Dolly Parton during her first public appearance in months, provides an update on her health
Quote from Oladosun Joshua Segun on March 13, 2026, 9:28 PM
Dolly Parton has returned to her 9 to 5 job. The country music icon talked about her health issues over the past few months, which led her to postpone her September residency in Las Vegas, a year after her husband Carl Dean passed away.
"I've been not touring, as you know,” on March 13, Dolly made a face-to-face appearance at her Dollywood entertainment park. “I've had a few little health issues, and we're taking good care of them.”
https://www.youtube.com/live/VI8msoeOhYk?si=7qzz9S4Xxf-9s4k_
The 80-year-old also hinted at the root of her unreported health problems. She last appeared in public in May.
“I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on," she added. "I just got myself kind of where I needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally and physically.”
Dolly also allayed the concerns of her followers by saying, “All is good. It didn't slow me down."
The "Jolene" singer said that she has "been up to a lot" recently, including working on her next Broadway show Dolly: A True Original Musical, now that she is "back to normal."
“I’ve just been doing a lot of writing, a lot of thinking, a lot of praying and a lot of getting ready for a lot of new stuff coming up for the rest of this whole year,” she stated. “So, be ready for me. I ain’t done, I ain’t near done.”
Looking for love, however, has not been on Dolly's to-do list. In fact, when her 58-year husband passed away in March of last year, she confirmed that she is "not dating anybody" in order to quell speculations of a new romance.
"I think Carl Dean's waiting for me on the other side," she stated. "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.'"

Dolly Parton has returned to her 9 to 5 job. The country music icon talked about her health issues over the past few months, which led her to postpone her September residency in Las Vegas, a year after her husband Carl Dean passed away.
"I've been not touring, as you know,” on March 13, Dolly made a face-to-face appearance at her Dollywood entertainment park. “I've had a few little health issues, and we're taking good care of them.”
The 80-year-old also hinted at the root of her unreported health problems. She last appeared in public in May.
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“I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on," she added. "I just got myself kind of where I needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally and physically.”
Dolly also allayed the concerns of her followers by saying, “All is good. It didn't slow me down."
The "Jolene" singer said that she has "been up to a lot" recently, including working on her next Broadway show Dolly: A True Original Musical, now that she is "back to normal."
“I’ve just been doing a lot of writing, a lot of thinking, a lot of praying and a lot of getting ready for a lot of new stuff coming up for the rest of this whole year,” she stated. “So, be ready for me. I ain’t done, I ain’t near done.”
Looking for love, however, has not been on Dolly's to-do list. In fact, when her 58-year husband passed away in March of last year, she confirmed that she is "not dating anybody" in order to quell speculations of a new romance.

"I think Carl Dean's waiting for me on the other side," she stated. "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.'"

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