Dolly Parton Shares Health Update at Dollywood Opening
Dolly Parton spoke openly on Friday during the kickoff of her Tennessee theme park, Dollywood, about her health and life after losing her husband of 58 years, Carl Dean.
Parton addressed concerns about her well-being, noting, “I’ve not been touring, as you know. I’ve had a few little health issues, and we’re taking good care of them.”
Her absence from recent performances in Las Vegas and the Governors Awards had raised concerns among fans. The worries intensified when her sister, Freida, expressed on social media that she was “praying all night” for Dolly’s recovery. However, in October 2025, Parton reassured her fans in an Instagram post that she was doing fine.
“Everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here!” Parton said in a video from her keynote. “I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease. … There are just a lot of rumors, but if you hear it from me, you’ll know that I’m OK. … I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is through with me, and I ain’t done working.”
Later, she shared that her health challenges were made more difficult by grieving for Dean, who passed away on March 3 at the age of 82. She reflected on the emotional toll, saying, “I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on. I just needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. But all is good. It didn’t slow me down.”
Parton honored her late husband with heartfelt words, writing in an Instagram post, “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
