There’s nothing major,” she assured. “I had to cancel some things to be closer to home.”
Her manager, Olly Rowland, confirmed to the Las Vegas Review-Journal earlier this week that Parton’s current treatment concerns kidney stones and a necessary procedure related to them.
Public speculation intensified on Tuesday after her sister, Freida Parton, posted on Facebook that her concerns for Dolly’s health had kept her “up all night praying.” The post went viral, prompting Freida to later clarify that she did not mean to alarm anyone. “She’s been a little under the weather,” Freida wrote, adding that she was “simply asking for prayers.”
Dolly echoed the sentiment in her video. “I can always use the prayers,” she said. A devout believer, Parton reminded fans to stay vigilant against misinformation, including AI-generated images falsely showing her on her deathbed. One viral image allegedly depicted her and fellow country artist Reba McEntire. “We both looked like we need to be buried,” she joked.
To put rumors to rest, Parton declared firmly, “I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is through with me, and I ain’t done working.”
She concluded with a warm message to her followers: “I love you for caring and keep praying for me.”
