Dolly Parton was forced to make the difficult decision of postponing her highly anticipated Las Vegas residency in October 2025. This came as the global superstar had been plagued with health issues. Now, several months later, the 80-year-old “Jolene” singer has canceled the engagement.
Parton took to her official social media channels on May 4 to post a more than five-minute-long video. She began, “Well, hey there, it’s Dolly, and I’m here to give you an update on a few things going on in my life.”
From there, she shared that the news was “concerning [her] health, before saying, “I have some good news and a little bad news. But the good news is I’m responding really well to meds and treatments, and I’m improving every day.”
Regarding the “bad news,” Parton stated that “it’s gonna take me a little while before I’m up to stage performance level because some of the meds and treatments make me a little swimmy-headed, as my grandma used to say.”
The music icon went on to mention the demands of her show, the heels and heavy wardrobe, before comparing her health to a classic car that “can better than ever,” after being “restored.”
Dolly Went Into Specifics About Her Health
As the video continued, the singer spoke candidly about her health. According to her, “I’ve told you before that I’ve always had problems with my kidney stones. Lord, they dig more stones out of me a year than the rock quarry in Rockwood, Tenn. But seriously, my immune system and my digestive system got all out of whack over the past couple of years, and they’re working real hard on rebuilding their strength.”
After that, she admitted that her humor in the video was an attempt to remain positive. Parton said, “Anyway, I know I’m being silly, but I’m just tryin’ to keep everything light and airy.”
Later, Parton stated that she was “truly sorry” to those who had tickets to the Las Vegas residency and hoped they could make it to New York to see her upcoming musical.
Fans Are Rallying Around The ‘Jolene’ Singer
Parton has experienced quite a bit over the last few years in addition to her health concerns. Notably, her husband, Carl Thomas Dean, passed away in March 2025. Because of this, she’s received a ton of support from her fans following the announcement that she has canceled her Las Vegas residency.
One person said on X, “The stage can wait, take care of your health, and everything else will take care of itself. Bless you.” Someone else wrote, “You are the only person in the world who could turn medical news into something sweet and hilarious. God bless you, Dolly.”
A different social media user stated, “Always prioritize your health first, Dolly! Never feel bad for that, we love you!”
Lastly, another fan wrote, “Sending you all the love and hugs I can muster and praying for a complete healing for you, my dear!”
The Music Legend Also Spoke About Her Husband
Elsewhere in Parton’s May 2026 video, she mentioned her late husband, noting the support she’s received and how difficult life has been without him.
She said, “A lot of you have been concerned about me and Carl, and you were so great about that. But after going through a year of firsts, I mean the holidays, and especially our wedding anniversary, and the date of his death, March. 3, that was hard for me.”
Parton went on, “But I will always love him, and I will always miss him, but you would be surprised how much your love and concern meant to me during that time. Lord, my house and my porch looked like the botanical gardens….from the bottom of my heart I thank you; you have been a big part of my healing.”
Dolly Is Coming To Broadway
Parton’s story will soon be told on the Broadway stage in the production “Dolly: A True Original Musical.” The show premiered in Nashville in the summer of 2025. Now, it’s expected to open on the Big White Way either later in 2026 or early in 2027.
According to the show’s official website, three actresses portray Parton across three periods of her life. They are: Katie Rose Clarke, Carrie St. Louis, and Quinn Titcomb. The show is being directed by Bartlett Sher.
