Dolly Parton Shares Health Insights at Her First Major Public Appearance Following Recent Medical Challenges
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Dolly Parton provided a health update during her first major public appearance of 2026 on March 13. The iconic 80-year-old singer delivered a keynote address on the opening day of Dollywood in Tennessee, marking the park’s 41st anniversary.
“I’ve not been touring, as you know,” Parton stated, according to footage from local station WVLT 8. “I’ve had a few little health issues, and we’re taking good care of them.”
Parton’s visit to Dollywood follows her recent decision to postpone her Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, originally set for December. The residency is now rescheduled to begin in mid-September due to undisclosed medical procedures.
The postponement came shortly after the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, who died at the age of 82 in March 2025. The couple shared nearly 60 years of marriage.
“I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on,” Parton reflected. “I just got myself kind of where I needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. But, all is good. It didn’t slow me down.”
Parton humorously added that she is “not dating anybody,” and shared touching memories of her late husband. “I think Carl Dean’s waiting for me. If I should show up at the pearly gates with somebody else, he would not like that. He’d be saying, ‘Who’s that little pisser? You leave him outside the gates.’”
Additionally, Parton revealed that she is currently rewriting songs for her upcoming Broadway musical, Dolly: An Original Musical, which is expected to debut in New York later this year.
During the event, she also inspired the audience with advice on guidance in life. “Never forget who you are, never forget where you came from, and always kind of go back home,” Parton advised. “You can always go back home in your heart and in your mind.”
