Dolly Parton Misses Dollywood Opening Due to Health
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Dolly Parton missed the Friday opening of NightFlight Expedition at her Tennessee theme park, appearing instead via a pre-recorded video message shown during the dedication ceremony.
- Parton told Dollywood President Eugene Naughton that her Nashville doctor had "clipped my wings," barring her from traveling that week because of dizziness and dehydration.
- The 11x Grammy winner said she had "planned" to attend in person and told fans, "I'm gonna see you down the road."
- Parton postponed her Las Vegas residency last September citing "health challenges," then formally canceled the run in May while undergoing "meds and treatments."
- Her current health struggles come weeks after the March 3, 2025 death of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean.
Why it matters: Parton has now logged a third publicly disclosed health-related absence this year — the September Vegas postponement, May cancellation, and Friday's missed ride opening — a pattern that complicates her ability to maintain her fan-facing calendar at Dollywood while treatment continues.
Ask SkimNews
