Dolly Parton was forced to cancel an appearance at her theme park, Dollywood, after doctors advised her not to travel due to a health issue. The 79-year-old hitmaker was due to make an appearance at the theme park on Wednesday (September 17) in Tennessee, but instead shared a pre-recorded message to her fans on the main stage. The 9 to 5 hitmaker explained that she is suffering from kidney stones as she apologised for not being there in person to open one of the park's new experiences.
Also sharing the video to X - formerly known as Twitter - she said: "I know. I'm here, you're there, and you're wondering why that is. Well, I had a little problem. I had a kidney stone, which was causing me a lot of problems. Turns out there was an infection, and the doctor said, 'You don't need to be travelling around this minute. You need a few days to get better'.
"So he suggested I don't go to Dollywood today. I want to make this clear, I was looking so forward to it." Reassuring fans, Dolly ended the clip with: "Don't worry about me, I'm going to be okay. I just can't do it today."
The beloved songwriter has endured a difficult year so far following the death of her husband Carl Dean, who passed away in March at the age of 58. The country singer shared a heartfelt statement following his passing at the time, which read: "Carl and I spent many wonderful years together.
"Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy." The couple met more than six decades ago in 1964 outside the Wishy Washy laundrette in Nashville, on the very day that the blonde bombshell moved to Tennessee.
They quickly became inseparable and later travelled to Georgia two years after tying the knot. Despite the Jolene singer's superstar status, Carl managed to remain out of the spotlight. Dolly only shared a handful of pictures of the pair online, although she always talked fondly about their life together.
His sudden passing came just four months after Dolly said goodbye to her brother David, after already losing three siblings. She was one of 12 children in her bustling family household.
Following Dean's death, the country music icon revealed she hasn't been able to work. In an interview at the time, she told Khloe Kardashian, "There's a few things now. My husband passed away three months ago, so when you ask me if there's stuff that I started and haven't finished, there are several things I have wanted to start, but I can't do it.
"I'm just coming up with such wonderful, beautiful ideas, but I think I won't finish it. I can't do it right now, because I've got so many other things and I can't afford the luxury of, you know, getting that emotional right now."
Dolly reflected that grief can "stall" her, but she always finds a way to get back to making music even in the hardest of times. She added: "There are times like that, things like that, that will stall you a little bit. But I'll write something else, though, if it comes. I'm just putting that all on hold."
