Dolly Parton’s sister, Freida Parton, sought to reassure fans after comments she made on social media led to concerns about Dolly’s health. On Facebook, Freida mentioned she did not intend to worry anyone with her earlier update.
Earlier that day, Freida indicated that Dolly “hasn’t been feeling her best recently,” which raised alarm among fans, especially after Dolly postponed concerts due to “health challenges” announced in September.
Freida Parton’s initial post had asked her fans “to be prayer warriors and pray with me.”
“She’s strong and surrounded by love and prayers, and I believe wholeheartedly she’ll be alright. Sending love your way, Dolly!” expressed Freida Parton.
That night, however, Freida Parton shared another post on Facebook clarifying her earlier remarks.
Freida further clarified, “I didn’t intend to alarm anyone or imply anything severe. My request for prayers was simply from one sister to another because of my strong belief in its power. Thanks for your support. Your love means a great deal.”
In a conversation with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Dolly’s representative commented that she is awaiting a standard procedure to manage her kidney stones.
“It’s solely related to kidney stones and the surgery she requires,” the spokesperson stated, noting that Freida’s post was unintentionally amplified.
Dolly Parton, 79, performs on occasion but hasn’t toured since her “Pure & Simple Tour” ended in 2016. Last month, she also missed the announcement of the latest attraction at Dollywood, her Tennessee theme park, mentioning health issues.
“I had a kidney stone that was causing me a lot of problems, turned out it’d given me an infection, and the doctor said, ‘You don’t need to be traveling right this minute, so you need a few days to get better,’” Parton said in a video announcement at the time. “So, he suggested I not go to Dollywood today, but I’m there with you in spirit. I was looking so forward to it.”
Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, died in March at age 82. The pair had been married for nearly 60 years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
