Dolly Parton has issued a sad health update and left fans heartbroken.
The country music legend has delivered heartbreaking news to her devoted fans, announcing she must postpone her highly anticipated Las Vegas residency due to ongoing health struggles.
The beloved singer took to Instagram on Sunday, September 28, to share the difficult update, revealing she needs to undergo multiple medical procedures in the coming months.
The health challenges come during an already difficult period for the music legend. Parton is still grieving the loss of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at age 82.
In the months following his death, she has spoken openly about her grief while continuing to perform and work.
“Thank you for all the messages, cards, and flowers that you’ve sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl,” she wrote on social media after his passing. “He is in God’s arms now, and I am okay with that. I will always love you.”
Despite her personal loss, Parton has remained remarkably active professionally.
Her 2023 album Rockstar,’ featuring collaborations with legends like Elton John, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr, reached the Top Five in both the U.S. and U.K.
She also released ‘Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables’ in 2024 and collaborated with Mötley Crüe on a new version of ‘Home Sweet Home in June.
Additionally, a musical based on her life, ‘Dolly: A True Original Musical,’ premiered in Nashville in July with hopes for a future Broadway run.
The 79-year-old icon was scheduled to perform a six-concert run at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace beginning in December 2025, which would have been her first extended Las Vegas engagement in 32 years.
“I want the fans and public to hear directly from me that, unfortunately, I will need to postpone my upcoming Las Vegas concerts,” Parton wrote in her emotional message. “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.”
Ever the eternal optimist, Parton maintained her signature humor despite the serious nature of her announcement.
“As I joked with them, it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon!” she quipped.
However, the country icon quickly turned serious, explaining her reasoning for the difficult decision.
“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,” she continued. “You pay good money to see me perform, and I want to be at my best for you.”
The postponement pushes all December 2025 dates to September 2026, with the residency now scheduled to run from September 17 to September 26, 2026.
“While I’ll still be able to work on all of my projects from here in Nashville, I just need a little time to get show-ready, as they say,” she explained.
Addressing concerns about potential retirement, Parton was characteristically defiant.
“And don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet,” she declared. “But, I believe He is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you. I love you and thank you for understanding.”
This isn’t the first health setback for Parton in recent weeks. Earlier in September, she was forced to miss an appearance at her Tennessee theme park, Dollywood, after being diagnosed with a kidney stone that had caused an infection.
“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,’” she told fans in a video message on September 17
