Dolly Parton Shares Health Update as She Makes First Public Appearance in 6 Months

Dolly Parton is making her first public appearance in months!

Back in September 2025, the 80-year-old country music icon postponed her Las Vegas residency and canceled several public appearances amid ongoing health issues.

Now six months later, Dolly returned to the spotlight on Friday (March 13) to give the keynote address at the opening day celebration for her Dollywood theme park’s landmark 41st season.

Keep reading to find out more…During her appearance, Dolly said that she’s been “taking good care” of herself and is in a “good” place amid her ongoing health struggles.

“I’ve not been touring, as you know. I’ve had a few little health issues, and we’re taking good care of them,” Dolly assured the crowd, per Page Six.

The “9 to 5″ singer also noted that the death of her husband Carl Dean, who passed away in March 2025 at the age of 82, has been extremely hard on her.

“I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on,” Dolly explained. “I just got myself kind of where I needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. But, all is good. It didn’t slow me down.”

Dolly was joined onstage by Eugene Naughton, the president of the Dollywood Company, and joked that fans might’ve mistaken him for her “new husband,” but later confirmed that she’s “not dating anybody.”

“I think Carl Dean’s waiting for me. If I should show up at the pearly gates with somebody else, he would not like that. He’d be saying, ‘Who’s that little pisser? You leave him outside the gates,’” Dolly quipped.

While celebrating her milestone 80th birthday in January, Dolly joked about all the plastic surgery she’s had over the years.