Dolly Parton is sharing an update about her health during her first major public appearance of 2026.
On Friday (March 13), the iconic 80-year-old singer delivered a keynote address on opening day at her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee, celebrating the park’s 41st anniversary.
“I’ve not been touring, as you know,” Parton said, according to footage shared by local station WVLT 8. “I’ve had a few little health issues, and we’re taking good care of them.”
Parton’s Dollywood visit comes months after the “Jolene” hitmaker postponed her Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace due to undisclosed medical procedures. The residency, originally set to start in December, is now scheduled to begin in mid-September.
The postponement also followed the death of her husband, Carl Dean, who passed away at age 82 in March 2025. The couple had been married for nearly 60 years.
“I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on,” Parton continued. “I just got myself kind of where I needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. But, all is good. It didn’t slow me down.”
She then joked that she’s “not dating anybody,” before sharing more heartfelt words about her late husband. “I think Carl Dean’s waiting for me,” she said. “If I should show up at the pearly gates with somebody else, he would not like that. He’d be saying, ‘Who’s that little pisser? You leave him outside the gates.’ ”
Parton also revealed Friday that she’s rewriting songs for her upcoming Broadway musical, Dolly: An Original Musical, which is expected to launch in New York this year.
At the event, Parton took a question from the audience about the guidance she follows in life. “Never forget who you are, never forget where you came from, and always kind of go back home,” Parton responded. “You can always go back home in your heart and in your mind.”
