Dolly Parton is updating fans on her health. The country music icon recently told People that she’s been going through “hard times with my health” as of late.
“I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” Parton told the outlet of her late husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025.
Videos by American Songwriter
Health issues are not new for the singer, as she went through a challenging time in the ’80s when she was “down for several months with female issues.”
“It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health, but I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago,” Parton 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!”
Dolly Parton Is Staying Busy Amid Health Issues
All jokes aside, Parton assured fans, “seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’.” Indeed she is.
The singer told the outlet that she’s in the “early stages of development” for creating “avatar performances” of herself. She’s also working on a line of dog treats, is excited about her new coffee product, and is gearing up to launch her Life of Many Colors Museum.
“I am so proud of this. We found this location early one morning. I knew I wanted to do something special in Nashville, and until I saw this building, nothing ever hit me as the right thing to do,” Parton said the location of her Nashville museum and hotel. “I saw a copy of my book Songteller in the lobby of what once was this office building. After touring it and seeing the location, I knew this was it.”
“I wanted to join all my Nashville friends downtown, but I didn’t just want it to be another bar,” she added. “So we found a way to bring in my museum on the third floor and make it really special.”
The updates came a week after Parton’s doctors advised her to make a virtual appearance at Dollywood in lieu of an in-person one. In a video message to fans at the Tennessee amusement park, Parton said she was dealing with dehydration and dizziness.
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
More Latest Music News & Stories
-
SPICEWOOD, TEXAS – MARCH 19: Willie Nelson performs in concert during the 14th Annual Luck Reunion at Luck Ranch on March 19, 2026 in Spicewood, Texas. (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihDX6YKamvk -
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 17: Colt Ford performs at Skydeck at Assembly Food Hall on August 17, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) -
Photo by: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images -
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 19: Dierks Bentley performs onstage during the 19th ACM® Honors™ at The Pinnacle on August 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mickey Bernal/Getty Images) -
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 05: Dave Grohl (L) and Josh Freese (R) of Foo Fighters perform at the Power to the Patients concert at The Anthem on March 05, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images) -
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 10: Ella Langley performs during The Big 98's Friendsgiving at the Grand Ole Opry House on November 10, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)