Dolly Parton stepped out for a surprise appearance at Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop ribbon-cutting ceremony following her recent health struggles.
“I wanted to welcome all of you, we’re very excited about our truck stop,” the country singer, 80, said while standing outside the Cornersville, Tennessee, store on Wednesday, per NewsChannel5.
“I’ve spent my whole life traveling on the road, so anyway, I wanted to welcome you and say thanks.”
Parton took a playful jab at the fellow travel stop Buc-ee’s, whose mascot is a beaver, saying, “I’m sure some of you want to know why I wanted a truck stop.”
“Well, I couldn’t leave it to beavers. I had to throw my spurs in there myself,” she joked, adding that she didn’t have intentions of “trying to compete” with other businesses.
“We don’t think we’ll have to. We’re going to have everything you want or need,” she said. “So, thank you so much for coming.”
Parton gushed over the new business, telling spectators that she “could not be prouder” and built the travel stop for people “hauling loads, hauling the family, or just passing through,” per Rolling Stone.
The “Jolene” star’s latest appearance comes after she’s been dealing with a series of health issues since last year.
In September, she cancelled an appearance at Dollywood after suffering from kidney stones.
“Don’t worry about me, I’m gonna be OK,” she said, explaining that doctors ordered her to rest. “Just can’t do it today.”
In a taped video message to fans, she said she was following the doctor’s advice to rest.
That same month, Parton announced she was postponing her Las Vegas residency “Dolly: Live in Las Vegas” because of “health challenges” and a “few procedures.”
Additionally, the “9 to 5” singer didn’t attend her 80th birthday celebration in January.
Most recently, Parton ultimately canceled her Las Vegas residency and shared in a pre-recorded video in May that it would take her time to be able to be “up to stage performance level.”
“The good news is I’m responding really well to meds and treatments and I’m improving every day,” she said. “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.”
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