Country legend Dolly Parton is facing health challenges, prompting a heartfelt plea from her sister, Freida Parton, who has asked the public to keep the beloved star in their prayers.
In a Facebook post shared Tuesday, Freida said she had been “up all night praying” for Dolly, who “hasn’t been feeling her best lately.” She urged fans around the world to join her in prayer, writing, “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.” The post quickly went viral, drawing thousands of comments from fans expressing love and concern for the country icon.
Freida’s appeal comes a little over a week after Dolly, 79, postponed her long-anticipated Las Vegas residency, which was scheduled for December at Caesars Palace. The six-show engagement would have marked her first concert series in almost a decade. In a message to fans on Sept. 28, Parton said her doctors had advised her to undergo “a few procedures” and that she needed time to recover before returning to the stage. “It must be time for my 100,000-mile checkup,” she joked, while assuring fans she would be back as soon as she was healthy enough to give “the show that you deserve to see.”
Though she has not revealed details about her current condition, this isn’t the first time the legendary singer has been open about her health. Over the years, Parton has spoken candidly about both physical and emotional challenges, from her struggles with endometriosis in the 1980s, which led to a partial hysterectomy, to the mental health difficulties she experienced in the aftermath. In past interviews, she has said that period of her life was marked by deep depression, though she ultimately found peace through faith and reflection.
In more recent years, the Tennessee-born star has also faced grief and loss, following the death of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Thomas Dean, earlier in 2025. Parton has described the adjustment as painful but said her work has helped her heal: “I’ll always miss him, of course, and I’ll always love him,” she told TODAY earlier this year.
Despite multiple challenges, Parton has long been admired for her resilience and optimism. She’s joked openly about her cosmetic surgeries, saying she takes a “measured” approach to looking her best while prioritizing her health. “You’ve just got to be very careful not to overdo it,” she said in 2023, when she was on “The Howard Stern Show.”
This latest health setback, however, appears to be more serious. Last month, Parton also missed a planned event at her Dollywood theme park, explaining via video message that she was recovering from a kidney stone and an infection that temporarily prevented her from traveling. She told fans she expected to make a full recovery with rest.
As Freida’s message circulated online this week, fans around the world joined in prayer chains and well wishes, a reflection of the enduring affection for one of music’s most iconic voices. While Dolly herself has remained upbeat and has promised she’s not “quitting the business,” her sister’s post underscores the seriousness of her current health challenges.
