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Dolly Parton has issued an apology after being forced to miss an event due to facing ‘a few health challenges’.
The legendary performer, 79, has left fans worried in recent months after she pulled out of her Vegas residency, as well as a scheduled appearance at Dollywood.
Their concerns also intensified after her younger sister, Freida Parton, wrote online that she had been ‘up all night praying’ for her sibling, who ‘hasn’t been feeling her best lately.’
However soon after Dolly took to social media to declare she ‘wasn’t dying’, explaining that she’d been diagnosed with a kidney stone and wanted to put her supporters ‘minds at ease’.
But now, a few weeks on, she’s again had to cancel appearing an event.
On Monday Dolly had been due to appear at the Hall of Fame ceremony for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions being held in Orlando, Florida, where she was inducted into the Hall of Fame for her Tennessee theme park, Dollywood.
However, she accepted the award remotely, sharing a video on social media in which she explained her absence.
‘Well, hey there, it’s Dolly,’ she began. ‘And I sure wish I could be with you in person today, but you probably heard that I’ve been dealing with a few health challenges this fall, and my doctors told me to take it easy for just a little while.’
She then went on to thank her Dollywood business partners and apologise for not being able to attend the induction.
‘I’m truly sorry I can’t be there, but I sure wanted to take the chance to say, thank you for this incredible honour. And to Jack and Peter, hey, thank you for being my partners and my friends for more than 40 years. You’ve been a blessing to me, and I love you dearly. You know, our partnership is truly special. I trust them, and they trust me, and they always listen when I come in with one of my big ideas and dreams.’
Dolly then reflected on the moment she had the ‘big idea’ to open Dollywood, which marked its 40th anniversary this year.
‘I dreamed of a place right here in the Smoky Mountains where my family could perform and where we could provide steady work for the good people in our community and where families could come and laugh and play and have fun, and make memories together,’ she explained.
She recalled being ‘so nervous’ on opening day and feeling like ‘a kid waiting to see if anybody was gonna show up at a birthday party’. However, she didn’t need to worry as she was flooded with support from the first day.
‘I peeked out the window of my bus, saw all those cars lined up, and would you believe it? They’re still lining up today,’ she added.
Wrapping up her speech, Dolly said she was ‘just so grateful that you consider me worthy of this recognition’, which was a ‘big, incredible way’ to celebrate Dollywood’s recent milestone.
‘For me and for everyone who makes Dollywood what it is, and all my friends and partners, and to all of you out there helping families make magic every day in your own parks and places. Remember that I will always love you and thank you again.’
Just a few days ago Dolly also accepted an honorary Oscar remotely. On Sunday, she was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Accepting the award in another video message recorded at her home in Nashville, she called it a ‘great honour’ and a ‘blessing of a lifetime’.
Last month Dolly had to announce the postponement of six shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in December, which would have marked her first Las Vegas residency since the 1990s.
However, they have now been rescheduled for September next year.
Addressing fans’ concerns about her health, she explained: ‘Lately everybody thinks I’m sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I’m working hard here. I wanted to put y’all mind at ease, those of you who seem real concerned, which I appreciate.
‘I appreciate your prayers. I’m a person of faith. I can always use the prayers for everything. I wanted you to know that I’m okay. I had some problems with my husband Carl when he was very sick. Then when he passed I didn’t take care of myself so I let a lot of things go that I should have taken care of.
‘So, when I got around to it the doctor said, “We need to take care of this, we need to take care of that.” Nothing major. But I did have to cancel some things so I can be closer to home where I’m having a few treatments here and there. But I wanted you to know, I’m not dying!’
She defiantly added: ‘I ain’t ready to die yet. God ain’t through with me and I ain’t done working. I love you for caring and keep praying for me.’
Since releasing her debut album Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967, the singer has released 50 albums and has become known as the ‘Queen of Country’.
She’s sold more than 100 million records worldwide and had won eleven Grammy Awards.
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