Dolly Parton is setting the record straight on her health as she prepares to turn 80 – and the country music legend insists she has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
The Grammy winner, who turned 80 on Monday, recently brushed off concerns about her age to People as she emphasized that she still feels energized by what lies ahead.
‘People say, “Well, you’re going to be 80 years old.” Well, so what? Look at all I’ve done in 80 years,’ Parton said. ‘I feel like I’m just getting started.’
While acknowledging that health is ultimately the deciding factor, the 9 to 5 hitmaker reassured fans that she’s doing well.
‘I know that sounds stupid, but unless my health gives way, which right now I seem to be doing fine,’ she added.
Earlier this month, Parton reignited fears over her health after revealing she would not attend the Grand Ole Opry’s 80th birthday concert.
Dolly Parton is setting the record straight on her health as she prepares to turn 80 – and the country music legend insists she has no plans to slow down anytime soon
Parton has been the subject of frightened rumors in the past few months, particularly after her sister, Freida, asked the public for prayers in October while the singer suffered from an illness that remains a mystery.
At that time, Parton quickly allayed her admirers’ concerns by posting a video of herself looking sprightly at an ad shoot and crowing: ‘I ain’t dead yet!’
Nevertheless, her medical problems forced her to postpone her Las Vegas residency and withdraw from multiple public events near the end of last year.
When she announced that she would miss the tribute concert to her at the Grand Ole Opry, speculation abounded that she had pulled out for medical reasons.
However, a representative for Parton has now informed the Daily Mail: ‘She was never intending to be there and she was never promoted to be there, so she’s not pulling out of anything. She was never going.’
The representative added that the Grand Ole Opry has thrown an annual birthday concert for Parton for the last four years and she only attended the first one.
Earlier this month, Parton appeared in an Instagram video for the Grand Ole Opry to promote the concert, while sharing she would be absent from the event.
‘Well, hey there, Grand Ole Opry family!’ she said. ‘I just wanted to say how much it means to me that you’re all coming together again this year to celebrate my big old birthday with some of my songs.’
The Grammy winner recently brushed off concerns about her age to People as she emphasized that she still feels energized by what lies ahead
The Jolene songstress continued: ‘Some of my favorite memories happened right here onstage at the Grand Ole Opry and I wish I could be there in person, but I’ll be sending you all my love for sure, so you have the best night ever!’
Held on January 17, two days before her actual birthday, the concert featured a glittering lineup including Lainey Wilson, Vince Gill and Rhonda Wilson.
Parton first discussed her medical issues in September when she announced that her Las Vegas residency, which was meant to take place in December, had to be pushed to September 2026 because of ‘some health challenges.’
Then, in early October, Freida struck fear into the hearts of fans by pleading with them to pray for the country icon.
‘Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly,’ Freida wrote on Facebook on October 7. ‘Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been led to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me.’
‘People say, “Well, you’re going to be 80 years old.” Well, so what? Look at all I’ve done in 80 years,’ Parton said. ‘I feel like I’m just getting started’
Parton first discussed her medical issues in September when she announced that her Las Vegas residency, slated for December, had to be pushed to September 2026
As panic mounted, Freida backpedaled, trying to assure the public her sister had ‘been a little under the weather’ but that she never intended to ‘make it sound so serious’ and merely issued her request out of a belief in ‘the power of prayer.’
Parton herself then posted a video of herself in hair, makeup and costume at an ad shoot for the Grand Ole Opry in order to comfort her fans.
‘Do I look sick to you?’ she chirpily asked, adding that ‘I appreciate your prayers, because I’m a person of faith, I can always use the prayers for anything and everything, but I want you to know that I’m okay!’
Parton, whose husband of 59 years, Carl Dean, died last March at the age of 82, has been battling kidney stones.
