She Spoke Just a Few Words About Her Health, and Suddenly Everyone Close to Dolly Parton Started to Worry. ML
As she recovers from a recent health scare, the country icon’s unstoppable work ethic has her loved ones more worried than ever.
For more than six decades, Dolly Parton has been the unstoppable force behind some of country music’s greatest hits — a woman whose sparkle, humor, and relentless drive have made her one of the most beloved entertainers on earth. But even legends aren’t immune to life’s speed bumps, and this time, fans are urging the 79-year-old superstar to finally slow down.
Last month, Dolly shocked fans when she announced she would postpone her sold-out Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace, citing doctors’ orders and upcoming medical procedures. “As many of you know, I’ve been dealing with some health challenges,” she wrote. “It must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up — although not the usual trip to my plastic surgeon!”
The lighthearted tone didn’t completely ease concern. Her sister Frieda’s request for prayers soon sparked a wave of worry online, forcing Dolly’s manager to clarify that she’s simply undergoing treatment for kidney stones.
Still, insiders close to the star tell heat that Dolly’s biggest challenge isn’t her health — it’s her refusal to rest. “Dolly doesn’t know how to slow down,” one source reveals. “She’s doing her best, but being confined to bed or home drives her absolutely crazy.”
Friends say she continues to oversee every detail of her many projects — from her Dollywood empire to her cookware and pet line, Doggy Parton. “Her team keeps trying to take work off her plate, but she insists on approving everything,” another insider adds. “She’ll text her staff at 3 a.m. and check in first thing in the morning.”
It’s not the first time the Queen of Country has pushed through pain. In 1984, she collapsed on stage before learning she had endometriosis, later undergoing a partial hysterectomy. And in 2015, she filmed Coat of Many Colors just three weeks after kidney stone surgery.
Now, with her 80th birthday on the horizon, loved ones are pleading with her to take it easy. “Everyone’s begging her to rest,” the source says. “She’s still grieving Carl’s death, and keeping busy is how she’s coping. But her body is telling her to stop.”
Despite the concern, Dolly insists she’s not done yet. “I’m not ready to die,” she told fans earlier this month. “God’s not through with me — and I ain’t done working.”
