NEW YORK (AP) — Dolly Parton addresses health rumors with a light-hearted video on social media, asserting she’s “not dead yet.”
The beloved country icon, 79, reassured her fans in a two-minute clip, saying, “There’s a lot of rumors going around, but I thought if you heard it from me, you’d know I’m okay.” She added, “I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is done with me. And I’m not done yet.”
Parton’s message appeared across her various social media platforms and websites, simply stating, “I’m not dead yet.”
At the end of last month, Parton had to postpone her first Las Vegas residency in 32 years, citing health concerns. She was set to perform six shows of “Dolly: Live in Las Vegas” from December 4 to December 13 at Caesars Palace, but now those dates have moved to September 2026.
While she didn’t go into much detail at the time, she mentioned her recent health struggles and that doctors advised her to undergo some procedures. She humorously noted it felt like time for her “100,000-mile checkup,” poking fun at the situation.
The new video features Parton speaking directly to the camera about working on a series of commercials for the Grand Ole Opry, celebrating its 100th year. “Everyone thinks I’m sicker than I actually am. Do I look sick to you guys? I’m working hard here! Anyway, I wanted to put everyone’s minds at ease,” she said. “And I appreciate your prayers because I’m a person of faith. I can use prayer for everything at any time.”
Concerns about her health arose after her sister, Freida Parton, shared a Facebook post saying she’d been “praying all night for my sister Dolly.” However, Freida later clarified her intentions, saying she didn’t mean to cause alarm and was simply believing in the power of prayer.
In the video, Parton also reflected on her late husband, Karl Dean, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 82. She admitted that after his illness and passing, she neglected her own health. “When I tried to fix it, the doctor said, ‘This needs to be treated.’ Nothing major, but I’ve been getting treatments here and there, so I had to cancel a few things,” she explained.
And as only Parton could, she ended the video with a joke, referencing a comical AI-generated image of her and Reba McEntire. “If I was really dying, I don’t think Reba would be on my deathbed,” she laughed. “She might come to visit me sooner.”
