Dolly Parton laughs off AI deathbed image in explosive 'I'm still alive' statement

Dolly Parton has issued a humorous health update, telling fans she 'ain't dead yet' amid ongoing 'health challenges'.

The 79-year-old even hit out at a disturbing AI image showing her on her 'death bed' with Reba McEntire by her side, joking that the country star probably wouldn't be the person at her bedside during her final moments.

"Did you see that AI picture of Reba and me? Oh lordy, I mean, they had Reba at my death bed and we both looked like we need to be buried," she joked in a clip shared to X.

"But I thought, oh my lord, but if I was really dying, I don’t think Reba would be the one at my death bed. She might come visit me earlier."

The light-hearted quip came as part of a wider update on Dolly's health after the 9-5 singer's sister admitted she'd been 'up all night praying' for her sibling.

"Last night I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly. Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately," Freida Parton wrote on 7 October.

"I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been lead to ask 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."

However, her comments left many fans fearing for Dolly's wellbeing, prompting her to set the record straight with a subsequent social media post.

"I want to clear something up. I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly," Freida wrote earlier today, 8 October.

"She’s been a little under the weather, and 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 concluded by thanking everyone for 'lifting her up,' adding 'your love truly makes a difference'.

It comes after Dolly rescheduled her Las Vegas residency at Colosseum at Caesars Palace from December to September 2026 as a result of 'health challenges.'

"I am not going to be able to rehearse and put together the show that I want you to see, and the show that you deserve to see. You pay good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you. I just need a little time to get show ready, as they say," she said.

"And don’t worry about me quitting the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet. But, I believe He is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you. I love you and thank you for understanding."