Dolly Parton Shares Health Update
Country music legend Dolly Parton has shared a new health update with her fans via an Instagram video. In the post, she revealed both “good news, and a little bad news” regarding her ongoing health challenges.
Parton, 80, stated that she is “responding really well to meds and treatments, and I’m improving every day.” However, she also acknowledged persistent issues with kidney stones, humorously noting that more stones are removed from her annually than from a rock quarry.
She further elaborated that her immune and digestive systems “got all out of whack over the past three years.” Her medical team is actively working on “rebuilding and strengthening those” systems.
Las Vegas Shows Canceled Due to Medication Side Effects
Due to the nature of her treatments, Parton announced the cancellation of her postponed Las Vegas shows. She explained that some of the medications and treatments cause her to feel “a little bit swimmy-headed.” Parton added with characteristic humor that she “can’t be dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars and such on five-inch heels.”
This cancellation follows an earlier postponement of the Las Vegas concerts eight months prior, when Parton cited “health challenges” requiring “a few procedures.” Despite the “serious business” of her current health situation, she assured fans that she is “doing really well” and has “great doctors” who have confirmed that “everything I have is treatable.”
Continued Work and Future Plans
While Parton anticipates it will take some time before she is “up to stage-performance level,” she hopes to be “up to snuff again soon.” She affirmed her intention to continue working throughout her recovery, mentioning ongoing video work, recording sessions, and occasional visits to Dollywood.
Parton also highlighted her active involvement in upcoming projects, including the opening of her museum and hotel in Nashville later this year. Additionally, she is dedicating significant time to writing and revising her upcoming Broadway musical, titled “Dolly: A True Original Musical,” which is slated for a fall or early winter 2026 opening.
Gratitude for Fan Support Following Husband’s Death
In her update, Parton also expressed profound gratitude to her fans for their outpouring of love and support following the death of her husband, Carl Dean. Dean, who married Parton in 1966, passed away on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82.
“A lot of you’ve been concerned about me and Carl, and you were so great about that,” she said in the video. “I will always love him, and I will always miss him, but you would be surprised at how much your love and concern meant to me during that time.” She concluded by saying, “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. You have been a big part of my healing.”
Despite the recent challenges, Parton remains optimistic about the future, thanking fans for their continued support and stating in the caption of her video, “I’ve still got some healing to do, but I am on my way!”
