What Is Dolly Parton’s Health Issue? Her Sister Verifies It’s Not ‘So Serious’
Despite her legendary resilience and uplifting spirit, Dolly Parton has found herself at the center of health concerns. Her sister, Freida Parton, issued an emotional call for prayers. And the postponement of Dolly’s much-anticipated Las Vegas residency has stoked rumors of a serious, unnamed ailment. The ambiguity of recent statements and her sudden pullbacks from public appearances have cast a cloak of mystery over the star’s health. So, what’s wrong with Dolly? Thankfully, it’s nothing too serious.
What is Dolly Parton’s health problem?
In early October 2025, Dolly Parton’s sister, Freida Parton, ignited concern among fans when she took to Facebook with an emotional plea. “Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly,” Freida posted on Oct. 7, 2025, according to People. “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.” Her words sent ripples through social media, prompting widespread speculation about what might be ailing the beloved country icon.
So, what’s wrong with Dolly’s health? Dolly’s representative, Olly Rowland, confirmed to Las Vegas Review-Journal that it’s just kidney stones.
Just hours later, fretting over the waves her post had generated, Freida offered a follow-up clarification. “I want to clear something up,” she wrote on Facebook, according to Consequence of Sound. “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. Thank you all for lifting her up. Your love truly makes a difference.”
The country queen is undergoing a procedure for her kidney stones
Dolly Parton’s representative, Olly Rowland, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Dolly was undergoing a procedure for kidney stones.
“It’s just the kidney stones, and the procedure she needs to resolve those,” Rowland texted. “It looks like her sister posted, and it got quite a bit blown out of proportion, weirdly.”
According to the National Health Service, if kidney stones are too large to pass naturally, then surgery is recommended. Given the clues from her representative and her sister, this appears to be the case for Dolly. Surgery for kidney stones can involve shockwave lithotripsy, a ureteroscopy, or percutaneous nephrolithotom.
Shock wave therapy involves sending ultrasound shock waves to break the stone into smaller pieces, which then can be passed. A ureteroscopy involves passing a long, thin telescope into the bladder and up into the ureter, where a surgeon may try to remove the stone gently. And a percutaneous nephrolithotomy involves a surgeon making a small incision in the back so a nephroscope can be passed through to the kidney. The stone can then be dealt with this way.
Dolly Parton previously told her fans she needed ‘a few procedures’
Before Dolly Parton’s sister sounded the alarm on her health, Dolly warned her fans that she needed to postpone her Las Vegas concerts due to her health concerns.
“As many of you know, I’ve been dealing with some health challenges, and my doctors tell me that I must have a few procedures,” Dolly posted to Instagram on Sept. 28, 2025. “As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000 check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon! 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, and the show that you deserve to see. You see good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you.”
Dolly noted that she doesn’t want her fans to worry about her “quittin’ the business,” as she has no intention of pausing permanently.
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