'My doctor clipped my wings': Dolly Parton issues rare health update after being forced to cancel appearance

Dolly Parton has had her "wings clipped" - but it’s all in the name of her health.

The country music legend, who turned 80 this year, was scheduled to appear at the launch of a new ride at her iconic Dollywood theme park in Tennessee but dropped out at the last minute, offering fans a pre-recorded message instead.

In the video, a typically made-up Dolly, complete with bold blue and pink eyeshadow and a sparkly rhinestone jacket, told fans, "I’m supposed to be there in person, like we planned. Now I’ve told you before, all my fans, that I have had a few little health issues. And sometimes I get a little dizzy, and I get dehydrated."

She continued, "I’m dehydrated. And so my Nashville doctor clipped my wings, saying you ain’t travelling this week. So I guess if your doctor tells you you ain’t travelling this week, you ain’t travelling this week."

Dolly, famous for her relentless work ethic and energy, has faced a few cancellations and rescheduling in the past couple of years, often addressing her health in a joking matter.

Last September, she had to cancel a different Dollywood event. In a message back then, she announced, "Hello, Dollywood! It’s me. I know, I’m here, and you’re there. And you’re wondering why that is?

"Well, I had a little problem. I had a kidney stone that was causing me a lot of problems. Turned out it’d 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.’"

The Jolene singer also postponed a much-publicised sell-out Las Vegas residency that was set to run in September of this year. Dolly has previously said that the death of her husband Carl Dean in 2025, at the age of 82, led her to not “take care of” herself - but she wanted to reassure fans that she had plenty of life left in her, especially after a post from her sister caused concern.

Her sister, Freida Parton, had fans fearing the worst when she asked for their prayers for her sister. In classic Dolly style, she responded with a hilarious video where she quipped, "I ain’t dead yet."

In the video, she explained, “I wanted to say I know lately everybody thinks I am sicker than I am - do I look sick to you?

"I appreciate your prayers because I’m a person of faith. I want you to know that I’m okay. I’ve got some problems as I’ve mentioned. There’s just a lot of rumours flying around, but I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was okay.

"I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is through with me and I ain’t done working. So I love you for caring, and keep praying for me."