Dolly Parton health update: the 80-year-old said she is still healing while still working, even after recent health issues forced her to pull out of a string of appearances. Her latest comments put the focus on a public schedule that has already been trimmed and on a future project that is still taking shape.
Dolly Parton and Carl Dean
Parton said, "I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn't pay attention to when I was watching over Carl." She also said, "It's not like I haven't been through hard times with my health." Last March, Carl Dean died after nearly 60 years of marriage to Parton, and she said she felt "worn down and worn out" after his death.
Queen of Social Media AI
Parton said, "I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I'm the Queen of Social Media AI!" The line reads like Parton doing what she has always done: turning pressure into a joke, then making the serious point anyway. She added, "Seriously, though, even though I'm still healin', I'm still workin'."
Avatar performances
Parton told People that she was working alongside various companies to create "avatar performances," but said those discussions are still in the "early stages of development." She has also said that in the early '80s she was "down for several months with female issues," a reminder that this is not her first health interruption. For anyone watching her calendar, the practical read is simple: Parton is not stepping away from work, but the pace of her appearances is already being shaped by health.
