Dolly Partoncancelled her Las Vegas residency shows amid health concerns, but insisted her condition is treatable and improving.
In a candidfive-minute Instagram message, the 79-year-old country icon shared that she is responding well to medication and treatment. However, she needs more time before returning to the stage.
"I'm here to give you an update on a few things going on in my life. First, it's concerning my health. And I have some good news and a little bad news," Parton said. "The good news is I'm responding really well to meds and treatments and I'm improving every day. Now, the bad news is, it's going to take me a little while before I'm up to stage performance level, because some of the meds and treatments make me a little bit swimmy-headed, as my grandma used to say."
Parton explained that the side effects have made it difficult to perform at her usual level, especially given the physical demands of her shows. Parton added that long-standing issues with kidney stones, along with complications affecting her immune and digestive systems, have contributed to her recent health struggles. She said her doctors have assured her that everything she has is treatable.
"And of course, I can't be dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars and such on five inch heels, and you know that I'm going to be wearing them. Not to mention all those heavy rhinestone outfits, the big hair, my big uh personality," she joked while delivering the news.
Despite the painful issues she's had with kidney stones, she framed her recovery with humor and compared her body to a classic car in need of restoration.
"When they raised the hood on this old antique, they realized that I need to rebuild my engine, and that my transmission is slipping, my oil pan is leaking, and my muffler's busted, and my shocks and pistons need to be replaced, and for sure, my spark plugs need to be changed, because you know, as well as I know, that I can't lose my spark."
Parton said she remains actively at work, just on on a stage, continuing to record music, visitDollywoodand develop several major projects. She was also recently inducted into theMusicians Hall of Fame and Museum, where she accepted the honor via a pre-recorded video message.
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“I am still working. I still do videos, I still record, I run up and down to Dollywood now and then, and I'm working hard on gettingmy museumand my hotel open in Nashville later this year. And I am spending a lot of time writing and reworking on my Broadway musical. It's called 'Dolly, a true original musical.'"
She also addressed the emotional toll of the past year following the death of her husband,Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 after nearly six decades of marriage.
"I just want you to know also that a lot of you've been concerned about me and Carl, and you were so great about that. But after going through a year first, I mean, the holidays, and especially our wedding anniversary, and the day of his death, March 3rd, you know, that was hard for me, but I will always love him and I'll always miss him."
Parton said the outpouring of support from fans helped her through the grief.
"Lord, my house and my porch looked like the botanical gardens with all the flowers, and my den looked like the post office with all the cards and letters. So yes, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you. You have been a big part of my healing."
As she continues her recovery, Parton promised to return to the spotlight when she is ready.
"I just want you to know I thank you for standing by me and that I will always love you," she said.
Bryan West is a music reporter at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him onInstagram,TikTokandX as @BryanWestTV.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Dolly Parton's health derail Vegas shows, star still healing
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