Tennessee’s favorite daughter, Dolly Parton, is clearing the air once and for all. She’s just fine. After a whirlwind of rumors spread across social media about her supposedly failing health, the country legend took to video this week to reassure fans that she’s not only alive and well, but working as hard as ever.
From her set at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, the 79-year-old superstar looked vibrant as ever in a red-and-black fringe top, flashing that signature Dolly smile. “I wanted to say, I know lately everybody thinks that I’m sicker than I am,” she said in her trademark Southern drawl. “Do I look sick to you? I’m workin’ hard here,” per CNN.
The video, captioned “I ain’t dead yet!” quickly went viral because, who else but Dolly could make rumors about her own death sound charming? The Tennessee native explained that while she’s had a few health hiccups recently, things are nowhere near as dramatic as people are making them out to be.
Dolly Parton Sets The Record Straight On Health Issues
“I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease,” she continued. “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 ok.”
Of course, Dolly’s fans have had reason to worry lately. Last month, she postponed her highly anticipated December Las Vegas concerts, citing some “health challenges.” She later revealed she needed to undergo “a few procedures,” though she assured everyone it was nothing major.
“When my husband Carl was very sick — that was for a long time — and then when he passed, I didn’t take care of myself,” Dolly admitted. “So I let a lot of things go that I should have been taking care of.”
Her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, passed away in March, and it’s no surprise the loss took an emotional toll. Still, Dolly’s resilience has always been one of her strongest traits, and true to form, she’s facing this chapter with grace and good humor.
Dolly’s Tennessee Family Is Pulling For Her
But the rumor mill didn’t slow down after she canceled her shows. Things escalated when Dolly’s sister, Freida, took to Facebook asking fans to pray for her famous sibling, saying she’d been “up all night praying.”
Naturally, fans went into panic mode, assuming the worst. Freida later clarified that she didn’t mean to scare anyone — she was just being a concerned sister. Another sister, Stella, even chimed in, confirming Dolly was fine and gently scolding fans for demanding constant updates.
However, the Queen of Country wants to make it perfectly clear: she’s not going anywhere anytime soon. So, while the internet might be quick to jump to conclusions, Dolly Parton is proving that she’s tougher than any rumor. “I’m ok,” she said with a wink. “I’m still here, still singing, and still spreading love.” While she may be surrounded by family in Tennessee, Dolly is making it clear that she’s not doing just fine.
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