Dolly Parton Says ‘I Ain’t Dead Yet’ as She Gives Health Update After Sister Asked for Prayers: ‘Do I Look Sick to You?’

Dolly Parton wants fans to know that despite some health woes, she is doing just fine.

Just one day after her sister Freida told fans she’d been “up all night praying” for the star, Parton, 79, addressed concerns about her recent health issues in a video shared to social media.

The “9 to 5” singer said on Wednesday, Oct. 8 that she was on set doing some commercials for the Grand Ole Opry, and noted that “lately everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am.”

“Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here! Anyway, I wanted to put everybody’s mind at ease, those of you that seem to be real concerned, which I appreciate,” she said. “I appreciate your prayers, ’cause 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 went on to say that some of her “problems” were linked to the aftermath of her husband Carl Dean’s death in March, when she neglected her own health. The couple was married for 58 years before Dean died on March 3 at age 82.

“Back 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, so I let a lot of things go that I should’ve been taking care of,” she said. “So anyway, when I got around to it, the doctor said, we need to take care of this. We need to take care of that. Nothing major, but I did have to cancel some things so I could be closer to home, closer to Vanderbilt [University Medical Center], where I’m kind of having a few treatments here and there, but I wanted you to know that I’m not dying.”

The star went on to joke about an AI photo circulating that showed her on her “death bed” with Reba McEntire, quipping that if she was “really dying,” McEntire likely wouldn’t be by her side.

“There’s just a lot of rumors flying around, but I figured if you heard it from me, you’d know that I was okay,” she said. “So anyhow, that’s what I wanted to say and I’m not ready to die yet. I don’t think God is through with me and I ain’t done working. So I love you for caring, and keep praying for me.”

The video comes just one day after Freida sparked concern with a Facebook post that encouraged fans to pray for the country legend, as she “hasn’t been feeling her best lately.”

“I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been lead [sic] to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me,” Freida, 68, wrote. “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. Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you!”

Freida later issued a clarification post, writing that she “didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious” when asking for prayers for her sister.

“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 wrote in a Facebook post.

On Sept. 28, Parton announced that she was postponing a number of her Las Vegas residency dates, as she must undergo “a few procedures” and would not have as much time as she’d like to rehearse.

“I want the fans and public to hear directly from me that, unfortunately, I will need to postpone my upcoming Las Vegas concerts,” Parton wrote in a statement shared to social media. “As many of you know, I’ve been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures. As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000 check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon!”

“In all seriousness, given this, 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 see good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you,” the “Jolene” singer added.

The Grammy winner also said that fans need not “worry about me quittin’ 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,” she concluded. “I love you and thank you for understanding.”

Parton then revealed that her concert dates scheduled for December 2025 will now take place in the fall of 2026.

The residency postponement came just over a week after Parton skipped an event at her Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. In a video, the star said she was dealing with a “little problem” that had forced her to sit out the event, an announcement of the park’s new Night Flight Expedition ride.

“I had a kidney stone that was causing me a lot of problems, turned out it’d given me an infection, and the doctor said, ‘You don’t need to be traveling right this minute, so you need a few days to get better,’” she said. “So, he suggested I not go to Dollywood today, but I’m there with you in spirit. I was so looking forward to it.”