Dolly Parton has kept a low profile in the months after canceling her Las Vegas residency. The tour dates were initially supposed to happen in late 2025. However, she abruptly pulled the plug months before she was set to take the stage. She cited orders from her doctor amid mounting health issues.
The “9 to 5” singer spent her birthday in January alone after canceling a huge celebration. She said she was still feeling under the weather. Dolly Parton finally made her first public appearance in months. She admitted she was “worn down” amid health and personal issues. Keep reading for more on how she’s doing now.
Dolly Parton Makes Rare Public Appearance
Dolly Parton turned 80 in January. She canceled an appearance, but sent fans a heartfelt thanks for their well-wishes. The cancellation was one of several since last year. The singer has been dealing with the deeply personal loss of her spouse.
Carl Dean passed away in March 2025 at the age of 82. While rarely seen in public, he was Dolly Parton’s biggest supporter behind the scenes. The loss was heartbreaking but not unexpected, as he had been ill for quite some time. Dolly Parton stopped touring years before his death to stay home and care for him.
To help cope with the absence of her husband, she planned a huge Las Vegas residency that was supposed to kick off in late 2025. It was postponed until September 2026. In addition to dealing with grief, the “Jolene” singer struggled with health problems. Her sister sparked nationwide concern by asking for prayers for Dolly Parton amid the health crisis. However, Dolly Parton let fans know that she wasn’t on death’s door.
But her health may have been worse than she let on. Dolly Parton made a rare public appearance at Dollywood’s opening for the 2026 season on Friday, March 13. It is the popular theme park’s 41st year.
‘Worn Down’ After Health Issues, Shares Update
“I’ve not been touring, as you know. I’ve had a few little health issues, and we’re taking good care of them,” Dolly Parton said in a speech shared by WVLT 8.
She continued, “I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on. 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.”
Dolly Parton is feeling better than ever, which she proved by making a joke that only she can.
Iconic Entertainer Shuts Down Dating Rumors
Dolly Parton was married to her husband for over 50 years. Carl Dean was her first and only love, aside from music. During her speech at Dollywood, the singer joked that Dollywood Company President Eugene Naughton isn’t her “new husband.” She made it clear that she wasn’t dating anyone, nor did she have any interest in it.
“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,’” she quipped. Stay tuned for more from the iconic performer.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
