Dolly Parton has revealed she neglected her own wellbeing while caring for her husband Carl Thomas Dean before his passing last year. The 80-year-old country music legend spoke candidly about her health concerns after being forced to pull out of a scheduled appearance at her Dollywood theme park earlier this month, prompting widespread worry among fans, according to The Mirror.
Health Struggles Revealed
In a fresh interview following the cancellation, the Jolene singer disclosed: "I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn't pay attention to when I was watching over Carl. 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."
The iconic singer, who was wed to Dean for nearly 60 years until his death in March 2025 aged 82, told People: "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! Seriously, though, even though I'm still healing, I'm still working."
Dollywood Cancellation
The cause of Dean's death was kept from the public, in line with his family's wishes for privacy following his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2019. Earlier this month, Dolly missed the opening night of a new attraction at her Tennessee theme park after suffering from dizziness and dehydration, with medical professionals advising her to avoid travel.
"I'm still in Nashville, and I'm sorry about that," she later told fans when appearing virtually, dressed in fairy wings and a pink rhinestone jumpsuit, at the event. "I'm supposed to be there in person, like we planned. Now I've told you before, all my fans, that I have had a few little health issues. And sometimes I get a little dizzy, and I get dehydrated."
"And I'm dehydrated. And so my Nashville doctor clipped my wings, saying you ain't travelling this week. So I guess if your doctor tells you you ain't travelling this week, you ain't travelling this week."
Fan Concerns and Recent Public Appearance
The remarks come after a string of postponed and cancelled appearances that sparked growing concern among her fanbase, prompting her to post a video on social media in October of last year, quipping that she "ain't dead yet."
Parton was last seen in public in June, when she marked the opening of her Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop by cutting the distinctive roadside venue's pink ribbon.
