Dolly Parton Shares Happy New Year Message With Fans

It’s been a characteristically busy year for Parton, though not one without some heartache and difficulties. Back in March, Parton announced that her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, had died at the age of 82. “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” Parton said in a statement at the time. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.” 

A few days after Dean’s death, Parton released a new song, ”If You Hadn’t Been There,” which she dedicated to her late husband. While she soon returned to the public eye and the stage, she later revealed on Khloé Kardashian’s podcast that she had put her songwriting “on hold” in the wake of the loss. 

“Several things I’ve wanted to start, but I can’t do it,” she said. “I will later, but I’m just coming up with such wonderful, beautiful ideas. But I think I won’t finish it… I can’t do it right now because I’ve got so many other things that I can’t afford the luxury of getting that emotional right now. So there are times like that, things like that that will start here a little bit, but I’ll write something else, though, if it comes. So I’m just putting that all on hold.”

Then in September, Parton announced that she was postponing six scheduled concerts in Las Vegas after “health challenges” derailed her rehearsals. Parton did not provide any specifics, saying only that her doctors told her “that I must have a few procedures.” Parton eventually rescheduled the shows for September 2026. 

Amidst all that, Parton enjoyed several milestones: She collaborated with Sabrina Carpenter on a remix of “Please Please Please”; dropped a video for her rendition of Mötley Crüe’s “Home Sweet Home” featuring the hair metal greats; and she received an honorary Oscar at the Motion Picture Academy’s Governors Awards.