Dolly Parton, who canceled her Las Vegas residency in May and has stayed away from public events due to health problems, said she remains active while recovering and is working on new ways to bring her music to fans.
The 80-year-old singer and songwriter told People magazine on Friday that she was dealing with health issues she had neglected while caring for Carl Thomas Dean, her late husband, who died in March 2025 at age 82.
The 'Jolene' singer said this was not the first time she had faced difficult health moments, but that in an era of constant activity and social media, everything gets magnified in a way that did not happen years ago.
From 'Queen of the Tabloids' to Social Media
Parton said she used to joke that she was the "queen of the tabloids," but now supposes she can say she is the queen of social media. She added that although she is still recovering, she continues to work.
Parton revealed that she and her team are collaborating with companies that create avatar performances, describing the project as being in its early stages of development.
Canceled Appearances
Her comments come after she canceled her attendance last week at the opening of NightFlight Expedition at Dollywood, her theme park in Tennessee.
In a recorded video, Parton said her doctor in Nashville had essentially grounded her by telling her she was not going to travel that week, and that when a doctor says that, you do not travel that week. She apologized in the video and said she had been feeling dizzy and dehydrated.
Las Vegas Residency Canceled
In May, Parton announced the cancellation of her Las Vegas residency, which had originally been scheduled for December 2025 and later postponed to this coming September.
A Country Music Icon
Dolly Parton is regarded as one of the most influential country singers in history. She has won eleven Grammy Awards and, in addition to her work in film, is also a philanthropist and businesswoman.
