Dolly Parton Silences Health Rumors with Jocular Instagram Video

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Dolly Parton took to Instagram on Wednesday to quell worries about her health, responding to rampant speculation that she was gravely ill.

In a light-hearted video, the 79-year-old country music icon declared, “I ain’t dead yet!” Parton made her remarks while on set filming commercials for the Grand Ole Opry. She assured fans that her health issues are “nothing major” and she’s “not dying.”

Concerns about Parton’s health arose after her sister, Freida Parton, posted on Facebook Tuesday, urging fans to pray for the singer. “Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately… I truly believe in the power of prayer,” Freida wrote, prompting widespread anxiety among fans.

The rumors intensified after Parton announced on September 28 that she was postponing her Las Vegas residency due to health challenges. “As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges,” Parton described at the time, humorously calling it her “100,000-mile check-up.”

A source indicated that Parton has been facing kidney stones. Her manager, Olly Rowland, confirmed that the situation was not severe, stating, “It’s just the kidney stones and the procedure she needs.”

In her video, Parton expressed that her health struggles were a wake-up call. She noted she had neglected her health after the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, earlier this year. “I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease,” she said. “I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was okay.”

Freida later clarified her Facebook post, saying she didn’t mean to alarm anyone. Another sister, Stella Parton, also confirmed on social media that Dolly’s condition primarily involved kidney stones and requested fans to respect their family’s privacy.

In closing her video message, Parton left fans with her characteristic cheerfulness: “I’m not ready to die yet, I don’t think God is through with me and I ain’t done working.”