Dolly Parton’s sister shares health update after sparking major concern by asking fans to pray for singer
Dolly Parton's sister has said she's been 'up all night praying' for the country singer, as she issued a health update today (8 October).
Freida, 68, who is the younger sibling of Dolly, 79, penned a post on Facebook to keep fans in the loop, after the American star postponed her scheduled Las Vegas residency due to 'health challenges' last week.
The country star had been due to perform six shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for Dolly: Live in Las Vegas in December, but rescheduled for September 2026.
And now, in a Facebook post, Freida penned: "Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly.
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“Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been lead to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me."
She added: “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!”
However, she later reassured fans by adding in another social media post that she didn't mean to make her sister’s condition sound so serious.
Freida said on Facebook: "I want to clear something up. I didn’t mean to scare anyone or make it sound so serious when asking for prayers for Dolly.
“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."
She added: “Thank you all for lifting her up. Your love truly makes a difference.”
Dolly's Vegas residency, which, as we say, has been postponed, would have been her first in more than 30 years,
The Jolene singer wrote on Instagram on September 29: “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.
“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."
Not going into details of what the specific health issues are, Dolly continued: “In all seriousness, given this, I am 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.
“Don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet. 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.”
Earlier this year, Dolly heartbreakingly lost her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March, aged 82.
When asked about the possibility of retirement in an interview last year, the country star made it clear she has no intention of stopping any time soon.
Dolly told The Guardian: "Oh, my Lord, I can’t retire. I always say I’ve dreamed myself into a corner. I’ve got to keep all those dreams alive.
"Every dream spins off into some something else … I couldn’t retire if I wanted to. And I don’t want to.”
Madison Burgess