Dolly Parton has shared a heartfelt message with fans after cancelling her in-person appearance at Dollywood theme park due to health problems. The 80-year-old singer made a virtual appearance at the launch ceremony for the park's latest roller coaster, the NightFlight Expedition, on August 14, according to the Daily Star.
In footage shared by Knoxville News Sentinel and the Tennessean, Parton explained: "I'm still in Nashville, [Tennessee], and I'm sorry about that. I'm supposed to be there in person, like we planned. Now I've told you before, all my fans, that I have had a few little health issues. And sometimes I get a little dizzy, and I get dehydrated."
Health Scare and Doctor's Orders
The Grammy-winning performer, known for hits like "Jolene" and "9 to 5," revealed that her Nashville doctor had advised against travelling. Sporting fairy wings, she said: "And so my Nashville doctor clipped my wings, saying you ain't traveling this week. So I guess if your doctor tells you you ain't traveling this week, you ain't traveling this week."
Parton's most recent public outing before this was at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for her Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop in late June, outside Cornersville, Tennessee. That appearance marked her first in months after health struggles began last year, following kidney stones in September 2025.
Infection and Recovery
In a video message, Parton clarified that she was recuperating from an infection. "Turns out there was an infection, and the doctor said, 'You don't need to be traveling around this minute, so you need a few days to get better,'" she told the gathered crowd.
This latest cancellation follows her May announcement that she had decided to axe her rearranged Las Vegas residency performances. In a video message released in May, she said she needed time before being "up to stage performance level."
Responding Well to Treatment
Parton elaborated on her condition: "The good news is I'm responding really well to meds and treatments and I'm improving every day. I'm doing really well, and they assure me that everything I have is treatable, so I'm going with that, and I just want you to know I thank you for standing by me and that I will always love you."
The singer had also been planning to head to Broadway following her health scare, according to reports from the Express US. Fans continue to send their support as she focuses on recovery.
