‘I ain’t dead yet!’ Dolly Parton gives health update

If country music legend Dolly Parton were to write a song about the last 48 hours, it might be titled I Ain’t Dead Yet. Despite a plea for prayers from her sister Freida, and an avalanche of concern from fans, the 79-year-old music legend has reassured the world she is okay with those very words.

“Do I look sick to you?” Parton said, in a post on social media, filmed while she was shooting on set. “I’m working hard here! Anyway, I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease, those of you that seem to be real concerned, which I appreciate,” Parton said. “I appreciate your prayers, ’cause I’m a person of faith. I want you to know that I’m okay.”

“I’ve got some problems,” Parton said in the video, acknowledging that when her husband Carl Dean passed away in March, she did not take care of herself.

“I let a lot of things go that I should’ve been taking care of,” Parton said. “Nothing major, but I did have to cancel some things, so I could be closer to home ... but I wanted you to know that I’m not dying.”

Earlier, Parton’s sister Freida gave the world the willies after posting an emotional message to fans on social media on Wednesday morning (AEDT), following Parton cancelling a series of shows.

“Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly,” Freida Parton posted on her Facebook page. “Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I [am asking] all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me.

“She’s strong, she’s loved, and with all the prayers being lifted for her, I know in my heart she’s going to be just fine. Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you! ,” Freida Parton wrote.

Freida later issued a clarification, in response to fan concerns for Parton’s welfare, saying that she did not “mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious” when asking for prayers for Dolly. “I simply asked for prayers because I believe so strongly in the power of prayer. It was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister,” she wrote.

The story surfaced after Parton cancelled a series of Vegas shows with a slightly tongue-in-cheek, albeit worrying post on Instagram on September 29. “As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures,” she wrote. “As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon.”

The 79-year-old said her fans paid “good money” to see her so she wanted to be at her best. “And don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet.”

Last month Parton was unable to attend the announcement of a new ride at her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee, revealing in a video message at the event she had kidney stones, local station WATE 6 News reported.

“I had a little problem, I had a kidney stone that was causing me a lot of problem, turned out [it had] given me an infection and the doctor said ‘You don’t need to be travelling right this minute, so you need a few days to get better’ so he suggested I not go to Dollywood today, but I’m there with you in spirit,” Parton said.

It has been a challenging year for Parton. In March, her husband of nearly 60 years Carl Dean died, aged 82. “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,” Parton wrote in a statement at the time.

Dean had largely avoided the spotlight but was responsible for inspiring Parton to write one of her biggest hits – Joelene. In 2008, the singer told NPR she wrote the track about a flirty bank teller who took an interest in Dean.

“She got this terrible crush on my husband,” she said. “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us ... So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.