Dolly Parton missed a scheduled appearance at her theme park, Dollywood, on Wednesday after being diagnosed with a kidney stone infection. The singer was due to announce the new Night Flight Expedition ride but instead shared a video message from her home.
In the clip, Parton explained that doctors had advised her not to travel as she recovers from the infection. 'I had a kidney stone that was causing me a lot of problems. Turned out it’d given me an infection,' she said, adding that she would be 'back as quick as I can.'
The new attraction, Night Flight Expedition, is set to open in 2026. Dollywood teased it as a first-of-its-kind ride that allows guests to 'soar, plunge, climb and navigate' through the Smoky Mountains after dark.
Parton’s health issue comes six months after the death of her husband of 60 years, Carl Dean. In a recent podcast interview, she said she has struggled to complete songwriting due to grief, noting that she cannot 'afford the luxury of getting that emotional right now.'
