Dolly Parton’s manager has reassured fans that the country legend is not seriously ill, following a flurry of concern online after her sister asked for prayers.
The 79-year-old had postponed six shows from her upcoming Dolly: Live in Las Vegas residency, prompting her younger sister Freida Parton to share an emotional message saying she had been “up all night praying for my sister.”
However, Dolly’s UK manager Olly Rowland confirmed that the situation had been “blown out of proportion,” explaining that the singer is recovering from a minor medical issue, kidney stones.
“It’s just the kidney stones, and the procedure she needs to resolve those,” he said.
“It looks like her sister posted, and it got quite a bit blown out of proportion, weirdly.”
Freida, the youngest of the Parton siblings, later clarified her original post, writing on Facebook: “I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious.
“She’s been a little under the weather and I simply asked for prayers because I believe so strongly in the power of prayer. It was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister.
“Thank you all for lifting her up. Your love truly makes a difference.”
Parton has previously suffered from kidney stones, including in 2015 and again last month, but is said to be in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery ahead of rescheduled shows.
Frieda sparked concern on Tuesday night when she shared a heartfelt message on Facebook asking fans around the world to join her in prayer for the country legend.
In a heartfelt message shared on Facebook, she wrote: “Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly.
“Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been led to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me.
“She’s strong, she’s loved, and with all the prayers being lifted for her, I know in my heart she’s going to be just fine. Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you!”
Her emotional post sparked concern among fans, who flooded the comments with messages of love and well-wishes for the Jolene and 9 to 5 singer.
Last month, Dolly announced she would be postponing her upcoming Dolly: Live in Las Vegas residency, which had been due to take place this December at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, until September 2026.
In a statement shared on Instagram on September 29, the music icon said her doctors had advised her to undergo “a few procedures” and take time to rest.
“As many of you know, I have been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures,” she explained. “As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up — although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon.
“In all seriousness, I’m not going to be able to rehearse and put together the show that I want you to see. You pay good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you.”
Parton, who lost her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, in March this year, reassured fans that she has no plans to retire.
Don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet,” she added. “But I believe he is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you.”
Freida later clarified her initial post, saying she hadn’t meant to alarm fans, adding: “It was nothing more than a little sister asking for prayers for her big sister.”
“Thank you all for lifting her up. Your love truly makes a difference.”
