Dolly Parton canceled a scheduled appearance at Dollywood on Wednesday because she is recovering from a kidney stone, her team said. The 79-year-old country music icon was slated to join Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, to announce a new attraction, but she explained in a video message posted on X that an infection had developed and a doctor advised against travel for a few days.
"I know, I’m here and you’re there and wondering why that is," Parton said in the clip, which journalist Marcus Leshock shared on X. "I had a little problem. I had a kidney stone." She added that there was an infection, and the doctor told her, "you don’t need to be traveling around this minute, so you need a few days to get better. So he suggested I not go to Dollywood today." Parton reassured fans that she would be back soon, telling them, "Don’t worry about me, I’m gonna be ok. Just can’t do it today."
The video message was circulated after Parton’s representatives did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment. She has previously said doctors advised against travel until she was cleared, and the singer signaled she hoped to return to public appearances soon.
Kidney stones are hard mineral and salt deposits that form inside the kidneys. The Mayo Clinic notes that passing them can be extremely painful, though prompt treatment usually prevents lasting damage. The update comes amid Parton’s ongoing personal chapter after the death of her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March at age 82. The couple had been married for nearly 60 years, and Parton has been candid about his health battles in the months since.
In May, Parton spoke with The Independent about Dean’s health struggles, saying she was glad he was no longer suffering even as she acknowledged the loneliness of his absence. In July, she told Khloé Kardashian on the streaming podcast Khloé in Wonder Land that she was taking a break from music following Dean’s death, explaining she could not commit to returning to the stage right away: "I can’t do it right now because I’ve got so many other things that I can’t afford the luxury of, you know, getting emotional right now." She indicated at the time that he would eventually return to the stage, but she was prioritizing her healing in the near term.
The Dollywood appearance had been pitched as part of a broader announcement for a new attraction at the park in Pigeon Forge. Parton’s public statements have not specified any timetable for future travel or appearances, and Dollywood officials have not provided an updated schedule in the wake of today’s update. The singer has not indicated whether she plans to reschedule the Dollywood reveal in the near term.
Parton’s health update arrives amid a personal arc marked by loss and resilience. The singer has long balanced a demanding schedule with family life and philanthropic work, and fans have followed her updates as she navigates grief and recuperation. While the public last heard from her in the context of questions about whether she would return to touring, today’s message emphasizes a temporary pause for health reasons rather than a permanent withdrawal from the spotlight. The Dollywood episode underscores the ongoing challenges celebrities face in sustaining routine appearances while managing health and personal loss, and it highlights the continued public interest in Parton’s next project, whether at Dollywood or beyond.
As Parton manages her health and healing, fans and industry observers will be watching for any announcements about return dates or new plans for the Dollywood project. In the meantime, the singer’s representatives have cautioned that travel should be minimized until doctors clear her, a reminder of the real-world considerations that accompany a high-profile public figure facing a health setback while also contending with the grieving process.