Dolly Parton, who recently caused concern among her fans due to health issues, shared a cheerful Thanksgiving message on Instagram, appearing healthy and upbeat on Thursday.
Looking animated in a brown tweed top and her signature blonde hair styled in a slightly curled updo, the 79-year-old music legend greeted her followers warmly.
“Hi! This is Dolly here, wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving,” she expressed. “I’m incredibly grateful for all of you and the wonderful memories we’ve shared over the years. I appreciate every one of you and want you to know I will always love you.”
Parton had earlier postponed a trip to Las Vegas due to health concerns, informing her fans that her doctors advised her to undergo “some surgeries.”
She humorously told her fans, “I joked with them that it’s not really my usual time to see an orthopedic surgeon, but I guess it’s time for a 100,000-mile checkup. Honestly, I don’t think I’d be able to rehearse and put on the show that you deserve.”
Fans grew increasingly worried after her sister Frieda posted on Facebook, saying she had been “pulling up all night praying” for Dolly.
She expressed confidence in Parton’s strength, saying, “Every prayer has been answered for her and in my heart I know she will be okay. Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you!”
Frieda later reassured everyone that she didn’t mean to alarm anyone by requesting prayers, noting, “She’s not feeling well.”
Parton took to X to reassure her fans, stating, “I’m not dead yet!” In her video, she addressed misconceptions about her health, saying, “Everyone thinks I’m sicker than I am.”
Continuing, she affirmed, “Do I look sick? I’m working hard here. I just wanted to ease your minds. I know you were genuinely concerned, and I appreciate it. Thank you for your prayers.”
Despite the health challenges, the 11-time Grammy winner recently told People that she’s in no rush to slow down. “People say, ‘Well, you’re going to be 80 years old now.’ Well, so what? Just look at what I’ve done in 80 years. It feels like we’re just getting started,” she remarked.
Dolly emphasized her positive outlook, saying, “As long as my health holds up, I feel fine right now. I think there’s something to be said about age. If you let yourself get older, then you will. But I say there’s no time to age! I don’t have time to think about that—it’s not on my mind.”
