Country music icon Dolly Parton is battling health complications that have forced her to delay her much-anticipated Las Vegas residency, but the 79-year-old star continues to work relentlessly from home despite doctors' warnings to rest.
Parton, who shared her condition with fans on social media earlier this month, said physicians had recommended several medical procedures. Keeping her humor intact, she quipped that it was "time for a 100,000-mile check-up." Her lighthearted tone did little to ease fans' concerns after her sister, Frieda, publicly asked for prayers.
Parton's manager later clarified that the singer was being treated for kidney stones, hoping to calm speculation about more serious conditions. Still, her insistence on staying active has alarmed those close to her.
In an interview with Heatworld, the "Jolene" singer directly addressed public worries, insisting she still has more to give. "I'm not ready to die yet," she said, reaffirming the determination that has fueled her six-decade career.
Sources close to Parton told reporters that while doctors have urged rest, she has continued to manage her entertainment and business empire from home. Family members reportedly say she is "working from bed - sending messages, reviewing plans, and staying involved in everything." Her team fears that her unstoppable work ethic, which built Dollywood and multiple product lines, could now delay her recovery.
Friends note that this is not the first time Parton has powered through health challenges. In the 1980s, she collapsed on stage and was later diagnosed with endometriosis, which led to a partial hysterectomy at 36. In 2015, she underwent kidney stone surgery but returned to work just three weeks later to continue filming Coat of Many Colors.
Her inner circle says that while her resilience has long inspired fans, it has become a double-edged sword. "Her team's trying to lighten her workload, but Dolly insists on approving everything herself, even the Dollywood Christmas menu," one friend told Heatworld.
Those close to her believe her grief may also play a role in her refusal to slow down. Parton's husband of nearly six decades, Carl Dean, died earlier this year at 82. The couple met when she was 19, and his loss, friends say, has left her channeling her emotions into nonstop work.
Doctors, however, remain concerned. "Her doctors keep warning her to rest, but she ignores them. She insists she's fine - that she's built differently," another friend said.
