Dolly Parton has raised concern among fans after pulling the plug on her Las Vegas residency, citing health issues.
This isn’t the first occasion in recent months the iconic Country music star has worried supporters with speculation surrounding her wellbeing.
The 80-year-old had previously postponed her Vegas residency to September this year, after it was initially slated for December 2025.
However, earlier this week, the Jolene singer announced that all performances have been canceled, delivering the “bad news” to her audience.
While Dolly didn’t offer details about her specific condition, she reassured fans that she was responding well to her doctors’ treatment and medication. The performer revealed she was taking time away to reach “stage level” because she couldn’t perform while experiencing dizziness.
In a statement, she said: “The good news is I’m responding really well to meds and treatments, and I’m improving every day,” she said in the Instagram video.
“Now the bad news is, it’s going to take me a little while before I’m up to stage-performance level because some of the meds and treatments make me a little bit swimmy-headed, as my grandma used to say.”
“And of course, I can’t be dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars, and such on five-inch heels – and you know that I’m going to be wearing them,” she joked.
“Not to mention, all those heavy rhinestone outfits, the big hair, my big… uh, personality. Lord, those – that would make anybody swimmy-headed!” She reassured her supporters that her physicians have confirmed: “that everything I have is treatable, so I’m going with that”.
Parton revealed she had “problems with my kidney stones” and that her immune and digestive systems “got all out of whack over the past couple of three years and they’re working real hard on rebuilding and strengthening those”.
Despite her health challenges, she remains committed to launching her museum and hotel in Nashville, alongside her Broadway musical, scheduled to debut in New York later this year.
Last month, Dolly was notably missing from Disney’s The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, where her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, returned to her beloved character. While Miley’s former castmates participated in the special, which featured her donning the signature blonde wig again, Dolly’s absence was conspicuous.
Her nonattendance stemmed from persistent health concerns and scheduling complications, though she is believed to have been supporting Miley from behind the scenes.
The situation intensified when Dolly’s sister created a stir by revealing to fans she’d been ‘up all night praying’ for the singer – sparking speculation that the Jolene hitmaker was gravely ill.
Freida Parton stated: “Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly. Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been lead to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me.
“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!”
Following widespread worry among fans, Olly Rowland from Dolly’s management team clarified that the situation had been significantly exaggerated.
He stated: “It’s just the kidney stones, and the procedure she needs to resolve those. It’s just the kidney stones, and the procedure she needs to resolve those.”
Dolly herself then dismissed the worry with humor, posting a video declaring ‘I ain’t dead yet.’
She said: “I know lately everybody thinks that I’m sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard.”
In the clip, Parton expressed gratitude for fan support and acknowledged “I didn’t take care of myself” following her husband’s passing. She mourned the loss of her cherished husband Carl Dean in March 2025 after 60 years of marriage.
Previously, in November of last year, Dolly was unable to attend the Hall of Fame ceremony for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), for Dollywood, also citing health issues.
Just weeks before that, she informed supporters she’d been dealing with “a lot of problems” and couldn’t participate in an on-site event at Dollywood. In a pre-recorded message, she explained: “Hello Dollywood! It’s me, I know – and I’m here, and you’re there. And you’re wondering why that is? Well, I had a little problem.
“I had a kidney stone that was causing me a lot of problems, turned out it’s given me an infection, and the doctor said, ‘You don’t need to be travelling right this minute, so you need a few days to get better.'” During that same period, Dolly revealed an unspecified medical issue that compelled her to reschedule her original Las Vegas performances.
Taking to social media, she announced: “I want the fans and public to hear directly from me that, unfortunately, I will need to postpone my upcoming Las Vegas concerts. As many of you know, I have 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-mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon!”
She added: “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.” Late last year, an insider close to the star reported: “Dolly is getting better every day.
“She is at home taking care of herself while many friends and family visit her.” On Monday, the entertainer provided an update: “I am here to give you an update on a few things in my life. First, it’s concerning my health, and I have some good news and a little bad news, but the good news is I’m responding well to meds and treatments, and I am improving every day.
“The bad news is it’s gonna take me a little while before I’m up to stage level because some of the meds and treatments make me a little bit swim-headed as my grandma used to say and of course I can’t be dizzy carrying around banjos and guitars and such on five-inch heels, not to mention all those rhinestone outfits, my big hair my big, uh, personality, that would make anyone swim-headed.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
