Dolly Parton issues heartfelt video message hours after pulling out of rare public appearance
Doctors ordered Dolly Parton to pull the plug on a public appearance amid the music star's continuing health woes.
The 'Queen of Country' issued an apology to the army of adoring fans who headed to her 165-acre theme park Dollywood in the hopes of getting a glimpse of her.
In a video message that was broadcast to attendees, she revealed that medics forbid her from travelling to the attraction in Tennessee due to the 'few little health issues' she is currently dealing with.
Loyal visitors of Dollywood were invited to the theme park on Friday (14 August) for the launch of a new 'immersive indoor adventure coaster' named the NightFlight Expedition.
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According to the park's president, Eugene Naughton, it is the most expensive ride to join the fleet in Dollywood's history - and it is said to have cost in excess of $60million.
Naughton described it as the 'biggest and most technology-advanced ride we've ever done'.
Prior to its official debut, people who have season passes to Dollywood were invited down for an exclusive preview, which Parton herself was supposed to attend.
However, the 'Jolene' singer was forced to pull out of the rare public appearance at the eleventh hour after enduring bouts of dizziness and dehydration.
Her last minute cancellation has raised concerns among fans of Parton, as the country music legend has been battling health problems for the last year.
Parton's husband of almost six decades, Carl Dean, passed away in March 2025 at the age of 82, before she then cancelled a string of scheduled concerts in Las Vegas later in the year.
She spoke out about becoming 'worn out' while dually 'grieving' her spouse a few months ago, telling fans she was determined to 'build herself back up spiritually, emotionally, and physically'.
Although fans have been hoping that Parton would be feeling a lot better by now, it appears she isn't completely out of the woods yet.
Instead of her physically appearing at the NightFlight Expedition launch as planned, a video message from the 11-time Grammy winner was broadcast to the crowd while Naughton assumed hosting duties.
While explaining the reason for her absence, Parton noted that she was still in Nashville and was told she couldn't make the journey to the city of Pigeon Forge, where Dollywood is located, by her doctor.
"I’m supposed to be there in person, like we planned," Parton said, before referencing the delays with the new ride. "I've had my butterfly wings flappin' since May 15 when we were due to open the first time, and again in June.
"But I know we had to make sure this is the safest, since it is the biggest and the most expensive ride we have ever added to Dollywood. So, we're gonna open it today.
"That's why I'm here, because my little butterfly wings are getting kinda tired.
"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. And 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."
Parton clarified that 'all is going well on the medical end of thing' and told her fans she 'likes to keep them all in the loop about everything going on with her'.
Adorably, she sported a pair of digitally-implemented fairy wings on her back in the video message - proving she has still got plenty of fluttering and flappin' left to do.
Parton hasn't outright confirmed what health battles she is facing, but told fans she was 'responding really well to meds and treatments' in a social media post back in May.
"I’m improving every day," she said. "Bad news is it’s gonna 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.
"Of course I can’t be dizzy, carrying around banjos, guitars and such on five-inch heels. And you know that I’m gonna be wearing them!
"I’m doing really well, and they assure me that everything I have is treatable, so I’m going with that, and I just want you to know I thank you for standing by me and that I will always love you."
In October last year, Parton issued an update on her health after a a disturbing AI image showing her on her 'death bed' with Reba McEntire by her side began circulating online.
Topics: Dolly Parton, US News, Theme Park, Health
Olivia Burke