“I’m responding really well to meds and treatment,” said Dolly Parton in an unexpected health update. “I’m improving every day.”
The country music star has cancelled her Las Vegas residency, citing health concerns. Back in September 2025, Dolly Parton delayed the residency due to her “health challenges,” later revealed to be kidney-stone related.
When she was hospitalised, Dolly’s sister, Freida Parton, shared an update on her sister’s health: “I know in my heart she’s going to be just fine. Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you!”
However, it appears that her “health challenges” are continuing.
“I’ve told you before that I’ve always had problems with my kidney stones,” Dolly said in a video statement. “Lord, they dig more stones out of me a year than the rock quarry in Rockwood, Tennessee. But seriously, my immune system and digestive system got all out of whack over the past couple of three years, and they’re working real hard on rebuilding and strengthening those.”
These ongoing issues and treatment have made her “swimmy-headed”, and she says it will take a while before she’s up to state-performance level.
“I am still working,” she continues, mentioning her recordings, her museum, Dollywood and her upcoming Broadway musical. However, it’s been a tough year following the death of her husband, Carl.
“After going through a year of firsts, the holidays and especially our wedding anniversary, and the day of his death, March 3rd, that was hard for me. But I will always love him, and I will always miss him.”
But she thanked her fans for supporting her.
“You have been a big part of my healing.”
What are Dolly Parton’s health issues?
In Dolly’s official statement, on September 29, the world-famous country music star wrote:
“I want the fans and public to hear directly from me that, unfortunately, I will need to postpone my upcoming Las Vegas concerts. As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and 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! In all seriousness, given this, I am not going to be able to rehearse and put together the show that I want you to see, and the show that you deserve to see.
You pay good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you. While I’ll still be able to work on all of my projects from here in Nashville, I just need a little time to get show-ready, as they say.
And don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet. But, I believe He is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you. I love you and thank you for understanding.”
Dolly issues an apology
In November, Dolly shared an apology video after missing her own Hall of Fame induction ceremony for her US theme park, Dollywood. The singer revealed her absence was due to doctors’ orders.
“I sure wish I could be with you in person today, but you probably heard that I’ve been dealing with a few health challenges … and my doctors told me to take it easy for just a little while,” she shared on Instagram.
“I’m truly sorry I can’t be there, but I sure wanted to take the chance to say, thank you for this incredible honour.”
The ceremony recognised her contributions to the “expansion of Dollywood into the world-class resort destination that it is today,” held by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
Dolly shares health update
On October 8, following her initial statement and her sister’s heartfelt post, Dolly took to Instagram to share an update.
“I know lately everyone thinks I’m sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you!” while sitting on the set of a commercial for the Grand Ole Opry.
The country singer went on to say, “I appreciate your prayers because I’m a person of faith… but I want you to know that I’m doing okay.”
Dolly explained that when her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, fell ill, she neglected her own health and “let a lot of things go that [she] should have been taking care of.” When she finally got around to seeing her GP, it was a wake-up call that she needed to slow down. She highlighted that her “health challenges” were “nothing major.”
Dolly has had a hectic year
In March 2025, Dolly shared the news of the passing of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Thomas Dean. Following his death, the singer took a break from writing.
“Several things I’ve wanted to start, but I can’t do it,” she said on Khloé Kardashian’s podcast, Khloé in Wonder Land, in July 2025. “I will later, but I’m just coming up with such wonderful, beautiful ideas. But I think I won’t finish it. I can’t do it right now, because I got so many other things, and I can’t afford the luxury of getting that emotional right now.”
On Instagram, Dolly wrote that she fell in love with Carl Dean when she was 16 years old.
“Like all great love stories, they never end. They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story.”
This residency in Las Vegas was her biggest venture this year.
“I haven’t worked Vegas in years, and I’ve always loved singing there,” Dolly said in a statement announcing the residency. “To say I’m excited would be an understatement. I’m looking so forward to the shows… and I hope you are as well. See you there!”
Dolly has been open about her health over the years
It hasn’t been confirmed that the “health challenges” she is dealing with are. Although there are reports that it is kidney stones. However, Dolly has been open in the past about her cosmetic procedures, famously saying, “You’ve just got to be very careful not to overdo it.”
Furthermore, the ‘9 to 5’ singer has spoken about her struggles with endometriosis throughout her life. In 1982, she had to cancel a tour due to a chronic condition.
Dolly Parton also revealed more in her book Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton that she had been diagnosed with endometriosis. Furthermore, she was forced to undergo a partial hysterectomy in her early to mid-30s as a result.
“Suddenly, I was a middle-aged woman. I went through a dark time until I made myself snap out of it.”
This diagnosis and subsequent surgery hit the Jolene singer hard; she told Closer, “It was an awful time for me. Every day I thought, ‘I wish I had the nerve to kill myself.’
In an episode of the podcast series Dolly Parton’s America, she also shared her struggles with mental health in the 1980s.
“I was going through the change of life, I was having a lot of female problems,” she shared in an episode in 2019. “I’d been going through a whole lot of family things, just the stress, the heartache… I was just broken down.”
Dolly Parton is still going strong
Dolly Parton and fellow Country Music star Zac Brown engaged in an interview and studio session for Interview Magazine. The two worked on a song together, “Butterfly.”
They have collaborated in the past, including performing together on stage during Dolly Parton’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Zac asked her if she had anything on her bucket list, to which Dolly replied: “No, I always say I’ve pretty much done everything, I just need a new bucket… My life is full of all kinds of things. But I can’t think of anything that I haven’t done that I haven’t planned to do. I just want to be able to continue doing what I do. I like trying to make people happy and lift people up, and glorify God. That’s my mission in life, so I just hope to get to do more of that.”
She also gave an update on her health and well-being:
“I took off for a little while because I never had a chance to take care of some things that I needed to be taken care of, and there was just still a lot of grief. I never had time to grieve and get all through that. But whatever happens to me, I think God’s going to take care of it. I don’t think god’s done with me, and I ain’t done with me, and hopefully you ain’t done with me.”
If you’re going through a hard time right now, the Beyond Blue Support Service offers a free and confidential counselling service. You can call them on 1300 224 636, chat online, or email them 24/7.
