Dolly Parton sparked concern over her health after cancelling a prescheduled trip to Dollywood this week, where she had been set to announce the park’s latest attraction.
The 9 to 5 hitmaker, 79, did not attend Wednesday’s event in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, instead appearing in a pre-recorded video message where she revealed she is recovering from kidney stones.
‘Hello Dollywood! It’s me! I know, I’m here and you’re there and wondering why that is,’ Parton said in the clip, uploaded to X by news anchor Marcus Leshock.
The superstar went on to explain her health issue, telling fans: ‘I had a little problem. I had a kidney stone.’
‘Turns out there was an infection,’ she said. ‘And the doctor said: “You don’t need to be traveling around this minute… You need a few days to feel better.” So he suggested I not go to Dollywood today.’
The 10-time Grammy winner told attendees she was ‘there in spirit’ and had been so ‘looking forward to’ being at the theme park
Dolly Parton sparked concern over her health after cancelling a prescheduled trip to Dollywood this week, where she had been set to announce the park’s latest attraction; seen in January
And I’m there in spirit. And I was looking so forward to it.’
She added an apology for not being there in person and reassured fans that her condition is not serious. ‘I’ll be back as quick as I can. Don’t worry about me, I’m going to be okay. Just can’t do it today,’ she said.
Dollywood first announced on Tuesday morning that its ‘Dreamer-in-Chief’ would not be present for the highly anticipated reveal, citing only a ‘change in schedule’ without elaborating further.
The park later confirmed the new attraction will be the biggest and possibly the most expensive project in Dollywood’s history.
It marks the next step in the ‘$500 million expansion plan first unveiled in 2021,’ according to Knoxville News.
Parton previously appeared alongside Dollywood Company president Eugene Naughton at the park’s 2025 season preview day earlier this year, where they teased the scale of the project.
Despite her absence on Wednesday, Parton looked in good health during her video appearance and promised fans she will return to Dollywood soon.
In 2015, she revealed that she had three kidney stones removed and was ‘doing just fine.’
The 9 to 5 hitmaker, 79, did not attend Wednesday’s event in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee , instead appearing in a pre-recorded video message where she revealed she is recovering from kidney stones
‘Hello Dollywood! It’s me! I know, I’m here and you’re there and wondering why that is,’ Parton said in the clip, uploaded to X by news anchor Marcus Leshock
‘I love and appreciate everyone’s concern,’ she wrote in a statement on her website, at the time.
Earlier this year, her husband, Carl Dean, died at age 82.
‘Oh, you know what, I get very emotional when people bring it up,’ Parton told Today’s Savannah Guthrie in May. ‘But we were together 60 years. I’ve loved him since I was 18 years old.’
The I Will Always Love You singer added that she was very thankful for all the messages she received since her beloved husband’s death.
‘I’m so thankful. I’ve gotten so many cards, letters, flowers, from all over the world,’ she shared before jokingly adding. ‘I had no idea Carl Dean was so famous.’
The 10-time Grammy winner told attendees she was ‘there in spirit’ and had been so ‘looking forward to’ being at the theme park (seen in March 2025)
Several weeks after Dean’s death, Parton told Knox News, ‘I’m doing better than I thought I would. I’ve been with him 60 years. So, I’m going to have to relearn some of the things that we’ve done. But I’ll keep him always close.’
She also shared insight into the end of her famously reclusive husband’s life, revealing that he struggled leading up to his death.
‘He suffered a great deal,’ Dolly said. ‘I’m at peace that he’s at peace, but that don’t keep me from missing him and loving him.’
She went on to say, ‘It’s a hole in my heart, you know, but we’ll fill that up with good stuff and he’ll still always be with me.’
