Dolly Parton experienced health issues, and repeatedly assured her fans that they shouldn’t be worried. She gave an update on her health after missing an engagement shortly before her family announced her death.
The philanthropist always knew how to bring a smile to people’s faces. This is how she joked while discussing her health.
Dolly Parton Joked About Being the Queen of Social Media AI
The country star didn’t attend the opening of a new rollercoaster in person at Dollywood on Aug. 14. Parton made a video and addressed her absence with “my little butterfly wings are getting kinda tired,” according to Hello! Parton gave an update on her health and when she’ll make a public appearance again.
“I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” the “Jolene” singer told PEOPLE on Aug. 21. She joked that her relationship with the tabloids now comes in another form.
“But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago,” the “9 to 5” star said. “I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI!”
The “Rhinestone” star said in a video in May that she’s improving with treatments and medicine. However, the medications make her swimmy-headed.
“I can’t be dizzy carrying out banjos and guitars and such on five-inch heels,” she said. The rhinestone lover said her costumes, hair, and she looked down at her chest, then said “personality” would make performing hard.
She explained that she has always had problems with kidney stones, and there are problems with her immune and digestive systems. Of course, she gave a funny analogy to her healing process.
“Think of me as like, an old classic car,” she told her fans. The legend was an “old antique” who needed to rebuild her engine; her transmission is slipping, her oil pan is leaking, and her spark plugs needed to be replaced. “Cause you know, as well as I know that I can’t lose my spark,” she said.
Parton Reacted to the AI Picture of Her and Reba
GettyFreida Parton asked friends to pray for the “I’ll Always Love You” songwriter on Facebook in October 2025. “Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately,” read the post. “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!”
The post was vague enough that people expected the worst. Parton responded with a video called “I ain’t dead yet!” on her Instagram.
“Do I look sick to you?” the two-time Oscar nominee asked the camera. “I’m working hard here.” She also reacted to an absurd meme.
“Did you see that AI picture of Reba and me?” she asked her fans. “Oh Lordy! I mean, they had Reba at my deathbed, and we both looked like we needed to be buried.”
Parton starred in many comedies and made audiences laugh on stage. It’s not surprising that she continued to share her sense of humor to comfort fans.
Her family announced that she died on Aug. 25. The cause of her death hasn’t been announced.
