{"id":2476069,"date":"2026-06-25T23:50:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T23:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2476069"},"modified":"2026-06-25T23:50:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T23:50:53","slug":"dolly-parton-makes-surprise-appearance-complete-with-a-joke-amid-health-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/dolly-parton-makes-surprise-appearance-complete-with-a-joke-amid-health-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Dolly Parton makes surprise appearance \u2014 complete with a joke \u2014 amid health issues"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">Key Points<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Dolly Parton, 80, has dealt with health issues in recent years that caused her to cancel a planned Las Vegas residency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But the country queen made an appearance Wednesday at the opening of a Dolly&#8217;s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tenn.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Parton adds her truck stop to a portfolio of business ventures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/person\/dolly-parton\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Dolly Parton;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Dolly Parton&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Dolly Parton<\/a> has had health troubles lately, but that didn&#8217;t stop the 80-year-old entertainer from making an appearance Wednesday at the new Dolly&#8217;s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tenn.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Just last month, the country music legend <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/dolly-parton-cancels-vegas-shows-over-health-issues-11965450\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:canceled her residency;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;canceled her residency&quot;}\" class=\"link \">canceled her residency<\/a> set for Las Vegas. She had previously postponed it as she mourned her husband, Carl Thomas Dean, who <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/dolly-parton-husband-carl-dean-dead-flirting-inspired-jolene-82-11690119\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:died in March 2025;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;died in March 2025&quot;}\" class=\"link \">died in March 2025<\/a>, and dealt with health issues, including recurring kidney stones.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She was all smiles, as usual, in front of the crowd Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong><em>Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our <\/em><\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/ew-dispatch-newsletter-11812417\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:EW Dispatch newsletter;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;EW Dispatch newsletter&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><strong><em>EW Dispatch newsletter<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Parton noted, &#8220;I&#8217;ve spent my whole life traveling down the road.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Then she <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NC5\/status\/2069890907336315386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2069890907336315386%7Ctwgr%5E3c7740ac55074731f013441f8f381bd0746a918f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rollingstone.com%2Fmusic%2Fmusic-news%2Fdolly-parton-tennessee-travel-stop-1235583690%2F\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:made a joke;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;made a joke&quot;}\" class=\"link \">made a joke<\/a> about the Buc-ees chain of travel centers, which will be her competition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I&#8217;m sure some of you are wondering why I wanted a truck stop,&#8221; Parton said in video posted to social media. &#8220;Well, I couldn&#8217;t leave it to beavers! I had to throw my scrawny little self in there. We&#8217;re not trying to compete with anybody. We don&#8217;t think we&#8217;ll have to. We think we&#8217;re going to have everything that you want or need.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The website for Parton&#8217;s new business describes it as &#8220;a place where you&#8217;re greeted not just with fuel and food, but with warmth, comfort, and a little sparkle of Dolly Parton magic. No matter how far you&#8217;ve traveled, you&#8217;ll feel right at home here.&#8221; The travel stop offers gas, showers, a general store, and a full-service restaurant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Her collaboration with Community Coffee, the brand Cup of Ambition, is flowing. It&#8217;s, of course, a reference to a lyric in her 1980 song &#8220;9 to 5,&#8221; from the movie of the same name.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Parton is also the force behind the Dollywood theme park, hotels, wines, baking mixes, and more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When she canceled her residency \u2014 which would have been her first one in Vegas in 32 years \u2014 she assured fans that she was feeling better. However, she was not quite in fighting shape.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Dolly Parton at her Tennesseean Truck Stop<br \/>Credit: Courtesy of Dolly Parton<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;The good news is I&#8217;m responding really well to meds and treatments, and I&#8217;m improving every day,&#8221; Parton said. &#8220;Now, the bad news is that it&#8217;s gonna take me a little while before I&#8217;m up to stage performance level because some of the meds and treatments make me a little swimmy-headed, as my grandma used to say,&#8221; said Parton, who added that she would be wearing five-inch heels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;And you know I&#8217;m gonna be wearing them,&#8221; the &#8220;Here You Come Again&#8221; singer teased. &#8220;Not to mention all those heavy rhinestone outfits, the big hair, and my&#8230; big, uh, personality. That would make anybody swimmy-headed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She was also a no-show at her 80th birthday celebration in January at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. However, a rep for the singer <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/dolly-parton-to-miss-80th-birthday-celebration-at-grand-ole-opry-11882900\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:told Entertainment Weekly;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;told Entertainment Weekly&quot;}\" class=\"link \">told <em>Entertainment Weekly<\/em><\/a> that she &#8220;never had plans to attend.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/dolly-parton-makes-surprise-appearance-amid-health-issues-12007129\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Entertainment Weekly;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Entertainment Weekly&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Entertainment Weekly<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Points Dolly Parton, 80, has dealt with health issues in recent years that caused her to cancel a planned Las Vegas residency. But the country queen made an appearance Wednesday at the opening of a Dolly&#8217;s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tenn. Parton adds her truck stop to a portfolio of business ventures. Dolly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2476070,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25177],"tags":[487290,487006,22641,332689,24124],"class_list":["post-2476069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrities","tag-carl-thomas-dean","tag-cornersville","tag-dolly-parton","tag-health-issues","tag-las-vegas"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dolly-Parton-makes-surprise-appearance-\u2014-complete-with-a-joke.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2476069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2476069"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2476069\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2476071,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2476069\/revisions\/2476071"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2476070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2476069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2476069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2476069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}