Dolly Parton gives fans a life update opening up about her health and work

She also opened up about losing her husband a year ago

Dolly Parton
Author: Anna Sky MagliolaPublished 5th May 2026

Country legend Dolly Parton has shared a candid video with fans giving them an update on things in her life, including her health and music.

Sharing details on social media, Dolly captioned her video: 'Thank you for standing by me and showing me so much love and support over the past year. I’ve still got some healing to do, but I am on my way! See you soon. 💖 🦋'.

Dolly Parton's health

Telling her fans in the video: "Well hey there, it's Dolly! And I'm here to give you an update on a few things going on in my life."

She went on to tell her fans that she had some "good news and a little bad news" about her health. The 'Jolene' singer told fans that she's responding really well to "meds and treatments and improving every day".

The singer then went on to explain that it will be a while before she can perform on stage again, as the meds make her a bit "swimmy-headed".

Dolly compared herself to an antique car, needing a new transmission, joking: "Just think of me as like an old classic car, that once restored, can be better than ever. But when they raised the hood on this old antique they realised that I need to rebuild my engine, and that my transmission is slipping..."

The singer explained she's had problems with kidney stones for a while, and her immune system and digestive system "got all out of whack", but her doctors are working hard and everything is treatable.

Dolly's work

Despite not being able to continue performing at the moment, Dolly confirmed she is still working, telling fans: "I still do videos, I still record, I run up and down to Dollywood now and then. And I'm working hard on getting my museum and hotel open in Nashville later this year. And I am spending a lot of time writing and reworking on my Broadway musical. It's called DOLLY: A True Original Musical."

Dolly's late husband Carl

After Dolly's husband Carl passed away last year, the singer addressed her fans' concerns, throughout what she called a "year of firsts". The singer continued: "I mean the holidays and especially our wedding anniversary and the day of his death, March 3rd. You know, that was hard for me, but I will always love him and I'll always miss him. But you would be surprised at how much your love and concern meant to me during that time."

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